As you can probably tell by now, I am perpetually inspired by songwriters/bands from Ireland and the UK. Glen Hansard is clearly no exception, and is perhaps the most moving performer I've been fortunate enough to see play live to date.
"Fortunate," indeed; long before they had so graciously accepted the Academy Awards, long before I had even seen the movie, I was dumbfounded to have run into him and Miss Irglova at an open mic here in Chicago one frigid December night. Apparently they were in town promoting "Once," and merely stopped in to have a late dinner together. Afterwards, they made their way into the back room where the open mic was taking place to listen to the performers, and literally stood inches away from me. At the time, I had no idea who they were, but someone else in the audience had recognized them and proceeded to beg them to play a song or two. Again, graciously, they obliged, and ended up playing "Once," (the title track that plays during the closing credits which, oddly enough, wasn't even used during the actual film) and "When Your Mind's Made Up." Needless to say, we were all floored, and I am still yet to recover.
I was there on a whim that night, and was fortunate enough to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova rock a teeny open mic in Chicago. And even better? I've got the CD to prove it! The sound person in charge records every open mic performance and sells them for $2 a pop! What a world we live in.
I hope you enjoy ya'll.we'll be posting more soon - we've got a lot to tell you about!! ;)