It all starts with Zach Condon counting down the beats to a track from his 2007 album ‘The Flying Cup.’ An accordion comes in, humming a melody in the background and Condon – known with his band as Beirut – begins to sing. He is walking alongside the accordion player on a French street, passing by outdoor restaurants, people walking their dogs and curious onlookers.

This is a La Blogotheque Take Away Show. Number 64 in the series to be exact. Each of the shows feature indie musicians – everyone from R.E.M., Animal Collective, Stephen Malkmus and more – performing live on streets all over the world.

And this one, featuring Condon and his band, is probably one of the best. It took the La Blogotheque staff nearly four years to create this clip, too, as Condon suffered from exhaustion shortly before the original shooting.

Clad in a simple sweater and jeans, Condon sings ‘Nantes,’ one of his many Eastern European-inspired melodies. What makes it a classic, though, is the passion behind it – Condon begins singing a capella, joins the accordion and later meets up with his percussionists playing in trash cans and boxes, all the while taking a stroll down a French street in the middle of the day.

The La Blogotheque Take Away Shows are some of the most unique clips out there, and Condon makes this one all about the passion behind his music.

akalliso@syr.edu