Live at the Marquee review: The Frames are ageing like fine wine
The Frames playing the first of their two Live at the Marquee 2023 gigs in Cork.
The Gods will always smile upon the gargantuan generosity of a band like The Frames, who gave over their closing two songs to a complete unknown, a guitarist fan they'd befriended.
What a night for young Andrew Fletcher from Cork. Who would have thought anyone could sing 'Fitzcarraldo' and 'Heyday' (Mic Christopher's hit, and a regular in most shows by The Frames) with as much passion as Glen Hansard?
"Give it up for Andrew Fletcher. The future's safe," said Glen as they all walked off on Friday night, the first of two nights in the Marquee. Bring on Saturday night.
Minutes earlier, Hansard had welcomed onstage members of Interference to play the legendary Cork band's song 'I Was Looking For Someone', Glen exchanging guitar licks with James O'Leary, Interference founder along with the late vocalist Fergus O'Farrell.
"When we were starting out, they were so generous to us, allowing us to sit in on their rehearsals," said Hansard. "It was such a privilege to see these masters at work. And they let us open shows for them so many times. Fergus was a very dear friend. We still sing their songs. They were just so generous to us."
Any lingering debt of gratitude repaid in spades. 'I Was Looking For Someone' was a real highlight; one of many.
Great live rock bands like The Frames age like fine wine. You walk away with your ears ringing, your t-shirt wringing, a joyful fuzzy feeling in your gut that will last all through your dull comedown week, broken only by the intermittent aftershocks of magical memories of the night that was.
And such a night was this. What a band. There’s a reason why The Frames have outlived the solo success of Glen Hansard, their lead singer, winner of songwriting gongs including an Oscar (for 'Falling Slowly') and Tony awards for his hit Broadway stage show 'Once', and star of endless sold-out tours as a solo performer of truly unique individual talent.
Hansard is consistently brilliant. To borrow from Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, some players are consistent, some players are brilliant, but Glen Hansard is the Jack O'Shea of songwriting and live performance.
Why then does he so joyfully return to The Frames? The fact is that, to this day, The Frames deliver a stage show that is up there with the all-time best live bands in the world. They're back in the tent on Saturday night, a two-nighter privilege reserved for the blessed few.
They’re friends, and it shows. For instance, the bond between frontman Glen Hansard and violinist Colm Mc Con Iomaire doesn’t seem to have waned since the day they met busking in Grafton Street in 1990. Same too for the other members.
Above all, they all have a real bond with this adoring crowd. Adoring for a reason. Everything this band does is golden. It’s all music, little enough chat, but even that little banter is inspired.
“It’s great to be back in the Marquee,” said Hansard. “It reminds me of our first Cork gig years ago in DeLacy House, and the couple in the front row, who were going at it full-blown.
“They were conjoined. It was all a bit much for our young impressionable Dublin minds at the time. I sometimes wonder about them … and I hope they’re still together. Well, still together as a couple at least. I presume they’re not still conjoined like they were.”
Having great songs, of course, also certainly helps. Lay Me Down (with a snippet of Johnny Cash’s Ring Of Fire), Santa Maria, Barbara Cartland, Angel At My Table and What Happens When The Heart Just Stops, along with the monster hits Fitzcarraldo and Revelate.
A blessed night. Blazing sun all day, the Gods eased off on the brimstone around 8pm, just in time. The venue was brimful, busy but still comfortable.
This was the first of two nights for The Frames in the Marquee. A truly blessed night. If you have a ticket for night two, then you’re blessed too.
