Hansard returned to the centre of the stage and proceeded to relate a story about an elderly and elegant lady he met in a New York elevator. He complimented her on her coat and a conversation ensued which culminated in her counselling him to not keep things inside, as she had done for three long years. “When it’s out, it’s gone” he explained in introducing ‘Say It To Me Now.’ The song is the last track from the ONCE movie soundtrack and is sung with sorrowful abandon, as it was on the night - a very special moment in this show. I later realised that this song dates back to 1996 and from the brilliant Frames album FITZCARRALDO.

And if that wasn’t enough, ‘Leave’, sung solo in the same desperate style - if I could have flung my arms around the guy I would have… Another magical moment arrived when after a brief chat with Irglova the pair gave a fabulous rendition of a Pixies song (I think ‘Cactus’) when Irglova let fly vocally for the first time. We had several shows in one with solo vocal performances from both feature artists, we had duettes, we had the Frames band in full-flow, and now it was the turn of Colm Mac Iomaire. Introduced by Irglova with some wonderful, sincere complements, he played a blinder with that electrified violin’s sound resonating in every corner of the venue.

Hansard paid tribute to recently deceased singer/songwriter Bob Charles before launching into the final segments of the show, including another Frames song,’Happiness’ (from BURN THE MAPS), and an encore song which I didn’t recognise, ‘High Hope.’  My highlights in the final part were ‘High Horses’ from the new album and ”When Your Mind’s Made Up’, together with the final concession to the Frames when ’Red Chord’ (from FITZCARRALDO) finally ended the night.

The performances from all artists were stunning but my doubts about this venue and its ambience remain. There were times when Hansard felt the audience vibe was lacking and actually starting a singalong to get things moving… at another point he asked for the lighting to be dimmed a couple of times. Anybody expecting a few more Frames songs would have been disappointed but that leads me to my final point. Four years is a long time to wait for a  new band album, and with the line-up stronger than it’s ever been, Hansard has to hold onto it for dear life. Make no mistake, this was a good performance, but I want Hansard and the Frames to rock again. I want to experience that connection I felt back in ‘99 in a tiny venue in Liverpool, and in several other venues and festivals subsequently.

With Irglova having now developed so much there can be no reason not to concentrate efforts on creating a new killer Frames album, and putting it on the road - fans, old and new, will not wait too much longer. How many Swell Season fans would have by now purchased Frames albums? I think we both know the answer to that one…

At a time when the band were struggling for recognition here, Hansard told me he had been offered an important support slot with a major band but turned it down. The reason? because he didn’t want to to be associated and tagged with a ‘folk-rock band’ label by performing alongside one. He was right then. During an interview (after the release of the band’s most succesful album FOR THE BIRDS), Hansard described in some detail and with firm conviction that he had taken control of the wheel after record company debacles. FOR THE BIRDS was the first album released on his own emprint, Plateau, and for the first time a Frames album topped the Irish album chart. The Frames also won the coveted Irish Meteor award for best live band - two years running. In Hansard you have one of the finest front-men and writers in rock, anywhere, anytime. But he is also now the decision-maker responsible for taking the Frames on its journey to the top, where it deserves to be. Perhaps he should listen to the band’s live album SET LIST a little more often and remind himself of where he has been, and where he should now be heading. The Swell Season show was a great one, but it wasn’t a Frames show. The next moves are key ones in cementing the Frames position as one of the world’s greatest indie rock bands, and in a marketplace becoming more crowded, mediocre and turbulent by the day.

Set List

Fallen From THe Sky, Lies, Low Rising, Feeling The Pull, In These Arms, The Rain, The Moon, If You Want Me, Fantasy Man, Say It To Me Now, Leave, Cactus, Paper Cup, COLM SOLO, I Have Loved You Wrong, Happiness, Once, When Your Mind’s Made Up. ENCORE: Falling Slowly, High Hope, High Horses, Red Chord.