The release of Beirut's fourth LP The Rip Tide has unveiled a new touring trend for the Brooklyn quintet. After a nearly four year absence, Saturday's show at Stubb's was their second stop in Austin this year (earlier this summer they played at ACL Live). As snow fell in the band’s northeast hometown, Beirut performed a special show under clear skies at Stubb’s. more ›

While the band Beirut may be most well-known for their brass-heavy European influenced indie music, their latest album The Rip Tide is likely to change that opinion. Austinist had a chance to discuss the record's origins, style, cover art and much more with bassist Paul Collins. Beirut plays Stubb's on Saturday with Ramesh. more ›

After leaking a solid teaser/catchy ode to his hometown with "Santa Fe" at the beginning of the summer, this week Zach Condon's bedroom-project-turned-seasoned-orchestration known simply as Beirut released The Rip Tide to break a four year "hiatus" (sorta - he somewhat quietly released 2009's experimental split EP March of the Zapotec/Realpeople Holland). At first listen, the album is a solid reinforcement exemplifying his carefully cultivated sound. Condon continues to embrace the elements for which we know him best - an invigorating blend of ukulele, crooning vocals, and horn-driven, Balkan-esque instrumentation - only this time he's not as focused on the whimsical dramatics as on the music itself. more ›

It’s been a few years since Beirut graced Austin with their dynamic, brass-fueled production. It’s obvious that time was spent fine-tuning, practicing, and crafting new material. Zach Condon and his five-piece band confidently took the stage at ACL Live Wednesday night for a truly beautiful presentation. In a town where indie acts pass through nightly, their Balkan-influenced songs take flight with billowing brass, lighthearted ukulele chords and an altogether soothing element of enchantment. more ›

This year's Free Press SummerFest was not for the faint of heart. Battling extreme weather conditions ranging from record setting heat (104F!) to torrential downpours to whipping winds, the estimated 70,000 Houstonian music-lovers were not deterred. more ›

Before hitting the road for their current tour, which brings Beirut to ACL Live this Wednesday, Zach Condon took a few minutes to chat with Austinist about living in Brooklyn, being a bit of a homebody, a sometimes addition to video games, his love for restaurants, and getting back to work. Just in case you missed it, [here's part one of the interview.] You've traveled a lot and have picked up a lot of cultural qualities to your music, but what specific cities are the most inspiring to you? more ›

Since debuting in 2006, Beirut has maintained an extraordinary following for a band that has only released two LPs and a double EP. A lot of that reflects frontman Zach Condon's selectivity and innate musicality. But rest assured, the hiatus is over and things are happening! The band is currently embarking on an extensive world tour in preparation of their forthcoming album (rumored to drop this summer). Next week, that tour brings their magical orchestration to ACL Live. In part one of our exclusive interview with frontman Zach Condon, the multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter spoke with Austinist about the difference between his electronic bedroom project RealPeople versus Beirut, the Brazilian phenomenon of Beirutando--a series of street performances covering Beirut that spawned after the band was featured in a local mini-series, Capitu--and his dream-like collaborations with director Alma Har’el. more ›

Transmission Entertainment has just announced the return of Balkan-pop band Beirut's return to an Austin stage after a sabbatical of five years. Unless we're mistaken, their last performance was at Emo's with A Hawk and a Hacksaw and Voxtrot. The band will be playing the ACL Live/Moody Theater on June 8th at 8pm, and tickets go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. more ›

Okay, before we begin, there are some things we must know about El Guincho. First of all, El Guincho is one man, Pablo Díaz-Reixa, and he named his album after the uninhabited island of Alegranza, which is at the northeastern tip of the Canary Islands, which are—of course this is common knowledge—an autonomous domain of Spain located on the west coast of Africa. Díaz-Reixa is from these Canary Islands, and, via Barcelona, he creates swirling and excitable indie pop using loops and samples and an amalgam of musical influences ranging from Benga (Kenyan traditional music) to Bhangra (Indian folk) to any brand of tropicalia that flies well above the head of our good friend Jimmy Buffett. more ›

With the geographic world continuing to shrink in the 21st century and the increased ease of travel and communication opening new doors every day, today’s musical landscape is constantly evolving. Instruments from other cultures have always been utilized in western music, but of late, world styles are making major dents in the indie scene. Be it Vampire Weekend’s African accentuation, M.I.A.’s Bollywood beats, or Beirut evoking adventures in far off lands, we have been privy to some choice innovations in this decade. New York based Gogol Bordello’s brand of “Gypsy Punk” (falling in the geographic vicinity of Beirut’s concoctions) has been garnering momentum with the release of 2005’s Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike and last year’s Super Taranta! more ›

