Video: Bono & Glen Hansard Busking in Dublin...

Strict Joy: Swell Season Follow Up to Once...

The Swell Season, the Oscar-winning duo of Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Czech ingÈnue Marketa Irglova, are putting the finishing touches on 'Strict Joy,' (Sept 29/Anti- Records), the follow-up to their beloved, surprise hit 2007 film and gold-certified soundtrack 'Once.' The twelve new, original songs on 'Strict Joy' were recorded last year and document a time of great change and tumult.

'Strict Joy,' which borrows its name from a work by Irish poet James Stephens, a work by Irish poet James Stephens, was co-produced by Hansard and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), and recorded mostly at Katis' Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT. In addition to Hansard and Irglova, the album features Frames members Colm Mac Iomaire (violin), Joe Doyle (bass), Rob Bochnik (guitar), plus guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), percussionist Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground Duo), horn players Steven Bernstein and Clark Gayton from Levon Helm's band, and others.

The Swell Season generated a wave of acclaim during the 2008 awards season including two Grammy nominations and an Oscar win for Best Original Song, for their hit single "Falling Slowly." The duo performed the song on the Oscars telecast, and Irglova provided one of the most memorable and poignant moments of the evening when host Jon Stewart called her back to the stage after a commercial break to give her acceptance speech.

The success of 'Once' also led to a sold out world tour for The Swell Season which was captured for an upcoming documentary. Hansard and Irglova will tour the U.S. extensively again this fall with dates to be announced soon.

'STRICT JOY' TRACK LISTING
1. Low Rising
2. Feeling the Pull
3. In These Arms
4. The Rain
5. Fantasy Man
6. Paper Cup
7. High Horses
8. The Verb
9. I Have Loved You Wrong
10. Love That Conquers
11. Two Tongues
12. Back Broke

Glen Hansard Plays Hairshirt @ R.E.M. Tribute...

The R.E.M. Tribute Concert took place this past Wednesday night, March 11th at Carnegie hall in NYC. Here is some video with Glen presenting his take on Hairshirt.



Read Paste Magazine's review of the Tribute Concert.

Setlist:
The db's -- "Fall on Me"
Fink -- "The Apologist"
Keren Ann -- "Man on the Moon"
Calexico -- "Wendell Gee"
Rachel Yamagata -- "The Great Beyond"
Bob Mould -- "Sitting Still"
The Feelies -- "Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)"
Ingrid Michaelson -- "Night Swimming"
Glen Hansard -- "Hairshirt"
Apples in Stereo -- "South Central Rain"
Guster -- "Shaking Through"
Marshall Crenshaw -- "Supernatural Superserious"
Rhett Miller -- "Driver 8"
Kimya Dawson -- "World Leader Pretend"
Vic Chesnutt with Elf Power -- "Everybody Hurts"
Kristen Hersh & Throwing Muses -- "Perfect Circle"
Dar Williams -- "At My Most Beautiful"
Jolie Holland -- "Rockville"
Darius Rucker -- "I Believe"
Patti Smith -- "New Test Leper"
R.E.M. with Patti Smith -- "E-bow the Letter"

Glen Hansard on Jimmy Fallon