On the night of the show when I got home, I wrote the following before giving up, logging off, and going to bed:
"Hard to write anything coherent on a show when all you can manage to verbalize, is "it was f**kin' awesome!"."
Here is my attempt to elaborate (and I warn you, once I get going, and open up the floodgates, it could get very wordy...).
It is now several (!) months later, and I'm finally getting around to completing this entry. Lots on my mind these days to distract me and I'm 4 show posts behind (in addition to this show, I also have rough notes for Dan Mangan/the Rural Alberta Advantage, Bob Dylan and Neil Young yet to post from the 2012 concert year). I recently(ish) had a friend remind me how much I enjoy writing about the shows I attend, so I'm going to attempt to catch up as thinking about my shows sends me to my happy place. The relive for this one alone will give me a re-charge. So... will fire up some Glen on the old iPod, and root around in the brain for the Glen Hansard "sweet spot memory files" and get on with it....
Glen Hansard is one of my very favorite musicians. I find I use the word "authentic" a whole lot when describing musicians I admire, and it certainly applies here. It's all about the music with this man, who is just as happy busking on a street corner as he is headlining a Massey Hall show (We've seen him at MH twice prior to this show at the Music Hall. We have not been fortunate enough to see him busk, but have wallowed away many an evening on YouTube checking out his spontaneous and joyful busking performances and can only imagine how amazing a musical experience it would be to be present). No matter the venue, you can tell when he picks up that guitar, that he just wants to play, and slides into his comfort zone while entertaining the everlovin' shit out of his audience. (and as a somewhat unrelated aside, until I fell in musical love with Glen, I was completely anti-facial hair. Thank you Glen Hansard, for making beards sexy...I'd been missing out on a whole demographic of awesome men!)
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| Just say "no"! |
Opening for Glen was Tony Dekker, in a solo side gig from "the Great Lake Swimmers". While he sounded really good, the music was just a little too morose thus putting a damper on our concert high. Adding to the downer effect was the gentleman in front of me who not only blocked my entire view of the stage, but inspired in me an unquestionable desire to stand up and holler: "say 'no' to crack!".
Luckily, he made some "adjustments" before the main event so my eye wasn't constantly being drawn to the grand canyon for the duration of the show. But once Glen took the stage, I'm fairly confident that no level of great abyss would have distracted me...
Glen started the night out by walking onstage (complete with crazy toque!) to the piano to play the very pretty "The Storm, It's Coming" off the new album. This served to gently warm us up, with a follow up launch into the higher tempo "Talking With The Wolves" briefly intro'd with: "this song is about being in touch with your cycles". And we were off!
As per usual, Glen talked to us between songs and would generally set up the next one with an explanation of what it was about. "Back Broke" was described as a song that explained how one feels when they are completely beaten down...but you know everything is going to be okay because "your person" is there with you and you are able to derive a sense of peace from that. And "High Hope", where you will always hold someone in your heart, but know you can't be with them. Letting them go and realizing that someday, you may meet them again in your "there" but knowing they aren't to be in your life. The set list consisted of range of new and old faves. And while I did get some off my personal wish list, I really would have loved to have heard "Song of Good Hope" live as it is my current favorite. Maybe next time.
As mentioned, we've seen Glen before, but only with the Swell Season line up that included Marketa Irglova. No offense at all intended to Marketa, but this show seemed to be a freer, more joyful night of music with her absence. In addition to his 'Frames' mates, he had members of Levon Helm's band included in the mix that greatly contributed to the jam like feel of the show. There was a lot of impromptu chatting, and banter back and forth with the audience members, and much encouraged crowd participation.
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| Glen and audience member singing "Say it to me now" |
In particular, Glen recruited the audience for back up singing on both Back Broke and High Hope....and while I'm sure he 'says that to all the audiences', told us that we were "the best singers yet". (awww, shucks.) And further, Glen contributed to the delight of one young lady who was plucked from the crowd and brought up on stage to perform a duet of "Say it To Me Now". (caught on YouTube - easily found if you're curious). I have to say, this one displeased me somewhat. It just so happens that this is one of my favorite Glen songs ever, so I really prefer to hear Glen sing it unplugged and solo. But good for her - I would say she was shittin' bricks though - there was a whole lot of hair flippin' going on. (catty? Yep. Maybe...but seriously! She took over my favorite tune!!!)
