A Band From Beirut Speaks To Tragedy In Orlando

June 15, 2016 — Monday morning, as we were all absorbing the horrors of the Pulse attack in Orlando — the deadliest mass public shooting in modern U.S. history — Mashrou’ Leila arrived to play a Tiny Desk concert. For this band from Beirut, Lebanon, the full weight of the tragedy hung heavily, and its members wanted to begin their set by addressing the Pulse shootings. We’ll have their full performance available soon, but this was so timely, we wanted to share it right away. Mashrou’ Leila (the name translates as “Night Project“) includes five young Beirutis — singer Hamed Sinno, violinist Haig Papazian, keyboardist and guitarist Firas Abou Fakher, Ibrahim Badr on bass and drummer Carl Gerges — of mixed religious heritage. They are well acquainted with the targeting of both LGBT people and those questioning the political, religious and cultural status quo. Sinno, who is also the band’s lyricist, is openly gay, and Mashrou’ Leila has faced condemnation, bans and threats in its home region, including some fro