hooves on the turf

If you plan to embed these videos, please link to this page. I’ll be posting more clips from this show in the coming days.

“Siki Siki Baba” (encore w/ the Gulag Orkestar)

Beirut’s last show at its three-day Bowery Ballroom residency was an absolute blast. It’s rare to like a show considerably more the second time, but tonight’s celebratory spirit and awesome crowd were exceptional. Perhaps it’s the familiarity built in two prior nights and the festive mood of jovial goodbyes. The band members were in top shape, as they were on Sunday, but everyone seemed more laid back and cheerier. There was even an adequate supply of confetti, and Owen Pallett’s animator-friend took on the job of shooting strips of ribbons from the stage. Zach might’ve been a little more drunk, too, and whatever the reason, he was a spirited frontman tonight (he said that Owen Pallett commented he made the best drunk frontman). Cafe Eclectica Music has reported that he is relocating from Brooklyn to Paris after a quick break in Montreal after these NYC shows. Tonight he was insistent that France won the World Cup, even integrating the sentiment into the lyrics at one point. He explained, “Sorry, I love France.”

(More videos after the jump)

“Gulag Orkestar”

“Postcards from Italy”

The audience was notably a fun bunch tonight. Some girls from the Sunday night show had returned with the scarf Jeremy Barnes left at a venue in Portland (Jeremy is not currently touring with Beirut). Zach wore it to sing the Jacques Brel cover “Le Moribound.” Two girls in the front took Polaroid pictures and handed them to Zach. When the band started playing “Siki Siki Baba,” the person behind me yelled, “Fuck yeah! Fuck yeah!” For a change, most conversations between the audience and the band were pleasantly organic and enjoyable. My favorite might’ve been the recurring “Jon Natcez rules” chant (Jon Natcez does rule- and he also plays several things for the band, including ukulele and some horns). One person said “Natcez is God” and Zach responded, “Jon Natcez does not exist.” Natcez, on the other hand, blushed and sent chuckle-muffled requests to stop.

Zach Condon sings w/ Final Fantasy

I also enjoyed the Final Fantasy set more the second time around, though the first one itself was super. Owen Pallet has mastered the art of loop-pedalling and plays such a precisely lush show for a one-man act. The setlist was similar to Sunday night’s, with some differences, including one new song Zach came out to sing the chorus for. For the last tune Owen couldn’t decide whether or not to play a “downer.” He chose to play it (”Took You Two Years to Win My Heart”), reasoning: “You guys are so happy you need a downer.”

Arcade Fire’s Kelly Pratt, who made a brief appearance last night as well, rushed from the Arcade show at United Palace to make it just in time for the first encore, “Postcards from Italy.” Maybe tomorrow Beirut will come to Arcade’s show. Maybe?

Check back for the remaining videos.

Previously

• Beirut at Bowery - photos + review
• Final Fantasy at Bowery - photos + review