Customer Reviews

Racing The Tide

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Racing the Tide, the newest release from The Elders, shows off all the immaculate musicianship, strong songwriting and story telling skills of this Kansas City based Celtic rock band. Formed in 1998 The Elders have been rocking Kansas City and Celtic festivals across the country for the last 7 years. County Wicklow native Ian Byrne fronts the band, lead singer, bohdran and battle drum, with Steve Phillips, guitar (formerly of The Rainmakers), Brent Hoad on fiddle, Norm Dahlor on bass, Tommy Sutherland - drums, and relative newcomer to the band, Joe Miquelon on keys.

Foot tapping, sing-along beckons as the Cd opens with Send a Prayer. The band are well known for telling "true stories" at their live shows, and the first track is followed by some of these true stories... Uncle Charlie, Story of a Fish and Bad Little Irish Boy (could this bad little irish boy be Ian we wonder?). The title track Racing the Tide is my favourite cut on this CD, wonderful harmonies. Brent Hoad's incredible lyrics are showcased in Dear God, St Brendan Had a Boat (another true story if legends are to be believed). The track Australia is a departure from the majority of the Elders tunes, putting one in mind of a 1920's speakeasy. You'll rock out with Gonna Take a Miracle, and Right with the World.

I strongly encourage you to buy this CD.... and see The Elders live if you ever get the chance - you won't be sorry.

A truly remarkable CD. The music is original and ranges from driving, up-tempo pieces that make the listener want to "crank it up" to a couple of tunes that slow things down just enough to help you get into the story that the song tells. Lyrics are creative and compelling. Some are just for fun, some tell important stories, and they stay in your head long after you turn the CD off. This is good stuff! D Schaal

As someone who owns about 600 CD's in the Irish Rock Genre, I have to say this is at the top of my list of favorites. Everytime I listen to it I come up with a new favorite song off of it. Actually, you can not go wrong with any of the "Elders" CD's. But they are clearly getting better with each release. And "Racing the tide" is a classic. A must have for anyone who enjoys good Irish music, good rock music, or just good music period. This band deserves a large audience.

The Elders are an excellent Celtic band. They have songs with energy and meaning along with fun. Ian is a great lead singer and the band has awesome harmony as well. Their songs DO stick in you head long after the last track. Well done...CHEERS!

First the album -- Mr Hoad described the Elder's work as being like Flogging Molly. Actually to my mind it's better. The music certainly is. Lyrically I found a couple of the songs mournful, a couple merry, a couple somewhat Irish Nationalist. I shall be buying more of their albums quite independently of my personal opinions of Brent Hoad, and I want to catch their show live if at all possible.

My mother recieved the album as a gift from the violinist Mr Brent Hoad. He is my new hero because when he saw the little old lady with the bad knee struggling to get out of her car he came over to help. He not only assisted her to rise and fished out her purse, he engaged in polite conversation and upon noticing her Irish music CD's he popped into his studio next door to fetch this album and made her a present of it. Not exactly the sort of behaviour one usually hears about from rock musicians!

This is a fantastic CD. The Elders are different than The Pogues, or Flogging Molly, but have a style that fans of those great bands will enjoy. Standouts include Bad Irish Boy, Send a Prayer, Racing the Tide, Gonna Take a Miracle, and Saint Brendan Had a Boat. One of my missions for the next year or two is to travel to see The Elders, since it doesn't look like they'll be in California in the near future. Check out earlier CD's as well, you can't go wrong.

I recently saw this group at an Irish Fest in Upstate, NY and they were unreal..............Could not get enough of them...They are so talented...you will love them if you get a chance to see them in person...make sure you do......and their CD's are excellent...

Racing the Tide by The Elders

13 Original Songs all written by the boys in the band together: Brent Hoad, Steve Phillips, Ian Byrne and Norm Dahlor, except "Australia", "Dear God", "St. Brendan Had a Boat", and "Right with the World", all written by Brent Hoad . c 2006

The Elders are full steam in Racing the Tide, but you've got to see them for real. Check out their live schedule on eldersmusic.com - Here is what you are missing:

Ian's Byrne singing and banging on his drums, burns up the washboard or his other percussion tools, (being a former drummer), then tuning a whistle inoculates you with his infectious bold newly immigrant spirit and puffs his chest out proudly like a full flumed Irish sprite flapping his wings. He keeps the faith on his path. More courage a beast never had.

Joe Miquelon, the newest addition to the band, dishes up whatever is the order of the day and drives those jigs with those rhythms on his keyboard. Tom Sutherland drives this engine with drums and percussion rules. The electricians on guitar (or mandolin), Steve Phillips, and bass or banjo, Norm Dahlor, vibrate the stage with their years of professional experience and talent and knowledge of their craft, both in instrumentals and voice.

Best friend, Brent Hoad has the face of an angel playing the violin as if the Holy Ghost has descended upon him. If you watch his fiddling around closely you will see under his Celtic cap, the little leprechaun in his eyes watching you in hopeful anticipation to see if you realize and appreciate the glory that is unfolding in front of you, playing earful tricks with his skillful hands. Then Brent switches out for the mandolin. Watch out for this one, his display of talent steals the show and your hearts.

And then there's the leprechaun jump with instruments in hand. God help us! This house rocks! See them in Concert! These guys are fun! They are so talented, you never know what instrument they will produce on stage, as Brent and Norm also pick up the guitar and Brent additionally plays accordion, keyboards and cornet in song.

Saw the Elders at The Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort NY last year, was hooked after the first song! Their CDs sold out very quickly at the festival, gave this one as a Christmas gift to my husband but I keep 'borrowing" it! Great music, title song is my favorite, but enjoy all. Story of a Fish is great on CD, even better in person! Plan to see them as often as they are in NY this summer!