CelticRadio.net
"Gael Day - 5.0 stars"

The Elders have done it again with their release of Gael Day. Singing their ballads of rocking Celtic rhythm with a touch of pub music, Gael Day is a fine collection of some of the best songs to come out of this group yet. Galway Girl, Ghost of Ontario and Raging Sea are some of our favorites. The album has a distinctively seafaring theme, and like those men of a hundred years ago all of the songs are originally written by the Elders. (Galway Girl is actually written by Steve Earle)
And that is the best way to describe this album, refreshing like the salty mist from the break waves of a clear crystal day! The Elders are masters of their instruments - drums, keyboards, accordion and guitars - the sound and quality of these recordings are beyond perfection. You'll be singing along in no time and wanting to see these fine folks in concert at the first opportunity they come to your town. 5 Stars for Gael Day!

Rethinking the World
"Music From 'The Elders': Gael Day"

We don't usually do music reviews here on Rethinking The World, but, since this is a new album by a great local group, and I wanted to archive the review I did, here it is: Kansas City Celtic rockers The Elders declare themselves as being purveyors of "arse-kicking music from the heartland". Their fifth studio album, Gael Day, gives loud testimonial to their self-assessment. The strength of this album lies in the ability of the band to write songs which blend great melody and harmony, a pulsing beat, a jaunty tempo, and a fantastic storytelling voice.
The 'Gael' in the album title refers to the study of things Gaelic. As is expected with Elders albums, each song tells a story based around Irish topicality in the largest sense. Generally speaking, the tunes on this album share those Irish characteristics with the musical attributes mentioned previously.
The strongest songs on Gael Day are its hardest rockers. Extra credit goes to track 2, "Only Good News", a rhythm-heavy number which admonishes you to "bust out a move, shut off that evil tube", and think and do for yourself, to live your own life and not take the word of a bunch of talking heads. Another track worth special attention is track 10, "Ashes In A Jar", a rocking tune which memorializes a woman who worked to bring together Irish Republicans and loyalists. "Luck of The Irish", the third track, starts out with lush vocal harmonies, then strongly emphasizes drums and percussion, while wondering "where on earth did that phrase come from?" "Decoration Day", the fourth track, features a scorching guitar solo, and a storyline which follows the struggles of immigrants coming to this country (incidentally, frontman Ian Byrne, a native of County Wicklow, has filed paperwork to become a U.S. citizen). The fifth track, "King For A While" is the story of a guy who gets in over his head with a spirited woman, with a lead vocal by guitarist Steve Phillips. "Kathleen", track 8, is a story of a woman who loses her man and tries to resurrect him which features nice vocal harmonies. Track 11, "The Ghost Of Ontario", is the story of a phantom ship wrecked by a vengeance-seeking whale, which accentuates more fine vocal harmonies and a heat-generating guitar solo by Phillips. The last track on the album, "Galway Girl", is a fine and lively cover of a Steve Earle tune (all other songs were penned by Byrne, Phillips, bassist Norm Dahlor, and violinist Brent Hoad).
Fans of Celtic rock music across North America, in Ireland, and now in Europe have adopted The Elders as favorites in large part as a result of their energetic live shows. With their dynamic new album, The Elders have that much more material with which to please their audiences. Listen to Gael Day and open up this boisterous can of Celtic whoop-arse.

Bill Gresham. March, 2009

Philadelphia Irish Edition
"Gael Day"

This band started off great and has only gotten better over the years. It wasn't that long ago, I enjoyed reviewing a video of their tour from Kansas to Ireland. Now I can sit back and just enjoy the music on their latest offering. It's so nice to hear an Irish rock-type band actually develop its own sound rather than chase after somebody else's. They pretty much have a standard lineup: guitars, bass, keyboards and drums, with a bunch of traditional instruments (fiddle, banjo, whistle and so on) and along with saxophone and keyboards. The result is a diverse, interesting sound that keeps your attention. The rich arrangements create strong moods from anthem sounding songs to more folky things. I am amazed that such a talented band with such an appealing sound is not far more famous. I love how they bring in elements of other genres and make them fit. Their timeless sound deserves to be heard.

