Still Swell Season

Two years ago I caught Swell Season at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and while the setting was far from right for this delicate, confessional duo, they gave half of a great concert. The other half, unfortunately, was plagued by technical problems, bleed over from raucous acts on nearby stages, and Glenn Hansard's barely contained anger and frustration.

I have no doubt that the Michigan Theater will prove to be a far better setting.

For anyone who caught the wonderful indie flick Once, Swell Season is the musical marriage of two very talented artists who trade in intimate, occasionally boisterous, songs that creep around your head like ghosts. Their gorgeous and haunting "Falling Slowly" took home the Oscar, while their flowering-yet-failed romance made them the Buckingham and Nicks of the indie acoustic set.

Hansard is the Irish veteran, the former lead of The Frames, and his heart-aching exploration of doomed romance and eternal
longing finds profundity in simple, mundane intimacy and evocative guitar work. Markéta Irglová’s tunes are cut from the same cloth, but lean on her piano compositions for support. Warm, regretful and soaring with spine-shivering harmonies, the two may not be entwined as lovers anymore, but their voices blend together in beautiful, yearning unison.

The tour is in support of their new CD Strict Joy, with tickets running from $29.50 - $35. Get 'em here.

Reports of previous concerts boast of Hansard's ability to get audiences to harmonize with the duo's singing... and sound good. Sounds like quite a feat.