The Elders – American Wake

The Elders may sport a Kansas City address but they’ve fashioned a sound as Irish as a Dublin bar fight. The sextet’s authenticity comes courtesy of Irish transplant Ian Byrne, whose vocals lend more than a hint of the Emerald Isle to The Elders’ amped-up, Celtic roots rock. With an energetic soundtrack reminiscent of the Americanized, Celtic pop rock of Black 47, The Elders romp and storm through their third album, American Wake. The raucous “Big Box Dinny” and jaunty “Moore St. Girls” offer familiar tales of modern Irish life, while “Hard Line” and the title track show that The Elders understand the social and political underpinnings of their Irish musical heritage. The key to the band’s success is its flawless blend of the Celtic storytelling tradition with contemporary instrumentation and, perhaps more importantly, their ability to write original songs that sound as timeless and authentic as the ancient jigs and reels that have inspired them.