Some interesting characters to speak of this week, for various reasons, beginning with Zach Condon and his band Beirut. Fresh off of a performance at this weekend's Sasquatch Festival, the 22-year-old New Mexico native brings his Balkan-inspired act to Portland's Crystal Ballroom tonight, along with openers The Brunettes. Something of a romantic's romantic, the precocious Condon began composing his songs-- kind of a gypsified Neutral Milk Hotel-- in an Albuquerque bedroom after dropping out of school at 16 to travel Europe. One might call it old-world indie as the music swells with strings and flügelhorns and other assorted antique instrumentation. The rather unlikely result thus far has been two full-length releases of stunningly gorgeous and transporting music, the most recent coming with last year's The Flying Club Cup. It's Beirut in Little Beirut, birthplace of like-minded fellow travelers like The Decemberists-- it seems there could hardly be a better fit.
MP3: Beirut, from The Flying Club Cup- "A Sunday Smile"
Later in the week-- Tuesday to be precise-- it's a visit from another old soul, albeit a much newer one than Mr. Condon. Jamie Lidell plays Berbati's Pan in support of his recent second release, entitled Jim. As on his debut, Lidell borrows cues from soul masters like Stevie Wonder, keeping things just gritty enough in production to make you wonder if the music isn't coming from a long-lost recording from Wonder's hey-day. It all adds up to an impressively authentic and soulful release from an artist previously best known for his role as one half of the electronic duo Super Collider.
Video: Jamie Lidell, from Jim- "Another Day"
Also this week, the release of the third album in an impressive late career renaissance from R&B legend Al Green. Lay It Down is also the third album this decade the Reverend has released on the Blue Note label and for the most part sticks with the formula that made its predecessors so successful-- namely, a back to basics approach that produces a sound akin to Green's influential '70's canon. One major change this time around, however, is the presence of a few guests in the mix, including singers Anthony Hamilton, Corrine Bailey Rae, and John Legend, horns from The Dap-Kings (on loan from Sharon Jones), and production from James Poyser and The Roots' ?uestlove. The result is both a reminder of why Green is widely regarded as the first great soul singer of the 1970's, and a notice that he's not finished yet.
Finally, speaking of old souls, we remember the late folksinger, storyteller, rabble-rouser, activist, hobo and erstwhile politician Utah Phillips, who passed away on Friday in Nevada City, CA at the age of 73. The child of labor organizers, Phillips fought a lifelong battle on the side of underdogs of various stripes, interweaving his activism with his music and storytelling. Over the years, he performed and/or recorded with names like Rosalie Sorrels, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Kate Wolf, and Ani DiFranco, the last of whom helped introduce Phillips to a whole new generation of fans with two album collaborations in the late '90's. Phillips recently issued a letter, a goodbye of sorts to fans and friends, through KVMR, the radio station where he continued to record his weekly program called Loafer's Glory.
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