Jamie O'Brien

Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com
CD Roundup / BIR Music

"Gael Day"
The Elders take more of a tried-and-true - maybe "traditional" is not an inappropriate word? - approach to their Irish/Celtic rock, putting banjo, mandolin, accordion, fiddle, flute, whistle, and bodhran right alongside the rock-styled electric guitar, bass and drums, plus keyboard, and interpolating excerpts of a jig, reel or march in breaks or fills between verses. The songs themselves, meanwhile - all written by the band with the exception of Steve Earle's "Galway Girl" - are manifestly rooted in Irish history, geography, spirit, and mythology. Some are scruffy, scrappy tales of hopeful redemption ("Better Days Ahead," "Lucky One Time," "Only Good News"); others are respectful, anthemic tributes to Irish durability and experience ("LuckotheIrish" and "Decoration Day"). "Red-Headed Man" and "Ghost of Ontario" evoke the much-discussed love of a good yarn among the Irish, while "Raging Sea" is a brisk, devil-may-care, cradle-to-grave portrait of life in a fishing village. Although there is plenty of wry, dry, throwaway humor, the material here is presented with a certain palpable respect and restraint, rather than the full-bore ("bore" being the keyword) assault on senses and sensibility that all too often comes with rock-n-roll Irish. It helps in no small way that lead vocalist Ian Byrne, ably supported on backing vocals by Norm Dahlor, Brent Hoad, and Steve Phillips (the non-singing members are Tommy Sutherland and Joe Miquelon), sounds as if he's singing from the heart, rather than with a smirk.

Sean Smith June 2009

Mohawk Valley Irish Cultural Events Newsletter
"GAEL DAY"

Gael Day gives us exactly what we've come to expect from The Elders, and that's a good thing. Those familiar with the band's prior releases know they'll be greeted by infectious musical hooks that will lead into a rousing or stirring vocal tune, so catchy you'll swear you've grown up listening to it. Kicking off with the impossibly irresistible "Better Days Ahead" and "Only Good News," it's apparent that, more than anything else, The Elders want you to feel good. Even the song sure to become the centerpiece of the CD, the goosebump inducing "Luck of the Irish," which questions the appropriateness of that phrase in light of the history of Irish suffering, is anything but a downer. Beginning with a Druid-like modal chant lamenting the problems faced by the Irish throughout the centuries, it suddenly breaks into a lush, multi-layered choral cry, which seems at first to be a cry of anguish, but when repeated with an upturn at the end, is clearly a cry of triumph. At the end, what you take away is not the suffering, but the image of "an Irish smile." Similarly, the inspiring "Decoration Day" deals with the troubles facing early immigrants, but it's not a complaint, it's a celebration, And, in a song that seems to have raised Warren Zevon from the dead, the victim of a doomed romance that leaves him in jail awaiting the gallows doesn't bemoan his fate, but instead sings that it was good the be king for a while. But it would be a mistake to dismiss the Elders as simply a feel-good band. The beautiful "Between Far and Away," the blistering "Ashes in a Jar," the enchanting "Red-headed Man," the bouncy "Raging Sea," these all bear witness to the fact that The Elders are far from a one-trick pony. One might wonder why a band who can write such strong material would put a cover tune on their CD, but Steve Earle's exuberant "Galway Girl" proves to be the perfect closer to a near-perfect record. Every song tells a story (and lead singer Ian Byrne will insist that they're all true!) and every story is filled with people you want to meet.

Mark Sisti June, 09

Cleveland Celtic Podcast
The Elders Live Up to Expectations with "Gael Day"