With Beirut’s ads proclaiming, “Nudity. Sexually Explicit Material. Adults Only,” audiences might think they'll be seeing a titillating show. While there is plenty of nudity, it isn’t of the arousing sort. In this hour-long saga of love, lust and sexual deprivation, the actors (and real-life newlyweds) Patterson and Vogt-Patterson go at each other with a clawing intensity and emotional rawness that pulls you into their dark tale of doomed love. more ›

The Vortex has remounted one of its first big hits, Alan Bowne's Beirut. The original production put Vortex on the map as the place to go for cutting-edge, indeed bleeding-edge, work. With a script that's a tad dated but still meaty, the show explores the political, social, and emotional fallout of the AIDS crisis. It includes full nudity and sexually explicit material, all done to serve a story that's weighty and intense. Thu-Sun, 8pm, through 1/26. [Reservations: 478-5282] more ›

Photo by Herald H. Schoeder courtesty of Essay RecordingsSHANTEL What’s the Deal: Finally, some club music that doesn’t make you want to club yourself for being so easily convinced into going “clubbing.” In case you missed them on NPR’s All Songs Considered, which everyone should be listening to, Shantel & Bucovina Club Orkestar is comprised of German electronica master Shantel and an ensemble of Balkan sounds. The result of this mix of electronic beats and... more ›

Image from Tom Brosseau’s MySpace Nickel Creek & Tom BrosseauSaturday, November 17Stubbs (801 Red River)$25 Advance; Doors 7 p.m.[info] | [tickets] Singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau brings heartfelt lyricism and mellow melodies to Stubb’s on Saturday. Hailing from Grand Forks, North Dakota, Brosseau’s high pitched voice and gentle guitar complement his sincere storytelling perfectly, and has found him at least one fan in a certain Natalie Portman. Portman picked Brosseau’s “Plaid Lined Jacket” (along with tracks by... more ›

Beirut The Flying Club Cup (4AD) Beirut is Zach Condon, and Zach Condon is right on time. His international folk through every instrument imaginable (except guitar) is rich with cultural consciousness and adventure and is just the reinvigoration the folk, indie, rock and whatever-music scenes need to get over their musical malaise. The resplendent and occasionally haunting sounds of the cello, accordion, violin, mandolin, piano, sax, clarinet, glockenspiel, flugelhorn, trumpet and more ukelele than you... more ›

Once in a while, we like to take some time to introduce you to bands -- both local otherwise -- that we think you'd enjoy. Le Diamont Brut aims to showcase those MySpace gems we hope to see shine. Recommend your local suggestions by emailing music@austinist.com. FINAL FANTASY What’s the Deal: Final Fantasy is Owen Pallett, and yes, he is a fan of the game series. That’s actually where he got his name. His music... more ›

Ace Fu buzz crew Annuals have come on strong in 2006, thanks to their luminous debut Be He Me and tours with The Dears and Calexico; besides that, they got a song on "Veronica Mars," and is there no surer indie taste-maker these days? Bassist/engineer Mike Robinson kindly spoke to us about, well, SXSW and everything: more ›

Please excuse the abbreviated NRT this week: we'll see you next week with a biggie size. Naturally, the indie world is buzzing with talk about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!'s latest, Some Loud Thunder, and all we can think of is how those poor kids have a lose-lose situation on their hands. They enjoyed a couple years worth of undeniable popularity and interest surrounding an album that, as it was sold by the thousands... more ›

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.... more ›

Voxtrot started out as a channel for singer Ramesh Srivastava to vent his artistic talents. However, two EP’s and numerous successful shows later, Voxtrot has emerged as one of Austin’s most exciting prospects. Raised By Wolves and Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives were both released on the band’s own label, Cult Hero, and served up delightful, introspective pop, fit for most dance floors. Srivastav’s vocal style and genuine lyrics reveal pure authenticity while the accompanying band’s tightly knit melodies provide able support. The band releases its much anticipated 3rd EP, Your Biggest Fan, on Beggars Group’s Playlouder Recordings on November 7. A full tour starts shortly before, and Austinist wants you at their gig in town on October 28th. more ›

Today's big news is the FunFunFun festival, but there are also several new shows in this edition of the concert update. Kasabian, Ben Folds, Mates Of State, and others have all announced Austin shows, and there are tons more on tap for late fall. Have a look: October: 10/21 Pet Shop Boys (The Backyard) 10/21 Ladytron (Stubb's) 10/22 Rolling Stones (Zilker Park) 10/22 Method Man (Emo's) 10/23 Jenny Lewis + Watson Twins (Stubb's) 10/24... more ›

Fans of the indie-rock will find much to like in the latest concert update. Flying V lovers My Morning Jacket, the willfully obtuse Fiery Furnaces, and alt.country godfather Jay Farrar have each been added to Austin's fall music schedule. As we've mentioned, the sheer volume of shows is unprecedented, so get out and enjoy the fact that every band you like is coming to town in the next two months. Thanks as always to... more ›