Another Swell evening

So, it doesn’t seem all that long ago that I wrote about the last The Swell Season Concert here. I probably don’t need to see them every year, although I could, because Glen Hansard is one of those people you just have to see live to understand. I didn’t attempt photography this year, because we were in the very last row, owing to how fast it sold out last year, and so that wasn’t going to be a worthwhile endeavour.

I don’t consider myself a critic of music concerts, and went with Goldy (a sound engineer), Soph (who wanted to be a music journalist), Thora and Dean (don’t really know their music credentials, but am sure they have some), and the blogless Erin (who works for the Australian Chamber Orchestra) so I look forward to their reviews.

There were some similarities to last year’s concert (eg a rendition of Van Morrison that makes you wonder if the guitar is about to burst into flames), more songs off the new album Strict Joy, one or two I had never heard of before, and some performances of songs from the movie Once. Glen did his audience participation magic and tried to get us all to sing along for several songs, but I don’t think he thought we were especially amenable to that (and it’s a little disappointing being in the back row because you can’t hear anyone behind you and aren’t so game to sing out). They’d also brought along a special guest, a fellow called LJ Hill that they’d picked up at the Byron Bay Blues Festival, who was part Aboriginal, part Cherokee Indian and part Irish and sang a lovely song called The Pretty Bird Tree.

When they were called back for the encore they gave us five more songs, which I thought was generous. Initially Marketa came out and sat alone at the piano in the spotlight and sang I Don’t know How to Love Him, from Jesus Christ Superstar, which was unexpected and, I thought, exquisite (even though the song originally is a kind of heretical nonsense) - I don’t think I have heard her sing so beautifully before. They then went out with a traditional Irish song called Parting Glass, which was a fine way to end the evening.