First off, I need to quantify this statement in my headline. I've only been to five concerts so far in my life, The Swell Season being the fifth one.
My first ever concert was in 1987 and it was a Debbie Gibson concert. Before anyone snickers, remember, it was 1987 and she was very popular at the time and I was in the right age bracket (12 years old) to be a fan. So no mocking me.
My next concert was 10 years later in 1997 when Celine Dion came into town. Yes, I know a lot of people aren't fans of hers -they find her music cheesy but I actually still like her to this day. I think her music is great.
It only took 5 years till I went to my next concert and that was in Casino Regina and I saw Chantal Kreviazuk. It was an okay concert but I didn't enjoy it very well because I only knew very few of her songs and she wasn't that strong singing live.
Last year was concert #4 and it was Neil Diamond -a friend took me to cheer me up as I was having a rough time.
Now, I not a big fan of Neil Diamond and it was really nice of my friend to take me but again, like Chantal Kreviazuk it was hard to enjoy the show not knowing any of his songs except one and that was Sweet Caroline which he didn't get to until the encore.
And I really think that is the reason why I don't go to many concerts and that is the lack of knowing a musician/band's entire discography.
But that wasn't the case with the Swell Season. I became familiar with the duo of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova because of the film Once. A beautiful film about an Irish busker who meets a Czech immigrant in Dublin and the make beautiful music together.
So when I saw that they were coming to Vancouver and playing at The Center, I immediately snapped up tickets.
The opening act was the singer from a band called Doveman -he wasn't that great. All his songs sounded the same -very depressing. The only highlight was when he turned upbeat songs from Footloose into mournful versions.
When The Swell Season finally hit the stage, last night Glen, coming out with a Rastafarian style toque, and Marketa sat down on the stage with the mic lowered onto his famous guitar with the hole and also pointed at a mini Casio keyboard to play Fallen from the Sky -one of my favorite songs from Once. It was great start to the concert -such an upbeat song to get the crowd started.
Glen then shedded the toque and Marketa took her place behind a grand piano to play Lies -also from Once.
Eventually, Glen and Mar were joined by their band, The Frames (Glen's other band) to perform a few songs from their new album Strict Joy and one from their first album called The Swell Season. Highlights were Low Rising and The Rain.
When Marketa took the stage to sing lead, she started off singing If you Want Me -one of my favourite songs of all time. It was a great arrangement having the full band behind her. She then sang a new song off Strict Joy called Fantasy Man, which was just great.
After, Glen took the stage alone, sat down and sang a raw version of Say it to me Now -the song that opens Once. He did it with no mic in front of him. It was very powerful.
He then sang Leave, another raw performance.
The violinist of the band also played a solo, showing off a traditional Irish tune that is off his album.
One of the higlights of course was during the first encore when Glen and Mar sang their Oscar-winning song Falling Slowly -it is just as lovely hearing it live as hearing it on my iPod.
The crowd wanted them to sing the Broken-Hearted Hoover Fixer Upper guy but they didn't. Instead we were treated to two more songs such as High Horses and a second encore of an Irish tune called Parting Glasses -a very fitting end.
The concert was just great. Glen and Mar were engaging with the audience, the music was awesome, the crowd appreciative of what we were seeing on stage. The crowd to was quite talented when Glen asked us to join in and sing harmony on a couple of songs.
If The Swell Season ever come again to Vancouver, I will be sure to get tickets.
Here is video someone took of the Swell Season singing When You Mind's Made Up
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