Concert Review: The Swell Season at the Pageant featuring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Tuesday, May 6
(Photos and review by Annie Zaleski; entire Flickr set here.)
(Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard)
The central appeal of the 2006 movie Once is what happens when creativity and attraction intertwine in musical and romantic chemistry. Stars Glen Hansard (an Irish street busker) and Marketa Irglova (a pianist) find each other and experience a simple, but sweet, jolt: the irresistible pull toward another person, the intangible magnet spark, the intoxicating emotional rush and aching longing that come with dewy love.
The movie’s storyline – and Hansard and Irglova’s real-life musical collaboration, the Swell Season -- became even more poignant when it was revealed that the on-screen duo became an actual couple. This collusion of reality and fantasy is the stuff of which fairy tales (and fan fiction) are made; the couple’s heartbreakingly gorgeous harmonies and obvious songwriting gifts only exacerbated its ideal image.
Without that cinematic pixie dust surrounding Hansard and Irglova’s relationship, though, what’s left is reality – which perhaps isn’t quite as idealized or glamorous (although probably no less satisfying). At one point during the Swell Season’s sold out show at the Pageant on Tuesday night, Hansard embraced Irglova and sweetly slow-danced with her – and bless her heart, she looked embarrassed at such a public display.













