If I ventured in the slipstream

Hey, Megs.

I should start with some sort of excuse for not posting since April. I got nothing.

Kevin and I went to see a most amazing show last night--The Swell Season at the Ryman. The band is the Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, of the film Once. (Lovely movie, by the way. I'm pretty sure I already recommended it, but if not, here goes: You should watch it. Probably sometime when Todd is out hunting.)

What a show. It was perfectly suited to the Ryman. I love seeing shows there where the artists are completely in awe of what has occured in that room before them (ahem, I am NOT looking your way, Mr. Bob Dylan). He's Irish, she's Czech, and they were loving being in the mother church of country music. It was contagious.

The whole show was just . . . the tingly kind. You know, when certain parts give you shivers and you leave with that tingly feeling. You can hear sort of what it was like on NPR Music. They have Swell Season concert, as well as a concert by The Frames, which is Glen Hansard's band (much beloved in Ireland). They just happened to be, awesomely, the "backing band" last night. What a surprise! What a treat!

As great as the band was, though, I have to say that my favorite part of the evening was a solo song by Hansard. I don't want to make you too terribly jealous, but he played Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks." "Would you kiss-a my eyes?" That one had me leaning closer.

Aha! Look what I found. I know a Luddite like you may not appreciate it, but due to the magic of YouTube, you can hear what it was like (but not really). This is him performing at Bonnaroo:



Note: I would have tried to make my own video of this song, because you know I thought about you as soon as I figured out what it was. But seriously, I was not taking any chances with those senior citizens working security at the Ryman. They've got eagle eyes, and they are vicious.

I think I told you that I have been thinking about moving the family to Chapel Hill. I have Kevin at least considering it. But it's shows like this one that make me think twice about it. Until, that is, I remember that The Swell Season also played in Raleigh, NC, on this tour. And, in Raleigh, I would bet that my seat neighbor would not be trying to out-sing the band and/or audition for a back-up singer spot from the Ryman balcony. Honestly, I cringed every time they requested audience participation because Ms. American Idol over there was trying her hardest to make sure we knew what a lovely songbird she was.

The rest of the audience was awesome, though, and gamely sang along when requested, making for some lovely sounds. (I was a bit displeased when a chorus of "Boo!"s rang out amongst the "Yay!"s when Hansard gave a rousing Irish endorsement of Obama. But if I start going down that road, this post may never recover.) Another of my favorite moments was when Hansard--who had been playing an acoustic guitar for much of the night--started fiddling with the tuners on an electric guitar. It was taking a while for him to get things straight, and things were really very quiet when this guy yelled out from across the room, "Now you know what Dylan felt like!" Hilarious. Hansard laughed and joked along, and then another guy yelled out, "Judas!" It was perfect. Gotta love an audience that is up on its music history and not afraid to show it.



Note: That Youtube video of Dylan (even including the scrolling credits part) is much more awesome than my most recent Dylan experience. Would that I had known that prior to spending $100 on the ticket. :-(

Alright, that's all I have to report from last night's festivities. Upcoming shows include The Raconteurs, Old Crow Medicine Show, and . . . wait for it . . . ZZ Top at the Ryman. More dispatches to come . . .

I hope all is well with you. I miss you much.

love, molly

previous post title source: "Hope For Us All," Nick Lowe