Glen Hansard is a traveler and I’m not sure he’s ever supposed to settle down. A troubadour since I first met him playing a solo across the country promoting his band the frames in Asbury Park. I was reminded of what real musicians could be. He’s more than just a singer guitar player guy. I honestly hate the genre because all I can think about is JT and the time I fell asleep at a concert. Anyway, Glen has been in living in NY the for the past year and half working on the Broadway version of his movie Once. Yup. good enough for U2 good enough for him. Here’s a song from the Hunger Games soundtrack. His first ever solo record is coming June 19th Anti and it’s called Rhythm and Repose. He’s a personable guy. Here’s a video of him just playing without a mic at SXSW. Which is typical Glen. If you like these few ditties pick up For the Birds. You’ll be mad at yourself you waited this long. We can’t wait for this one. Sometimes performers send chills down your back and you wake-up and say to yourself. “Now, if I could only be 1/10 as good as him”. Try as you might Glen’s one of those inspiring characters. Yet, he’s humble and just puts himself out there with every performance. Part Irish charm but mostly a troubadour of life.
There are many many great bands that I’d say are truly Irish and tons of no name heroes who play the traditional stuff in pubs around world. Obviously there’s U2 but just as important to me are The Pogues and The Frames. Both of these bands embody some pretty stunning lyrics and music that really captures this culture of travelers along with the spirited charm of the Irish. Lets not forget songs about the green beer.
I remember seeing Glen Hansard the singer for The Frames play at this small gallery called Be in Asbury Park, NJ to about 50 people with all these other singer songwriters playing sets before he went on. Oh and by the way I used to hate this genre but seemed like a mellow evening. Mostly because I associated the genre to James Taylor (whole other story there). That is until I saw Glen perform. Holy Cow. On personality alone he’s a great Ambassador to his country on another note he embodies all this stuff I list above. He’s a meastro of his audience and makes some pretty dynamic music and to me I thought there was a whole band behind him when it was just him. Then you see his band (4 or 5 times over the years) and you understand this troubadour. You probably just know him from that Once movie with Marketa Irglova. Regardless if you ever get a chance go out of your way. Even if you only know a few songs he’ll have you singing songs; even ones you don’t know.
On the other end. What I always thought of with Irish bands were The Pogues. Smoking and drinking at the pub, dancing the ghig and good old fun until your liver gives out. The beauty beyond all these things have always been the lyrics and stories as sung by Shane Mcgowan. Lord knows you can’t understand them if they are not singing but it’s what makes these songs like living poems. Anyway here’s a a couple from each band. I think you know what U2 sounds like.
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