Beirut Bring French Pop, Gypsy Tunes To NYC

A former church turned humanist gathering place — New York’s Society of Ethical Culture — was the location on Monday night for a band from Albuquerque (by way of New York) that sports a Middle Eastern name, was single-handedly responsible for exporting Balkan music to the blogosphere a year ago and has now gone all Gallic on us — our favorite accordion-mandolin-ukulele-horn-playing octet, Beirut, led by the globetrotting prodigy Zach Condon.

The performance was part of New York’s ongoing “Wordless Music Series,” dedicated to bringing together — and breaking down the artificial barriers between — classical and pop musicians. So, after two openers — a spare, hypnotic set by French experimental player Colleen and five songs from the classical duo of Katya Mihailova and Colin Jacobson — it was time for the main event. Those seated in the dark wood pews of the Ethical Culture’s concert hall went from respectful to raucous.

http://yourhereblog.mtv.com/2007/09/26/globetrotting-beirut-bring-french-pop-and-gypsy-tunes-to-nyc/