I first saw Glen Hansard perform a few years ago in Kilkenny, Ireland opening for Bob Dylan and Neil Young. I did not know who he was at the time, but I remember him saying that there were interesting things happening back stage (Neil Young would join Dylan during Bob’s set later on) and that Hansard would not return unless he was headlining. I was impressed by the bravado. Next, this past July, 2025 Glen Hansard performed at the Newport Folk Festival with Swell Season. We go to the Folk Festival every year and I told my son that Hansard was a “must see”. We were rewarded with a phenomenal set after which we headed over to the second stage to catch Jeff Tweedy. My son tells me “your boy Hansard is right behind us” and sure enough there he was standing in the walkway behind us checking out the Tweedy set. I turned around, shook Hansard’s hand and told him that his was a great set and that I had seen him in Kilkenny with Neil and Bob, Hansard smiled and said that it was special day. Coincidently my son and I had just returned from a week in Ireland the day before Hansard’s show at the Bowery Ballroom; I was jet lagged and almost bailed but refused to miss this concert and persevered, driving into Manhattan to find a parking space right in front of of the venue. I was off to a good start. The ticket said it was an 8 pm tip off; I was tired and hopeful it would be close to true, but reality stepped in and the opener Margaret Glaspy walked onstage with just an acoustic guitar. Ordinarily I am up for opening acts and new music, but I was fading and Glaspy’s folky tunes were not doing it for me; I could not wait for her set to end. Thankfully, Glen Hansard was there to kick ass with guitar, bass and drum back up and he delivered. Hansard has become one of my favorite artists. He is an Irish Bruce Springsteen before Bruce sold his catalog, cashed in, and became a self righteous liberal road warrior coming to save us all with his thoughts and opinions. With a guest appearance from his colleague from Roller Skate Skinny (very cool) doing two really good songs including “ I’m Not Drinking”, and Rachel Ziegler coming down from the Bowery balcony to duet on the Swell Season song “Falling Slowly”, Hansard proved it all night that he was truly the real deal, an under-appreciated rock star performing at the legendary Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

Fairytale of New York

Rock on!

GQ