You may or may not have noticed I had a few technical glitches around here. I was all set to tell you about my concert goings to find I couldn’t get into my editing site, or the blog at all. My husband found the same problem, I verified I had indeed renewed the domain, so he directed the problem to our server. They just got back to him and informed him it was always in working order. Curiously, it seems that now it is. Neither of us had any idea what went on, but at least I can finally update you all about those brilliant concerts!
So, first one of the bat, the incredible Glen Hansard. I’d seen him perform several times with Marketa Irglova, but this was my first chance to see him “solo.” Of course, Glen is never really solo. He was ably supported by a posse of musicians, including in parts his sublime support act Lisa O’Neill.
What a breath of fresh air this Irish lass was. She began her set brave and bold, standing alone on the stage just singing a capella from her gut. There’s an intensity about her that is so compelling. She’s a tiny wee thing, a bit of a plain Jane, but she had the most amazing presence. Even when she was joined on stage by her musicians and backup singers, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her songs were also incredible, with just the right mix of kook and heart. I can’t remember being so impressed by a support act as I was with Lisa O’Neill. I’m such a fan, and judging by the hush over the Opera House I wasn’t the only convert.
There was a similar hush once Glen emerged with just his beat-up acoustic guitar. He stood on the very edge of the stage, as close as he could to his adoring crowd, as he sang “Say it To Me Now.” It was such a fitting choice, a song with a history that goes back to his time in The Frames, despite it reaching the masses in his breakthrough musical Once. His set drew heavily from these two chapters of his life, while also featuring some of his solo numbers.
Whatever he sang, he gave it his all. This is why I return to his shows time and time again. He never phones it in. He offers every ounce of his soul to his audience, and leaves his heart raw and bleeding out there. He takes the concept of feeling a lyric to the next level.
I wondered how he’d go performing “Falling Slowly” without Marketa there. Leaving it out would have been virtually unforgivable. But he found a willing partner in April, a gorgeous young thing sitting in the seat in front of me with the voice of an angel. This is the second time I’ve been wowed by the audience volunteers in the Opera House, the first being during Idina Menzel’s performance last year. Thank goodness for audience members who only volunteer to sing when they can! She was incredible.
This was billed as a Glen Hansard solo show, but he isn’t a guy that really performs solo. He was backed by an incredible band made up of members of The Frames and other talents. The instruments helped his songs soar. He brought back Lisa O’Neill towards the end of his set to rapturous applause. Seeing them both having so much fun singing “Mustang Sally” was brilliant. And then he added fellow Irish troubadour Damien Dempsey to the mix for two Irish classics, “The Auld Triangle” and the final poignant song, “The Parting Glass.” I might not have ever visited Ireland like so many of the expats in the audience, but I think I was every bit as moved.
As I woke the next morning, I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. Lisa didn’t take the stage until 8 pm, and Glen is such a generous performer that we weren’t back to the Central Coast until well after 2 am. Getting back to work the next morning was a big ask. But I’d do it all again for a show that incredible.
Image source: own photos
