Two months ago we featured the band A Hawk and a Hacksaw as one of our 
artists of the week. If you remember the article, you might remember a band mentioned that A Hawk and a Hacksaw helped come to being. That band, Beirut, is our artist of the week.
Getting their official start in 2006, Beirut had a similar origin as that of friend Jeremy Barnes of A Hawk and a Hacksaw. Both started as a one-man recording venture with one person playing all of the instruments and putting it all together to make an album of gypsy and Balkan folk music. Both began in New Mexico, and both share a love for world travel that directly influences their style of music.
As any band in the gypsy music field, it’s important to have a good story to go with you and Beirut frontman Zach Condon has a good one. A trumpet player in his teens and all around musical phenom, Condon dropped out of his New Mexico High School at the age of 16 and soon after left for Europe to travel. It was during his stay in Europe that he discovered Balkan folk music, which would become a huge influence and the main focal point of his first album, Gulag Orkestar. It wasn’t until his return to Albuquerque that Condon met Barnes and the creation of Beirut took form. Barnes and bandmate Heather Trost aided in the recording of Gulag Orkestar which would almost immediately put Beirut on the indie music map.
Beirut has been enjoying success since their debut and even in some places you may not expect. After having their hit song “Elephant Gun” appear in the Brazilian TV series Capitu, their music grew a huge following and has sprung forth what’s been dubbed “Beirutando” where people all over the country have 
covered Beirut songs and formed tribute bands. It has even developed a huge movement around the nation called “Beiruting in the Square” where Beirut tribute bands all over the country in August of 2009 went out into the streets playing their versions of Beirut songs, changing them where they thought appropriate to capture the moods of the respective cities in an attempt to ring true more to Brazilian folk music.
Beirut currently have two full-length albums out and are set to release their third album, the Rip Tide, on the 30th of this month. While very similar in style to A Hawk and a Hacksaw and having close ties with the band, Beirut is something completely its own. Part of their individuality stems from their use of vocals and lyrics. Another aspect is their ability to change styles. Beirut has been compared to artists like Conor Oberst and Sufjan Steves as well as A Hawk and a Hacksaw. While Barnes and Trost play mainly instrumentals, Condon adds that feeling of longing to his music with lyrics that make you feel as though you’ve lost something or someone or perhaps even been lacking something in life. Either way, the music recalls memories from our past and adds nostalgic feelings to almost any situation. A perfect band to throw into any playlist you may be considering. Get your fix below, and stay cool in these hot summer days!
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