The Swell Season @ Danforth Music Hall, Nov. 23

Seeing the sleeper indie movie hit Once was a revelation, not just for its minimalist filmmaking style and sweet story, but more for its heart-stopping music, performed by the film’s stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
     It’s hard to see a movie like that and not want more, so we jumped at the chance to see Hansard and Irglova perform their music live (under the name The Swell Season). And I’m glad we did. Hansard, in particular, is an extraordinary talent and you can’t help but wonder why it took so long — and took such a small film — to discover him. Toiling away for years as the lead singer for little-known Irish band The Frames, it never clicked until Once and co-star Irglova came along. Frankly, it may never click again, but for this one season, it was more than swell.
     (And as extra excitement, famous Toronto recluse Mary Margaret O’Hara opened the show, doing her Patsy Cline-on-acid routine to an appreciative, if slightly confused, audience.)
Glen Hansard: Leave (mp3) (zip)