It's almost impossible to read about Zach Condon's not-so-long life story and not hear the orchestra in your head play Gershwin's "An American in Paris." As the music scene on the other side of the North Atlantic was very different in the 1920s than what it's like today, Condon's bright brass tunes are not to be compared to Gershwin's brass scores, but it's still hard to disregard how both musicians converge at the inspirational French capital.
Condon's elegant ukulele chords added to a Balkan-inspired flavor took the audience to a walk on the streets of Paris during the first half of the Beirut concert on Saturday, Jan. 31. Beirut's upbeat rhythm furnished by a dramatic Balkan flavor aroused a sweet nostalgia for those who have been to Europe at any time in their lives.
Beirut enthusiasts had been waiting in line even before 6 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show, despite the freezing weather outside. By the time the doors of the Chapel were opened at 7 p.m., the long line had almost passed the Frances Lehmen Loeb Art Center, and a flux of people rushed in, trying to get a seat with the best possible view.
As the audience was waiting for the concert, the general feeling inside the venue was a very positive one, full of exhiliration. Even the minutest movement on the stage was enough to stir excitement and screams from the crowd. As the lights went off a little after 8 p.m., the spectators started shouting and screaming and clapping ecstatically, and Condon took the stage with the rest of the band to play "Nantes," from the band's second album The Flying Club Cup.
The band was extremely energetic on the stage. The members radiated an extraordinary amount of energy, moving along with the rhythms and their instruments, and keeping up the content smile on their faces.
As for Condon, who utterly amazed the crowd, he was living proof of the fact that not everyone belongs where they're born. Playing his unique fusion of Balkan music and western indie, he seemed captivated in his own melodies and lyrics, almost as if he was singing out loud on that old stone arch bridge somewhere in Europe. His vocals were smooth and adept, especially for someone who has not been formally trained in music.
Apart from past hits like "Postcards from Italy" and "Mount Wroclai (Idle)," the band also played tracks from the new double EP, including "The Shrew," "My Night with a Prostitute from Marseille" and "the Concubine."
Songs from The March of the Zapotec featured Mexican folk-inspired tunes, as influenced by Condon's trip to Oaxaca.
The orchestra started after a brief pause in the concert; the strings started in pizzicato, imitating Condon's ukulele. With the orchestra playing, the Chapel proved to be a perfect place for a full bright brass sound.
After the first song with the orchestra, Condon commented, "I've been meaning to do that for a long time."
As the concert progressed, the audience in the Chapel was no longer sitting down. People were either dancing on their own, or holding the hands of a partner, moving around with the rhythm. Beirut's unique melodies were joyous for the crowd, and the band's content look projected immense energy onto the audience.
When the band announced their last song, the crowd loudly expressed its disappointment and started applauding fiercely for an encore. To the audience's delight, the band came back on the stage to sing two more songs.
In the end, Condon thanked the audience, and the band left the stage after Condon fed his Francophile image, giving everyone a "Bonsoir tout le monde!"
After the concert, the Vassar Orkestar members wore tired but happy smiles. Violinist Ellen DeGennaro '12 said, "It was awesome. It was cool to play with a real band, especially because they have such experience internationally."
The "Orkestar" members also agreed that the best part was playing in front of their friends. Celloist Naomi Dubin '12 said, "You always play concerts in front of audiences. But the energy doing it in front of an audience entirely of your peers is something really different and really unique, and awesome!"
Director of ViCE Anabel Graff '09 reflected on the student orchestra, saying, "I think they were phenomenal." She also added that Beirut really enjoyed playing with the orchestra.
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