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Megan J Wheless's avatar

Well said. I have felt heavy since learning of his death this week, too. I had the good fortune of seeing him perform live at The Fox Theater in St Louis. (He opened for Eddie Vedder. They did an encode together, too.) He was a force, like you mentioned in your writing. A busker's heart, unbridled roar of a voice. His music has carried me through so many moments in my life. I'm thankful he shared his gift so freely. The world lost a true bard, and there is a hole in the storytelling of humanity. Our collective grief can weave it back together.

David W. Berner's avatar

Beautifully said.

Erik Silkensen's avatar

Very nice, David. Thank you for sharing. I also find myself grieving Glen's death in a similar way. When I saw the headline, it hurt. A real gut punch. It doesn't happen so often, but one of those where my immediate thought is No, wait. That can't be true--

Earlier this summer I listened to his episode on the "You Made it Weird" podcast for a second time, randomly. I just got a feeling I wanted to hear his voice. He was truly a force, yes, an unbridled roar. The video of him playing and singing with friends shortly before his death, ah... The world is less beautiful without him. That is well said.

Robin Blackburn McBride's avatar

A busker's heart.

Rita Dragonette's avatar

Thanks for this, David. I'm strangely affected by his death as well. Song is a welcome earworm.

Dr.FrancesScully's avatar

I am also deeply affected by the death of Moya Brennan again a person whose music and spirit imprinted on so many of us and Mangan Manchan whose name I hope I have not misspelled.

Thanks again.

Dr.FrancesScully's avatar

Go raibh maith agaibh. Glen hansard embodied animate intelligence, human warmth and soul. He represents the antithesis and antidote to Muskism and the brutal idea that we need binary artificial intelligence. We do not .We crave and need animate intelligence, the intelligence of life. Jeremy Lent describes this well.

I am thinking of ways to share Hansard’s movies. I will check locally to try to show The Commitments, The Camino Voyage and Once.

I wonder if this could happen on Substack also?