Friday the 13th brought Beirut (@beirutband) with Lady Lamb the Beekeeper (@ladylambjams) to The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ. After only hearing echoes of Lady Lamb’s powerful vocals from outside the venue, I was extremely eager to finally enter the room and experience the worldly sounds of Beirut.

Led by multi-instrumentalist Zach Condon, Beirut arrived on stage unassumingly, said a quick, friendly greeting to the crowd, then quickly delved into their material. Given that the band’s last album was released almost two years ago, most of the songs on their setlist were familiar to the audience and welcomed with loud applause. Such songs as “Elephant Gun” and “A Sunday Smile” were received particularly well by devout Beirut fans, and my personal favorites, “The Shrew” and “Nantes” were certainly welcomed by the attentive crowd as well.

As expected, Beirut’s performance was polished from beginning to end. The instrumentation crafted by each of the six members complimented the overall sound, creating something full and pleasant to the ears. The virtuosic playing of the brass section gave songs a gypsy flair, while the accordion player, bassist and drummer created the festive, waltz-like quality. Condon’s smooth, crooning voice hovered over the room to complete the signature sweeping sound the band is known for.

While those in attendance showed appreciation from beginning to end in a polite way, the crowd’s overall energy was lackluster. Generally, an audience’s reaction to Beirut results in linked arms and gentle swaying with a beer in hand. Instead, the majority remained stagnant, with the exception a few circles of tipsy onlookers who formed their own dance party.

Overall, Beirut performed an amazing set, including a substantial encore that left the crowd completely satisfied. Those who missed Beirut at Wellmont have another chance to see them perform at Brooklyn’s Northside Festival June 17.