#64 Beirut

This is the story of a Take Away Show we were supposed to film a year ago. It was worth the wait. And the story is still not over: here are two new songs from Beirut.
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"Chryde, this is Zach from Beirut. I was extremely excited to hear of the possibility to fly out to Paris to play a show...but alas, the timing is off. On May 31st, I’ll be in the midst of preparing a tour with a live band around the East Coast...But I was hoping that you keep me in mind, and if I were to go out to Europe later this year, some extra help in Paris would be ideal...It’s been about a year since I was last there. Probably my favorite place in all western Europe."

This was April 2006. Gulag Orkestar had just been released. I can’t remember exactly why, but I had written Zach Condon; I wanted him to play in Paris. We had two conversations via email, and then nothing. Six months later, I met him for the first time. we talked about doing a Take Away Show. He looked dizzy, discombobulated. We spoke for only a few seconds, enough time for him to explain his exhaustion: the next day, he canceled his European tour. We had been so optimistic that we had already printed out flyers for the event. He disappeared, but it was only a matter of time... Forty Take Away Shows later, it finally comes to fruition. Beirut: number 64.

CAE - #64.1 - Beirut - NANTES
Watch : On Stage 6 | On YouTube
Download QT | DivX

This story could fill pages. Zach was still intent on doing a Take Away Show. I met him at the Blonde Redhead show in Paris. We had dinner together, then I showed him the video we had shot with the Kocani Orkestar. An excited look in his eyes told us that he was in for the show we had planned with Kocani later that summer. We planned the evening for the end of his two months in Paris. We had finally done it—the first Take Away Shows with Beirut.

Today, Beirut has grown from a solo bedroom project to a band of up to ten people; it’s a band, but not a band. It’s a happy mistake, a mess. A group of noisy, undisciplined, joyful people who took over an entire terrace on Oberkampf, gathering around the tables, spreading their instruments and cases, everyone playing songs in their own world... Such a messy, smiling anarchy that we thought they’d never manage to play the song.

And in the middle, there’s Zach. Frail Zach, with his skinny yet magical arms. These arms that convey his excitement as he communicates to his band through them; a conductor, pointing to instruments as he watches momentum build in the song. This was one of the first times the band had played “Nantes” outside of the studio, and Zach looked as if he was explaining the song to his band as he was singing it, his arms dancing around his body.

CAE - #64.2 - Beirut - THE PENALTY
Watch : On Stage 6 | On YouTube
Download QT | DivX

It took us half an hour to find a bar ready to welcome us for “The Penalty”. Once more came the necessary anarchy, which Zach punctuated with lessons for every one of the musicians: teaching Jason the ukulele parts, preparing the brass for their grand entrance from the back of the restaurant, Perrin rehearsing on accordion. After this tiresome session, everything ran smoothly, naturally. Zach entered the bar, the melody already blaring from his ukulele—and at the end of the room, lit merely by candles, the band began to carry him away in music.

This was just the beginning of this story. We’re writing the second part as we speak. We’re now in New York with Beirut, shooting not one song at a time, but an entire album. The Flying Club Cup. 13 videos, the growth of an album, and the live show all presented as one.

le 11 September 2007 par Chryde
commentaires •

Beirut

how can we get the songs???

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26 September 2007, by un courageux anonyme

RE : Beirut

it existes a dvd! http://flyingclubcup.com/

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11 December 2007, by suttinski

Beirut

ok thats just here on the right.. XD you rock guys

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26 September 2007, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

Was that Okkervil River’s Will Sheff and Travis Nelsen leaning against the wall during Nantes??

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7 October 2007, by un courageux anonyme

RE : Beirut

It sure is.

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2 November 2007, by un courageux anonyme

RE : Beirut

i thought exactly the same!

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10 December 2007, by un courageux anonyme

RE : Beirut

Due my research I came over this: _ You are so not going to believe this! Will Sheff and Travis Nelsen of Okkervil River went to Paris for a press tour. They were happily filmed for a Take Away Show when suddenly the guy who films it had a brilliant idea. He told Will and Travis that he was going to film them performing a duet with the band Beirut. The boys were clearly up for it and had no idea what was waiting for them. Unfortunately, there never was a duet. It was all about Beirut. Will and Travis had to stand in the background, playing their instruments, pretending like everything was fine.
- If we would have known that we were just going to play on one of their songs we would have said no, Travis says.

You’ll find the video (including a laughing Travis and a bored looking Will) here.

- http://wtpa.wordpress.com/2008/01/3...

