Live at Sydney Opera House by Glen Hansard

There are very few musicians I love as much as Glen Hansard. The only reason I know this dude exists is because he opened for Eddie Vedder on his solo tour who knows how many years ago. Actually not true, if memory serves me, which it probably doesn’t, I think they were both nominated for a Grammy the same year. Glen for Once and Eddie for Into The Wild. Glen won and I was pissed, it wasn’t until later that I saw him open for Eddie that I became a lifelong admirer.
He started out as busker in his native Ireland, starred in a movie back in '91 (The Commitments), and then again in ‘07, the aforementioned Once.
He's one of the absolute best live performers ever. He gives every performance his all, doesn't matter if it's for a sold out crowd at the Sydney Opera House, or a bunch of kids at some random school. This guy is the real deal Holyfield! If he's ever in your town get tickets, they're worth every penny! I’m 100% serious. Matter of fact, if you get tickets and you don’t like it, I’ll personally reimburse you.
I'm hoping he'll release one of his Walt Disney Concert Hall performances one of these days, until then I have this beauty of an album. The set list is a nice compilation of his solo work. You gotta turn this one up to 11, for freakin’ sure! If you’re left wanting more, and you will, check out his work with The Frames and The Swell Season.

Bangers: Winning Streak (though I still don’t know how I feel about the version on this album), When Your Mind’s Made Up, McCormick's Wall, Lowly Deserter, Way Back, Astral Weeks (Van Morrison cover), Her Mercy