The Swell Season: 07-26-07 9:30 Club

I've seen a number of fantastic live shows during the past couple of months. One of my favorites was The Swell Season at the Beacon Theater in NYC on November 19th. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, joined by a cellist, violinist (from The Frames) and a bassist, had the sold out Beacon in the palm of their collective hands. Hansard started the gig by singing "Say It To Me Now", the song he sung in the film when the two main characters first met, solo and unamplified from the front of the stage. The duo and their solid backing musicians proceeded to bring the house down with more tunes from Once and their 2006 collaboration, along with some Frames tunes and a few covers. It was a stellar show that left me with goosebumps too many times to count. I've already sung the praises of the film Once here in cyberspace, but to hear the stars perform the songs live in a beautiful old theater was something else.

I haven't yet found a recording of the gig I saw at the Beacon, but NPR aired a Swell Season show earlier this year that was recorded at the 9:30 Club in DC. Enjoy.

The Swell Season
9:30 Club
07-26-07

When Your Mind's Made Up
Lies
All the Way Down
Drown Out
This Low
If You Want Me
Fantasy Man
Falling Slowly
Leave
Say It To Me Now
Golden
Cactus (Pixies cover)
Pavement Tune (I Want My Life to Make More Sense to Me)
Once
Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
Into the Mystic (Van Morrison cover)
Star Star
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Bob Dylan cover)

Download the show here.

Buy The Swell Season's music here.