By Shawn Fitzmaurice, for the event on 15 May, 2008
The Progress Energy Center Meymandi Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh North Carolina (breathe) is a room built for a symphony. Though not so aesthetically pleasing, it has an acoustic quality that I personally have never experienced for a Frames or Swell Season gig. How fortunate to have them together in this amazing sounding space!
The bill was the Swell Season, being Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the stars of John Carney’s “little indie film that could”, Once (for those of you missed the Oscars). The actual line up was Glen’s rock band, The Frames (well, most of the Frames), and Marketa. Together they played both Swell Season songs, and Frames songs with a Swell Season flavor.
And what a combination! This union is a seamless, and admitted attempt to “connect the dots” (according to Glen) between the two vehicles for the music of Hansard. All pieces were presented with the passion and skill that has always marked Frames and Swell Season performances. In conjunction, there is a dimension that escalates the experience, bringing something new for old fans and something unlike any other for new ones.
Frames members Rob Bochnik on guitar, Joe Doyle on bass, and Colm Mac Con Iomaire on fiddle, as well as friend and drummer Graham Hopkins (who has played with a vast collection of bands, including his own: Halite) bring to Swell Season a spark that can only be shared by old friends. This masterfully ignites Swell Season songs, like “Falling Slowly”, “When Your Mind’s made up” and “Once”. At the same time, the presence of Irglova’s wonderfully distinct vocals and classic piano bring exuberance to old Frames standards like epic “Fitzcarraldo” and some-day-to-be-classic “Star Star.”
Though she explained she was sick, likely with allergies, and thought she wouldn’t have made it to the show but “with a little help from my (her) friends”, Marketa hit the mark with beautiful performances of “All the Way Down”, “If You Want Me” and brand new song, “I have Loved you Wrong”, among others.
And of course, Glen captivated the room, as he’s always done, with his solo set, including Swell Season song “Leave”, Frames tune “Lay Me Down”, and the ever amazing cover of Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks.” He was then joined by Marketa for a very cool version of the Pixies song, “Cactus”.
The evening was punctuated by a couple of unexpected performances. Firstly, tour manager Fiacre Gaffney, pulled out an amazing rendition of Steve Earle’s “The Mountain”, complete with a comment on the state of the union. Later, Frames fiddler Colm Mac Con Iomaire played the outstanding piece “Blue Shoes” from his debut solo CD, The Hare’s Corner (which, by the way, I am listening to right now, and is amazing!).
The addition of new songs, “Love Makes Me Cheerful” and “Go With Happiness” (complete with interesting theatrical facial contortions and bodily gestures) may have left some to wonder if these are to be Swell Season or Frames tunes. Or for that matter, to what extent the two projects will be combined in the long term.
Whatever the outcome, this evening’s performance ranks as one of the best I have seen with respect to either project, and if you have the opportunity to catch them with this combination of musicians, do. It will Frame an unforgettable Swell Season event.
Copyright© 2008, Shawn Fitzmaurice and Paddy-Whacked Radio™.
Shawn Fitzmaurice is the creator and founder of Paddy-Whacked Radio™. He’s also the DJ.
