Mohammed Assaf returned to the capital on Monday for a special Eid performance at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.
A more distinctive affair than last autumn’s outing in front of 20,000 people as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-concert, the small hall provided a rare chance to glimpse the 25-year-old in more intimate surroundings.
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More on our exclusive chat with Mohammed Assaf
■ Arab Idol winner on his upcoming biopic: 'I cried'
■ Second album due out next month
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The tight room also necessitated a change to his backing band. The string section was ditched and – for Assaf the production was pared down to a seven-man crew compete with two backing vocalists.
Acknowledging the lush venue, Assaf took the stage in the outfit his fans prefer him in most: a classic black tuxedo, hair in a quiff, reminiscent of the classic Egyptian crooner Abdel Halim Hafez – or a member of any modern-day boy-band.
Keeping with the concert’s celebratory theme, Assaf was in definite crowd-pleasing mode, balancing his songs with vintage Arabic hits.
When it comes to the former, Ya Halali Ya Mali went down a storm. With the string section out of the way, the dabka-tastic track was all pounding percussion and passionate vocals.
The upcoming single Aywah Haghani, due out Sunday, also destined to be a hit – with the crowd singing along throughout.
Assaf also lent the same conviction to the covers. A former wedding singer, he clearly enjoyed performing the likes of Ya Bint El Sultan, by the Lebanese star Ragheb Alama, and the Palestinian nationalist anthem Ali Al Keffiyeh. The latter track, which he plays at every show, is becoming his anthem.
The standout moment, however, arrived when Assaf dialled the energy down towards the end of the show. He went into full balladeer mode with Hafez's enchanting Zay El Hawa. It was another reminder of Assaf's confidence on stage – and a career that shows no sign of slowing down.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
