Live Videos : The Swell Season in Vancouver

Firstly, a short comment on the show itself. I had avoided writing a review for this concert because of how deeply emotional my relationship is to the music of The Swell Season. I think there comes a point in every music commentator's concert-going life that you realize that by observing music for its merits, it detracts from the striking impact that the music should have on you. And sometimes that emotional distance is necessary. But anyway, the set was beautiful. Hansard and Irglova were pitch-perfect; The Frames were solid and clearly demonstrating the chemistry of a band that's performed together for 20 years. The venue had great acoustics and a great view, no matter where you sat. The show in short was spectacular, and stands to be my favourite live show, as Once is my favourite movie.

Below are a few clips of The Swell Season, composed of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, performing at The Centre In Vancouver For Performing Arts on November 25, 2009.

The sound turned out well, although the videos are pretty blurry. I was up in the balcony and zooming quite a bit.

Enjoy!

Low Rising



In These Arms



If You Want Me



Falling Slowly (Encore) - the beeping and cutting out at the end due to memory card running out of space...

The Swell Season-- or, hey! a non-Canadian band that's awesome.

The Swell Season, a.k.a. Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard (of Once fame) is coming to Vancouver on November 25 and playing at The Centre for Performing Arts. I haven't gotten my ticket yet because I'm a poor student, and because the music produced by this duo has an eerie and haunting emotional pull on me that's frankly a little frightening. However, after watching this set of acoustic performances via Spiegel Online, I think I might have to give in and fall hopelessly back in love with this pair.
[Update- one hour later: I am going. Yay]

See The Swell Season perform:
Low Rising
In These Arms
Feeling The Pull
Fantasy Man

Irglova (vocals, piano) and Hansard (vocals, guitar), for those of you who haven't seen the excellent, Academy Award-winning film Once, play the kind of acoustic folk ballads that will tug strongly at your heart strings with raw emotional honesty and beautiful melodies. Hansard's gruff of a voice more than occasionally crescendos to a divine falsetto, which is complemented by Irglova's breathy, endearing Czech lilt.


The Swell Season are currently touring to promote the release of their second album, named Strict Joy, which is almost oxymoronic. (I like it.) The album is available everywhere, and is streaming via their website.

Check them out on Myspace.
Follow The Swell Season, and Glen Hansard on Twitter!