The biggest surprise however, was that one of my favorite moments of the night came near the end of the show when Glen called up a gentleman by the name of Peter Katz from the audience. Peter is a local singer-songwriter (whom I'd never heard of before, but most definitely have since researched), and invited him to take over the stage and play a tune.
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| Peter Katz takes the stage |
I was completely unprepared to be so affected. I think it was the song. He introduced the song as a tune that was written for a friend who had trouble sleeping due to severe depression. Now, I don't suffer from depression but (a) what a beautiful thing to do as a musician for someone you care about and (b) as someone who has the perpetual inner monologue going 24/7, I wish sometimes I could put the brain on pause and get some damned sleep already, so this song, and the sentiment behind it, certainly spoke to me.
I've included the you tube video for the tune in it's entirety below (complete with Peter's intro set-up), but I don't think the clip does justice to the collaborative outpouring of beauty that it was. Was one of those moments you witness of musical goodness that makes your skin hum. He wasn't prepared to play as Glen called him up out of the blue. Glen sat back and watched, and the rest of the band joined in slowly. They all just kind of picked up on the melody and created this wonderful mournful symphony of beauty that brought tears to my eyes. Felt it..., and it now remains a staple in my "calm the ef down" play list. (yes...I have a "calm the ef down" play list...shit...doesn't everybody??!).
Capping off the show for the encore, Glen and band paid tribute to Levon Helm by performing "Don't Do It" (a cover of a Marvin Gaye song performed by "The Band") that was a rousing and soulful party on stage. One of the few moments that Glen was without guitar which is always interesting to watch. Seems the music is constantly flowing through him, and without the guitar strapped to him to channel it, he moves in some very interesting and "free form" ways! And to acknowledge his geographical location, in tribute to Canada and Canadian music, the band performed Leonard Cohen's "Passing Through", while parading through the audience as the finale.
I loved this show. And I love this musician (and his band and his guests, etc,...wow there was a lot of talent stepping on that stage that night). Shows like this are the reason I love living in this city - We are very fortunate to be blessed with a lot of these types of shows, in these types of venues, where it's a collaborative musical experience shared with the audience rather than a large stadium type show that plays a whole lot less personal. Shows like this, are, I feel, what real music is all about. It's a lot bigger than a jam in your buddy's garage, but it certainly maintains the meaningful and personal quality shared with the folks who come by to see you play that I love to my core. My only real complaint? It ended too soon.
Wanna see more pics?
Link to full show photo album
Peter Katz - Still Mind Still
Love Don't Leave Me Waiting (with tease of "Respect" by Aretha Franklin)
Happy Birthday To You (sung to audience member)
Astral Weeks (Van Morrison cover, with tease of "Smile" by Pearl Jam)
The Finish Line (violin solo by Colm Mac Con Iomaire)
Say It To Me Now (with audience member singing second verse)
Gold (Interference cover)
Still Mind Still (performed by Peter Katz with Glen's band)
Don't Do It (Cover of 'the Band's' version of Marvin Gaye tune dedicated to Levon Helm)
Passing Through (Leonard Cohen cover...with full band marching through the crowd)
We were fortunate enough to get a few brand new, yet to be recorded tunes, and as Jory explained, they were inspired by his summer "Torrential" romance (and with his classic good natured but comical straight man delivery, added that whenever you describe something as "Torrential" it is usually after it's over). Enjoyable set-up to the new tune "When the Knives Come Out" and reminded me of a Joel Plaskett quote "If they do you wrong, get them back every night in song". (as a related aside Jory, have I got a song idea for you! It involves a relationship with way too much beer and bacon, a crazy stalker ex, embracing one's inner redneck, and getting dumped by e-mail. I'm pretty sure it needs to involve a banjo. We should talk....)
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