ABSTRACT
In August 2005, I break into a completely different music “culture”: the world of metal and rock. Woody Nawfal, who rents sound and light equipment to events, takes me on “tour” to the Instruments Garage, headquarters and repair station of Virgin Mega Store in East Beirut, just of the Jdeideh highway. He introduces me to musicians working there: Georges Melhem, jazz musician with the ESN Project and ambitious guitar maker. Elias Njeim, the fastest guitar player in the Middle East, according to his friends. Elias works several jobs to earn his living. “I sleep between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m.,” he says. “Rock music is the only space in our lives where we can be ourselves. the rest is: working, working, and looking after your family, your wife, and your kids,” says Ian Chidiac, bass player of the band Synapsis and worker here. His band performs in Cherries Pub in Antelias and in Club Nova on Fridays. “You should join!” (Fieldnotes, 2005)
