Beirut and Basia Bulat @ The Electric Factory.

“Good evening, Philadelphia. It’s good to see you again,” Zach Condon said as Beirut took the stage this Sunday. As the band – bedecked in crisp buttondown shirts and an arsenal of musical instruments, including but not limited to a tuba, a trombone, several trumpets and an accordion – played their set at the absolutely packed Electric Factory, Philadelphia was obviously glad to see them again too.

While the crowd bopped along to the jaunty riffs and clapped their hands to the beat, Beirut played songs both new and old. Their new album, The Rip Tide, combines their usual elements of layered instruments and harmonies that transcends genres. Best described along the lines of world indie folk, they feature lots of soulful brass and trilling, operatic singing set to poignant lyrics.

The atmosphere was relaxed and exuberant, and Beirut kept the energy constantly going by keeping the talking to a minimum and the music to a constant. Hearing the music and watching them play almost transports you to a different place; with the lights simply strung to the ceiling and the sound of an accordion gently playing, you can almost imagine you’re in Paris, right up until the horn section blares in and sends you to Harlem.

Opener Basia Bulat (right) showed that same transportive energy in her set, in which she charmed the audience by teaching them Polish (the lesson of the night: zoo animal vocabulary) in her raspy, excitable voice.

Whether playing on her autoharp or simply clapping her hands and stomping her feet, which she did for her closing song, her effusiveness was unmatched.

Both acts showed incredible musicianship: instruments were changing hands at almost every song, impassioned solos (especially the epic tuba solo during Beirut’s last song) showed the fervor of their players and each set showed an astounding variance in tone and style.

All in all, it was an inspiring and wonderful night for music.