Beirut at Bowery Ballroom

Monday night was a great night to be in the Bowery Ballroom. While Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, The National and Grizzly Bear didn't show up as they did Sunday, Final Fantasy and Beirut did more than enough to provide adequate entertainment for the evening. The latest of the URGE Nights brought together yet another sold out house, and for good reason.

Final Fantasy, aka Owen Pallett, played a beautiful solo set using solely violin and synth. While he looped his violin riffs in a way reminiscent of Andrew Bird (and didn't wear shoes either), Pallett has his own style. If you don't already know it, chances are you've heard Pallett's talents on disc already - he arranged several songs for Arcade Fire's albums Funeral and Neon Bible - but if that's all you've heard, you've been missing out on quite a bit. After releasing Has a Good Home in 2005, his 2006 follow up, He Poos Clouds, made waves in the blogosphere and indie crowd. Currently Pallett is working on arrangements for Beirut's new album, along with his next FF album, Heartland. As for last night, Pallett held my attention throughout, and while it wasn't a groundbreaking show for me, I really appreciated his contribution on the night.

After appearing in FF's encore, Beirut took the stage for their set at about 10:30. The group took over the stage with their nine members, and when Pallett and Kelly Pratt joined (once Pratt rushed over from his gig with Arcade Fire), it was a bit overwhelming. But I loved it. Beirut, the brain-child of 21-year old New Mexico native Zach Condon, brought to life the eastern European gypsy music I've been loving so much lately. Condon's first effort, Gulag Orkestar, was recorded in his bedroom when he was 19, and is based off of the cover art, a picture of two women leaning against a car, which was taken in Russia. As Condon recently told Pitchfork, he used the photo as inspiration, which is what gave the album its Balkan feel. For his next album, The Flying Club Cup, don't expect the same, as his flavor of the week may take quite a turn from what we've previously heard.

I'm constantly impressed with this kid, and now I'm impressed with his entire band. It seems every member that was on stage played at least two instruments, and the constant barrage of brass, strings, and vocals was pretty phenomenal. I mean, where else are you going to hear indie rock music with three ukuleles playing in unison?

For the third encore (there were 4), the guys took the floor. Literally. They jumped down, amongst the packed out house and played "Siki Siki Baba," a Kocani Orkestar cover. Occasionally, members of the band would push their way through the crowd on little jaunts - it was quite fun. Audience interaction was key, and I think it's safe to say everyone there last night was way into the experience.

The band has one night left at their Bowery residence, and if you can get tickets, I urge you to go see them. If not, check out Arcade Fire on Wednesday night, as Condon told me afterwards that they might show up and play with AF at Radio City. After that, Condon has a week of vacation in Montreal before relocating from Brooklyn to Paris.

FF setlist:
Adventure.exe
Flare Gun
The Butcher
What Do You Think Will Happen Next?
Paris 1919
The C N Tower Belongs to the Dead
Took You Two Years to Win My Heart
This Lamb Sells Condos
That's When the Audience Died

Song Song Song


Beirut setlist:
Postcards from Italy
After the Curtain
Brandenburg
Le Moribond (Jacques Brel Cover)
Sunday Smile
Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)
Closing Song
Carousels
Elephant Gun
Scenic World
The Penalty

Gulag Orkestar
Ederlezi (Goran Bregovic Cover)
Siki, Siki Baba (Kocani Orkestar Cover)
The Canals of Our City

[mp3] Final Fantasy - "Took You Two Years to Win My Heart" (Has a Good Home) | iTunes

[mp3] Beirut - "Siki, Siki Baba" (Koncani Orkestar Cover)