bouche Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 ONCE Movie Review & THE SWELL SEASON LIVE @ The Danforth Music Hall 11/23/07 Reviews by David "Jaimoe" Ball [blurb]Low-budget Irish film Once has been an unlikely box-office hit after winning the World Cinema Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film festival. Its stars, musicians Glen Hansard (also leader of the Irish band The Frames) and teenage singer-pianist Markéta Irglová have in turn taken their big screen musical act on the road, calling themselves The Swell Season. I find it impossible to review last night’s SOLD-OUT Danforth Music Hall show without first mentioning the film from which spawned this tour.[/blurb]I urge all you romantics out there - or even fans of folk music and concerts – to go out and see Once in your local rep theatre or get the DVD when it comes out in December. You will not be disappointed. On the surface, Once is a simple story centred around a Dublin busker (Hansard) whose impassioned songs cast a spell on a young Czech woman (Irglová). Sweet and adorable Irglová casts spells of her own which leads to a deep unconventional relationship with Hansard woven almost solely through music. Once was shot in a linear fashion on a handheld camera in a near cinéma-vérité style for less than 80 thousand euros and was written and directed by ex-Frames bassist John Carney. All but one of the songs was shot live, the haunting Irglová-sung “If You Want Me†being the exception, and all are shown in their entirety (a rarity in music-based films). The tunes are all unforgettable as are the film’s two stars. Hansard in particular is one hell of a singer-songwriter and riveting on-screen live performer. The depth of the duo’s complex relationship is told through music instead of dialogue, especially through scenes featuring “Falling Slowlyâ€, “If You Want Meâ€, the soul-bearing “Trying To Pull Myself Away†and film climax “When Your Mind’s Made Up". Hansard and Irglová’s shy rapport and intimate musical synergy is so emotional and engaging, that it creates one of the most honest and finest modern love stories I’ve ever seen. It’s a daunting task for this twosome to live-up to their big screen hype and praise night after night (or to live-up to The Frames musical legacy for that matter - Hansard's band for 17 years and counting), but I’m pleased to report that The Swell Season’s show on Friday was on par emotionally with the film and ranks as one of the best concerts of the year. An unaccompanied and grinning Glen Hansard jogged on stage at 9:30 sharp and quickly ripped into "Say It To Me Now", sounding more hopeful than the haggard busker version from Once’s memorable opening scene. Armed with his trademark “beat-to-hell†Takamine and strumming like his life depended on it, Hansard’s guitar is even more worn than Willie Nelson’s famous gouged Martin. Whatever sounds good, right? But Hansard’s real weapon is his powerful and emotive voice. The acoustic solo “Liesâ€, a stripped-down “When My Mind’s Made Up†and hit "Falling Slowly" were three of the night’s top set-pieces (the latter two tunes were fleshed-out by bassist Joseph Doyle and violinist Colin Mac Con Iomaire, members of The Frames who sat in periodically throughout the night) and perhaps best exemplify the charismatic Irishman's desperate straining vocal style and self-searching lyrics, qualities that distance Hansard from fellow Dubliner Damien Rice, for whom he is often compared. Actually, Hansard is more in-tune tone and style wise with contemporary singer-songwriters Jason Molina (Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co.) and Bright Eyes. Most new bands save their breakthrough song(s) for the end of the set or the encore, but Hansard and Irglová have enough confidence in their material that they can pull-off playing the beautiful “Falling Slowly†pretty early in the night. Their rendition wasn’t quite as intimate as the version from the film, although Hansard and Irglová's alluring vocal harmonies could've made George Bush and Bin Laden embrace, but the yearning love song has taken on a deeper meaning in recent months because the duo are now a real-life couple. A loud roar greeted the petite Irglová when she finally stepped out from behind her piano to take centre stage on her pretty good new tune, “Fantasy Manâ€. Markéta dedicated the song to ex-pat Czech writer Josef Skvorecky who emmigrated to Toronto in the late 60’s (after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia). He wrote the novel The Swell Season (from whence they got their name), which Irglová proclaimed as “the best book I’ve ever readâ€. The Swell Season’s take on The Frames’ "What Happens When The Heart Just Stops†was another highlight, with Hansard seamlessly pasting a verse of Van Morrison’s “Caravan†to the end. Hansard then began a rambling story (he prefaced each song with a funny ancecdote) about his three musical heroes, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. This eventually led to a lively cover of “Into The Mysticâ€, helped out by opening act, the always eccentric Mary Margaret O'Hara (another hero of Hansard's). Hansard sounds a little bit like a young Morrison, but he delivered a moody version of Van "the Man"'s prettier Moondance cut. After a quick and well earned break, Hansard and Irglová (joined again by Doyle and Colin Mac Con Iomaire) saved the best for last with two Swell Season/Once tracks anchoring the four song encore, the gentle duet "Once" and Irglová's exceptional "If You Want Me", with her vulnerable voice sounding a hell of a lot like Björk but with a Czech accent mixed in with an odd Irish inflection. The set's final tune was “Star Starâ€, another great Frames cover that found bassist Doyle taking lead vocals for a couple of verses and he almost stole the show. I gotta get me some more Frames. The 100-minute concert was enchanting, full of inspired folk music, good natured heckling from adoring fans, some heartwarming stories involving a white dog, a couple of 14th century ghosts, Irish guilt and my favourite: the evils of Wal-Mart. Although the night had its share of uplifting music, my eyes failed to well-up with tears, unlike my Once screening. However, I dared not shed any or the would have froze to my cheeks. The Danforth Music Hall was fecking cold, but thankfully there was enough warmth emanating from the stage that I doubt anyone cared. Once: ***** (out of 5) Concert: **** 1/2 (out of 5) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UmphIsPrettyOk Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Really sorry I missed out on this one. If you haven't seen Once, buy the Dvd this December. Its really a great film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted December 9, 2007 Report Share Posted December 9, 2007 Once received two nominations in the movie soundtrack categories at the upcoming Grammy Awards. Well done and deserved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 "Falling Slowly" has been nominated for Best Original Song at the upcoming Oscars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Hey, Glen and Markta will be performing at this Sunday's Oscars. Turn it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWeeJig Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 "Falling Slowly" has been nominated for Best Original Song at the upcoming Oscars. They won and the performance was stellar. Waiting on the soundtrack in the mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 "Falling Slowly" has been nominated for Best Original Song at the upcoming Oscars. They won and the performance was stellar. Waiting on the soundtrack in the mail.Have you seen the movie then? If not, do not listen to the soundtrack until you see the movie. The impact of the songs will lessen if you listen to the soundtrack first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWeeJig Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Own the movie. Watch it about once a week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 "Falling Slowly" isn't the best song on the album either, even though it's the centre-piece of the film. I think Oscar could have taken three songs off of Once and dropped those boring Enchanted tunes instead. It would have made the vote a lot tougher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 The impact of the songs will lessen if you listen to the soundtrack first.I totally agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 I think Oscar could have taken three songs off of Once and dropped those boring Enchanted tunes instead.Yup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 I'm really jealous that Jaimoe saw this to a point where I may never speak to him again. It's like him banging a chick in high school that you wanted to bang.This movie created serious chills inside. It is an incredible set of music and the story would not live without it. I hope I have the opportunity to revisit this music, but live.damn you Jaimoe...damn you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 And here's a little of what you missed at the concert in Toronto: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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