There are moments where music leaves you completely speechless; there are moments where inspiration, creativity and all out beauty combine in a way that make you feel like your heart might explode.
I am not exaggerating when I say that to see The Swell Season is to have one of those moments.
That was at least the case last night at Keller Auditorium.
Glen Hansard took the stage alone and opened the set with the heart wrenching “Say It Too Me Now”, bellowing with the same intensity he showed singing the song on a street corner in “Once”.
With that the rest of the band took the stage, which included the amazing Markéta Irglová and the rest of The Frames (sans drummer).
The lineup is fitting because the majority of The Swell Season’s songs are reworked Frames tunes, but even for someone like me who is familiar with The Frames, the songs still take on immediate new life.
The group was joined at times by the two traditional Irish folksters who opened the show (who Hansard later revealed were old street busker friends of his from Dublin) bolstering the band to 7 pieces.
The night also featured brand new material from both Glen and Markéta peppered throughout the evening, fitting in perfectly alongside Soundtrack standouts like “Lies”, “When Your Minds Made Up”, and the Oscar-winning hit “Falling Slowly”.
The absolute moment of the night, and possibly one of the greater concert moments I have seen, came when Hansard told a story of a pre-gig walk through Portland and a meeting with a particularly inspiring music fan named Joseph.
Hansard then shocked the entire room, but Joseph most of all, by inviting the youngster to the stage to sing along side them.
Joseph picked “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass, (which was impressive, because put in the same situation I have my doubts I could have thought of anything) which Hansard and the aforementioned busker pals obviously didn’t know, but as the song went on the consummate musicians picked out the tune and were joined by the rest of the players to created a 7 piece backing band for the visibly shocked and nervous new man of the hour.
After gaining a standing ovation and taking a bow, Joseph left the stage with the greatest story he’ll ever be able to tell.
Following that, the band played a cover of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” which (huge apologies to all Van Fans) may be the definitive take on the song.
After the break the night finished up with the two Frames classics. The amazingly inspirational “Fitzcarraldo” and the gorgeous “Star Star”.
And with that band left the stage, and left all in attendance with the warmed hearts that come from seeing a truly magical evening of music.
I am not exaggerating when I say that to see The Swell Season is to have one of those moments.
That was at least the case last night at Keller Auditorium.
Glen Hansard took the stage alone and opened the set with the heart wrenching “Say It Too Me Now”, bellowing with the same intensity he showed singing the song on a street corner in “Once”.
With that the rest of the band took the stage, which included the amazing Markéta Irglová and the rest of The Frames (sans drummer).
The lineup is fitting because the majority of The Swell Season’s songs are reworked Frames tunes, but even for someone like me who is familiar with The Frames, the songs still take on immediate new life.
The group was joined at times by the two traditional Irish folksters who opened the show (who Hansard later revealed were old street busker friends of his from Dublin) bolstering the band to 7 pieces.
The night also featured brand new material from both Glen and Markéta peppered throughout the evening, fitting in perfectly alongside Soundtrack standouts like “Lies”, “When Your Minds Made Up”, and the Oscar-winning hit “Falling Slowly”.
The absolute moment of the night, and possibly one of the greater concert moments I have seen, came when Hansard told a story of a pre-gig walk through Portland and a meeting with a particularly inspiring music fan named Joseph.
Hansard then shocked the entire room, but Joseph most of all, by inviting the youngster to the stage to sing along side them.
Joseph picked “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass, (which was impressive, because put in the same situation I have my doubts I could have thought of anything) which Hansard and the aforementioned busker pals obviously didn’t know, but as the song went on the consummate musicians picked out the tune and were joined by the rest of the players to created a 7 piece backing band for the visibly shocked and nervous new man of the hour.
After gaining a standing ovation and taking a bow, Joseph left the stage with the greatest story he’ll ever be able to tell.
Following that, the band played a cover of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” which (huge apologies to all Van Fans) may be the definitive take on the song.
After the break the night finished up with the two Frames classics. The amazingly inspirational “Fitzcarraldo” and the gorgeous “Star Star”.
And with that band left the stage, and left all in attendance with the warmed hearts that come from seeing a truly magical evening of music.
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