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May 19, 2008

Beirut Shows Some Spanish Styles @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 5/18/08

thumbnail icon: Beirut Shows Some Spanish Styles @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 5/18/08

Photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Last month, young master Condon bailed on a string of European dates with a letter posted on his site, saying: "It's come time to change some things, reinvent some others, and come back at some point with a fresh perspective and batch of songs." Last week, Zach stealthily announced a Sunday show at Music Hall Of Williamsburg, maybe to try out that new perspective and songs a little sooner than the downcast letter had suggested. Sure enough, MHOW brought the new tunes, and apparently, a new European musical tradition for Beirut to cycle through. Says Kyle:

"My Wife," "The Shrew," "Benito Juarez" and "Leaotinito" made their supposed premiers last night and all featured horn sections that could only be categorized as the Spanish and/or Portuguese tradition. I don't know about all the others ("My Wife" was instrumental), but we were informed that "Leaotinito" is a Portuguese poem that may or may not have been written by Condon.

"My Wife," eh? Is that a wedding ring on that finger, Zach? Anyway, everybody says this show was awesome, making BK this weekend's undisputed champion of music. Beirut's working on the next album as we type -- we will get you more on that as it comes, and more of Reinford's photos (and a YouTube of a last night's "Nantes") post jump.

"Nantes"

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15 Comments

"O Leaozinho" is a cover of a song by the great Caetano Veloso.

Posted by: ObrigadoZach at 05/19/08 3:11 PM | Reply
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That sure looks like a wedding ring. Devastating.

Posted by: Alexandra at 05/19/08 3:38 PM | Reply
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My conclusion is thus that he canceled the european for no good reason at all.

Posted by: Pablo at 05/19/08 3:56 PM | Reply
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Dear Zach,

Why do you have to be so hot?

Love,
Me

Posted by: m at 05/19/08 4:38 PM | Reply
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Best band in music right now??? yes... yes they are.... New album asap please!

Posted by: Brian at 05/19/08 10:05 PM | Reply
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Wedding ring?! Noooo

Posted by: Z at 05/19/08 10:48 PM | Reply
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They/he sounds like Herb Alpert. Kinda sweet genre throw-back.

Posted by: Kyle at 05/20/08 12:41 AM | Reply
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Interesting. Caetano Veloso is possibly the greatest artist to come out of Brazil, in my opinion.

Posted by: Jeffrey at 05/20/08 3:55 AM | Reply
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It's okay, with all these women throwing themselves at his feet he MUST be mean. At least that's what I tell myself.

Posted by: OR at 05/20/08 5:01 AM | Reply
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Beirut had a LOT of people over in Europe excited to see them this summer, and now we get to read about this?

Well thanks a lot.

Posted by: fireeyedboy profile link at 05/20/08 5:28 AM | Reply
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I loved this show. But, Zach is going to have to work on his Portuguese. That was terrible.

Posted by: greenpoint at 05/20/08 10:14 AM | Reply
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So...is he married?

I haven't heard anything substantiated.

Posted by: so? at 05/20/08 1:02 PM | Reply
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That was the best show I've been to since... well, since the last Beirut show I went to, probably.

It definitely looks like a wedding ring. I am not ashamed to admit I'm just a bit heart broken. That lucky bitch snagged herself quite a guy.

Posted by: ParkerLane at 05/20/08 8:54 PM | Reply
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well, I was part of "LOT of people over in Europe excited to see them in summer"… don't be so angry, Zach said he just needed some time to write new songs, maybe to work on their next record. which is great. so he took the right decision, though fans like you and me have been heart broken when they cancelled the European tour.
and if this is a wedding ring, argh, I'm jealous too. but Zach cannot be mean anyway !

Posted by: mina at 05/22/08 11:41 AM | Reply
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yes, Caetano Veloso is very cool! I love the Tropicália movement.

Posted by: jay at 06/01/08 1:27 PM | Reply
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