Sad hearing this, any explanations ?

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14 October 2008, by Felix

RE : Beirut

The story is quite simple. We had shot a Take Away Show with Okkervill River a long time ago... A year before this one. We had planned the Beirut one a few weeks before, everything was set up, when Okkervill’s label called me to suggest we might do a new Take Away Show with them. But the only time we could do that was at the same time as Beirut (9 musicians, lorts of mess, never shot before....). So I told the label guy, ok for Okkervill, but it will have to be at the same time as Beirut. Maybe they’ll be able to play together... I don’t know why, shyness, or maybe they didn’t know each other, but they didn’t make that duet. We have those videos from Okkervill. Maybe we’ll publish them. Sorry for Will. Because I love the guy

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14 October 2008, by Chryde

RE : Beirut

okkervill sucks. seriously, they have no musical talent, and they’re embarrassingly uncreative. i’m so happy that zach didn’t have to play their songs.

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8 January, by Johnny Tsunami

Beirut

this inspires me more than buildings...

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11 October 2007, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

I can’t thank you enough for this. I simply can’t describe how happy this music makes me feel.

Inspiration in its purest form.

thank you again.

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2 November 2007, by Sam

Beirut

you all do amazing things with amazing bands. beirut-nantes(down the flights of stairs) and arcade fire-neon bible are the videos that fill me with so much joy, i think i may throw up. it’s a beautiful thing you have going on here. i’m so happy i just happened to find this site.

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5 November 2007, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

beirut is my new favorite music. every time i listen to this music and his voice i feel sooo happy... and if am stressed or down, instantly healed! i am going out and buying all of his music at my local music shop here in san francisco today. MERCI BECOUP!

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19 November 2007, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

C’est des gros cons au Charbon et au Blue Billard. Ca se confirme... Par contre, les clips du blogothque sont terribles!

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21 November 2007, by Bob

Beirut

Je ne connais pas l’origine du nom du groupe, mais il est vrai qu’une fois que j’ai entendu cette chanson,c’est un peu l’impression qu’il me restait dans la tte, beirut....gnial.

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13 December 2007, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

Bravo. This is beautiful, amazing stuff. Everything about it is perfect. Hats off to the direcktor! His camerawork is outstanding. This whole projeckt of yours had been one of the highlights of my year. Thank You. And I hope to see more.

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15 December 2007, by Desmond

RE : Beirut

Man, these are all so great but i am troubled. What if they had filmed "postcards from italy" walking down a paris slum? What if "scenic world" had been played by the shore of the seine? Thanks again.

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15 December 2007, by dechry

Beirut

I heard that Beirut filmed about 12 of these videos and a dvd will be released soon, anyone else shed some light on this?

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22 December 2007, by Coskrey

RE : Beirut

Coskrey, go there : http://flyingclubcup.com/

Take care.

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23 December 2007, by runam

RE : Beirut

Merci, je sais gr.

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25 December 2007, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

Encore !!!!!

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23 December 2007, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

can the download links please be fixed? thank you!

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17 March 2008, by tropmug

Beirut

YOUR MUSIC IS TOUCHING MY SOUL, AMAZING, IT FEELS SO GOOD !

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12 April 2008, by ABERDARON

Ruy

what percussion play the drummer?

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3 May 2008, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

simply amazing. all of it.

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21 August 2008, by manny fresh

Beirut

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1 September 2008, by replica watches

Beirut

Nantes is my favorite Beirut song, hands down. Thanks so much for this because I enjoyed it immensely! Simply wonderful!

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6 September 2008, by Lauren

Beirut

i can’t really believe that in 21st century, there is a possibility to feel a beauty of the music... thank you

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24 November 2008, by Vitalijus

Beirut

i really like every song of this band... they all seem to make me float in space somewhere [don’t need hallucinogens :))] now I’m really into ’’un derniere verre (pour la route)’’.... the songs just gets chills up my spine...I enjoy it tremendously... thanks BEIRUT for every moment offered by your music....I LOVE IT!!!!! best wishes.....me

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15 April, by katya

Beirut

This feels all oddly familiar, the whole set-up, everything.

Way to go Beirut, make it work

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16 April, by un courageux anonyme

Beirut

a long time ago there was a video (a take away show) of beirut where they performed in between buildings in what looked like a small park with benches, anyone know where to find it? I could just be looking in the wrong spot.

..so many amazing artists. I can’t get enough of this site. what a great concept

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28 May, by jake

Beirut

I love this; Please put it up for download!

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