“So this is what you’ve been waiting for,” goes a line from one of Glen Hansard’s songs. Which hits differently now, now that I’ve seen the man himself perform live last April 9th at The Bowery Ballroom in the Lower East Side of New York City.

Glen Hansard (Punch Liwanag)

Those reading this column would know Glen, whom I’m a big fan of, which began ironically enough, with the movie “Begin Again” (2014), which I loved immensely, that I had to look up more of director John Carney’s work, leading me inevitably to “Once.”

“Once” is a direct infusion of the music of Glen and Marketa Irglova, the lead actors in the film (written and directed by Carney) about a struggling singer-songwriter who finds his musical soulmate in an immigrant single mother. Hansard and Irglova are real-life artists in a band called The Swell Season, whose music largely figured in the film. One of those songs is called “Falling Slowly,” which won the film an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

Both films are my gateway to the music of Glen, who already had his first solo album “Rhythm and Repose” by 2012, which I dived into and consumed wholly before jumping into The Swell Season albums, before “Didn’t He Ramble” came in 2015. Suffice to say, I’ve overloaded on this singer-songwriter who sang with exceptional passion so much that he literally wore down his guitars to splinters.

So imagine, after all these years – knowing and playing his songs – and having the opportunity to finally see him up close.

Opening act, singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy, whose stark, observational songwriting style was tempered by her dulcet tones and spot-on fingerstyle guitar did the audience a solid by putting everyone in a chill mood. She had our complete attention at the palm of her hand is all I can say.

Glen, meanwhile, commanded the room the moment he walked on stage. “How you doin’?” he asked, then proceeded to play, battered acoustic in hand, the first song of what was to be a two-hour set. His voice is primed, clear, and stretched strong from previous shows. He switched to his red Guild semi-hollow to lead his band to a surging “Didn’t He Ramble.” His hair, equal parts blonde and silver grey, a well-worn striped shirt and jacket, a gold earring dangling on his left ear, and several guitars (that included a Fender Jazzmaster) were the only accouterments he needed, alongside his songs, to weave his magic.

Glen Hansard and Rachel Zegler

The moment finally came several songs in, with Glen back on his acoustic, open-tuned to ‘E’ as he intones: “I’m scratching at the surface now / I’m trying hard to work it out / so much has gone misunderstood / and this mystery only leads to doubt.” It’s the same song that opened the film “Once.”

He updates a line on his lyrics to reflect the times: “And I’m lookin’ for a sign / in this dark uneasy time / and if you have something to say / you better say it now,” then proceeds to fill the ballroom with his voice as he belted the chorus to “Say It To Me Now.”

The show highlighted Hansard’s music through his years with The Frames, The Swell Season, and his solo work. Guests included droll and deep-voiced Ken Griffin of Rollerskate Skinny.

Actress Rachel Zegler was called by Glen for an impromptu duet on “Falling Slowly.” You just gotta love NYC.

But the main man was all that I expected and more.

Glen’s new album, a live retrospective called “Don’t Settle - Transmissions East (Vol. 1)” is set for release on April 24.