Beirut

Beirut is the name of 20-year-old Santa Fe native Zach Condon's one-man band. The first official release under the Beirut name was assisted by Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel, A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw), it combines elements of Eastern European and folk sounds.

Though young, Condon has already released a few albums. He recorded under the name Real People when he was 15, which was an electronic record admittedly fashioned after his love of the Magnetic Fields. At 16, he recorded an entire doo-wop album that was inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. Condon attended Santa Fe High School, where he was a student until he dropped out at the age of 16 to travel Europe where he was first exposed to Balkan gypsy music notably including the Boban Marković Orchestra. A limited vinyl EP should be released fall 2006.

Live, Beirut's shifting roster generally consists of Condon accompanied by Perrin Cloutier (cello/accordian), Jason Poranski (guitar/mandolin/ukulele), Nick Petree (drums), Kristin Ferebee (violin), Paul Collins (organ/keys/tambourine/ukulele), Jon Natchez (baritone sax/mandolin/glockenspiel), and Kelly Pratt (trumpet/euphonium).