When it comes to top notch contemporary Irish American music, The Elders are the real deal. Six phenomenally talented musicians, these men are a songwriting and performance powerhouse that delivers onstage as well as in the studio. Their latest release, Gael Day, is a wonderful mixture of rock, folk music, and storytelling at it's finest. The title is a bit of word play. Gael Day is an old Irish term referring to the day the rent is due. Paired with the cover art, a young musician appearing to plead his case to a wolf, there's an underlying message that The Elders understand what these tough economic times are about. But they aren't about to sit and moan about it. Instead, they're here to turn our minds away from our troubles. There is a bit of Shanachie in the lads, to be sure. Each song tells a story, from the whimsical accounting of the life of Paddy and his boat in "Raging Sea" to the tale of the Immigrants in "Decoration Day." Ian Byrne sings to us the legend of the "Red Headed Man" in the fairy world and tells the story of Captain Cathcart in the "Ghost of Ontario." Their sound is modern, with elements of pop and rock deftly blended with Celtic influences. However the Elders have not strayed far from the traditional, maintaining an authentic Irish sound. Any step dancer worth their salt could kick up a jig or a reel to several of the tracks. The CD finishes with a wonderful cover of Steve Earle's "Galway Girl." My personal favorite on the CD is "LuckotheIrish," a song that celebrates and respects the heritage that inspires The Elders music. Starting off slowly and building to an explosive crescendo, this song is destined to become requisite at all of the band's live performances. Skillfully crafted at Big Time Production Studio and Rear Window Studio, the band recorded, mixed, and mastered the CD themselves, with spectacular results. The balance is perfect, and the band shines with lovely vocal harmonies and the sound of over a dozen instruments. Each band member is a talented musician in his own right, with Ian Byrne on bodhran, whistles and flutes, Norm Dahlor on bass and banjo, Brent Hoad on fiddle, mandolin, keyboards and accordion, Joe Miquelon on keyboards and sax, Steve Phillips on guitar and mandolin, and Tommy Sutherland on drums and percussion. Together, they have created something that is positively unique and special.

Wendy Donahue April 22, 2009

Raised on Songs and Stories
"Gael Day"

The Elders bust out of Kansas City a few years back taking with them "arse kicking Celtic Rock from the heartland" into mainstream Irish America engaging and endearing them to countless thousands of fans. I have tried to describe them before and always fall short, as they must be experienced live on stage. Six of the best musicians, songwriters and performers have entertained with smart lyrics, driving rhythms and extraordinary showmanship. The Elders are on top of their game and their new album Gael Day reflects all of this. Twelve new songs written by The Elders and a cover version of Steve Earle's "Galway Girl" which they immediately make their own. These songs of the sea, of hope, despair and love earned and lost, the curse of immigration and the promise of citizenship, songs of magic and mayhem and of better days ahead are contemporary Irish Folk Rock at its very best. Ian Byrne knows his Irish history and continues to sing with passion, songs that are relevant to the Irish America of today. And it's not just about the lyrics, as these songs are masterfully combined with a wealth of musical talent. Norm Dahlor on bass, banjo and vocals, Brent Hoad on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Joe Miquelon on keyboard and sax, Steve Phillips on guitar, mandolin and vocals and Tommy Sutherland holding it all together on drums and percussion. Yes, as their star continues to rise, this is their best album yet, it is beautifully produced and even the cover art is exceptional. Great job guys. Gael Day gets the job done, really well done.

Shay Clarke May 4, 2009

The Kansas City Star
The Elders gain the 'Gael Day'

On their fifth studio album, the Elders confront the challenge that faces every successful band in the Celtic-rock world: How do you try new things but stay true to the sound that made you famous? If you try something too different, you risk losing the diehards and traditionalists. If you sustain the status quo, you can sound like a band that can't quit repeating itself. On "Gael Day," Kansas City's biggest Celtic-rock band does both. It stays true to its Celtic roots, but, thanks to some of its best songwriting ever, it streamlines its rock foundation into solid and straightforward ballads and anthems cut, crafted and polished for the band's greatest virtue: its incendiary live shows. "Gael Day" opens with two boot-stomping, sing-along, chin-up anthems: "Better Days Ahead" and "Only Good News." The 11 remaining songs shift in moods and tempos, and throughout, Ian Byrne and the boys seamlessly flavor their Irish roots with rock trimmings. "Decoration Day" is a prime example of that - a backdrop of fiddle and accordion embroidered with piano and electric guitar, including a lead from Steve Phillips that sounds like a lick Lindsey Buckingham might have dropped on "Rumours" or "Fleetwood Mac." Kudos, too, to the production, which is lean and clean, yet captures something close to the relentless energy that fills the band's live shows. "Gael Day" closes with Phillips singing a cover of Steve Earle's "Galway Girl." The Elders don't mess with the arrangement much. Instead they pay it the highest respect by playing it as if it were one of their own.

Timothy Finn March 12, 2009