Habib Elyasi’s tracks are described by Emiratis as being “shababiya”, an Arabic term meaning “youth-friendly”.
Witness him belting out high-tempo Emirati pop and you get the idea.
His nearly 20-piece band, including back-up singers, seemed as if they were having a music duel. On one side was the seven-piece percussion crew whose deft playing sounded like fireworks, while the other side held the string section who valiantly kept up with the rhythm.
Not to be outdone, the back-up singers were almost like hype-men as they implored the crowd to dance. In the middle of it all was Elyasi himself. The Dubai-based singer – called The Nightingale of the UAE – remained a static presence as his smooth croon managed to cut through the clattering racket behind him.
Hadtha Habib was a rollicking affair and came complete with a call and response chorus and hand-clap rhythms. The tempo took a higher turn in Tayarah; this time around the string section delivered the main groove with the sweaty percussionists following suit. It was also at this stage that a mini dance floor was formed at the front of the stage.
While Elyasi's new single, the Turkish inspired Hikaya, went down a treat, it was a cover that was the concert highlight. Elyasi delivered a souped-up take of veteran Emirati artist Mehad Hamad's 2014 hit Bargen Lah, the added percussion further accentuating the track's winning desert-blues flavour.
Appearing earlier that night as a support act was Mohammed Al Dairi. No matter how familiar we are with the work of the Palestinian artist and Arabs Got Talent finalist, it nevertheless was thrilling to see him paint seemingly abstract lines on canvas, only to reveal the final picture with a few last strokes. This time around it was the UAE's President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, and the late Egyptian songbird Umm Kulthoum.
