Reviews
If you have a review of an Eleanor McEvoy album or concert please Email it to this page. Email
web@eleanormcevoy.org
Czékus Mihály 'Out There' Album Review (Hungarian)
Eleanor McEvoy Írország egyik legnépszerubb dalszerzoje. Az Out There tizenöt balladát tartalmaz, ír zenei gyökerekkel. A lemezt hallgatva kiszakadhatunk a hétköznapokból.
Írország egyik legnépszerubb dalszerzoje, Eleanor McEvoy akinek zenei karrierje már a korai gyerekkorában elindult. Négy éves korában már részt vett egy ír zenei versenyen, együttesének (!) vezeto énekeseként. Késobb Dublinban tanul egy zeneiskolában. Tanári diplomával a zsebében csatlakozik az Ír Nemzeti Szimfonikusok Együtteshez. Öt évig dolgozott velük mielott elhagyta a "klasszikus" világot. Azután már csak az igazi passziójának a dalszerzésnek hódolt.
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15th March 1997 Whelan's, Dublin
by Margaret McArdle (Eleanor 'Follower' from Belfast)
To take Alanis Morrisette to an Eleanor McEvoy gig, then to any record shop & show her that Eleanor's material is kept in the "Irish music" section would definately hammer home the true meaning of "Ironic" (A song Which I've always thought should have had the chorus 'Isn't it a bollocks,don't ya think' but then thats another post)Eleanor has the identifiable lyrics & soft rock soundtrack that could fill a stadium quicker than you could say "Gareth Brooks" should her music ever get the chance to reach the ears of those that would appreciate it.The sound performance & progressive leaps her music has taken as displayed in Whelans,Dublin 15/3/97**3/15/97 (read as appropriate!!)only goes to prove this girl has more Rock in her veins than a fossil!
To the appreciation & enjoyment of the crowd packed into one of Dublins' smaller but most intimate venues a tight set list,solos to die for (but not overdone) and relaxed yet truly professional musicians made this a night to remember:although the execution of each song merits its own comment & praise just take every imaginable positive Adjective & you'll get the picture (if smiling & in awe faces were record sales this would have been a platinum event...
The set list ran as follows....
Weatherman, A glass unkissed, Leave her now, Boundries of your mind, Whisper a prayer, Sleepless, Where is the healing?, My own sweet bed, Trapped inside, Don't ask me why, Precious Little, Fires overhead, Biochemistry with an encore of Apologise & in response to continued demand Stray Thoughts....
Personally my heart shipped a beat with every stirring drum intro thinking that "Wilderness" had creapt back onto the play list but alas & alack twas not to be.....The relaxed atmosphere between artists & audience produced between song craic & banter that resembled a friendly conversation more than a concert, apart from her lyric & music mastery Eleanor also displayed her impressionistic talents taking off...
Sinead O'Connor----good...(this resulted from bald jokes after Eleanor cursing about her hair,its either tied back too tight or all over the place.....)
Dolores (from the Cranberries)---exellant
Christy Moore---passable
Dolores Keane---mean enough but needs work!!
But, Drumroll purlease......
a Frances Black so impressive I half expected "herself" to pop up from behind a speaker.Crowd requests for a 'Mary Black'were shyly denied although I think that had as much to do with the presence of her former guitarist Bill Shanley now back in Marys band than an inabilty to pull it off.In a successful attempt to switch the spotlight off that Lloyd was called upon to deliver his own impression of Eleanor to much laughter from Jim & Kieran but his vast drumkit proved an exellant hiding place.
As if the free T-shirts weren't a St Patrick's Day present enough, the night was definately a gift.The Shamrock was seduced,drowned,rocked & riveted to the max by the most exciting Irish export since Guinness.
P.S. A song was dedicated to a "Keith Duffy" surely a member of "Boyzone" wouldn't have the good sense to come
** I would like to stress that Howie does not follow the afforementioned band **
Mama Kin's Boston - 12th September 1996
by Stacey Schwingle (Eleanor 'Follower')
I saw Eleanor McEvoy perform with her band at Mama Kin, Aerosmith's nightclub in Boston, last Thursday night. After a malfunctioning speaker had been repaired, the show began. I had never seen Eleanor McEvoy perform, nor had I heard any of the new album's tracks, with the exception of "Precious Little," which is getting some play around these parts. There were about 50 people, tops, there for her, but they were all incredibly glad to be there, judging by the looks on their faces and the amount of dancing going on. For me, all the madness and mayhem of the earlier evening faded away when Eleanor began to sing.
Eleanor McEvoy has a wonderfully resonant alto voice, and she sings to the hearts of those who listen. Throughout the show, I felt that she somehow knew just what I needed to hear, and sang directly to me. I suspect others would report similar experiences. She sang many songs from
her latest release, and a few "oldies," as she termed them. This woman even managed to get a crowd to sing along with her on "A Woman's Heart." Incredible.
The backup vocals, along with some really great guitar work, was done by Kieran McEvoy, and was an excellent complement to Eleanor's own piano, guitar, and especially pleasing violin work. The bass and drum parts were also performed well, by Jim Tate & Lloyd Byrne, respectively. Everyone
seemed to be loving every note, performers and audience members alike.
It's a week later, and the Eleanor tape in my car is still playing. I don't drive without her. This music has captured my attention, musically and spiritually. I hope there is much, much more to come from Eleanor McEvoy. She is most definitely welcome in this woman's heart.
Stacey Schwingle
19 September 1996
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Casino Ballroom at Hampton Beach August 17th, 1996
by Paul Kim (Eleanor 'Follower')
Most of the crowd seemed very receptive (people in the balcony were
dancing like madmen:)) but there was still a lot of chatter. They were
a little better behaved for Jewel, but not much:( I was blown away by
both performers (first time for Eleanor and fourth for Jewel), and was
really surprised by how loud and rocking Eleanor was because I had just
bought What's Following Me the day before and could only listen to it
twice before the show. I was expecting the mellower sound from her
first album, but was very happy with the full band thing.
Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin
by Margaret McArdle (Eleanor 'Follower' from Belfast)
Any person whose ever had a relationship must almost feel paranoid that their most private thoughts have been invaded,stolen and set to music listening to Eleanor McEvoy,the simple realistic truths of life,living and love have been carefully set to music and thankfully with lyrics that you don't need a degree in Psychology to decifer.Thursday 8th August saw the offical debut of the long awaited second recording "What's Following Me" at the Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin.A blistering 90 minute set assured both Press and Public that the "difficult 2nd album" was to be no obstacle for Eleanor as herself,her band and her music goes from strenght to strenght.
The set list was that as reproduced on the Playlist page,opening with the first track on the new recording "A Glass Unkissed", every song was superb in its performance its impossible to proclaim
any one or two a highlight, althought it was interesting to note "Fires Overhead" is not only written about the L.A riots but also Eleanor's tribute to Christy Moore and Horslips, and is it me or is "Biochemistry" much faster in concert.Most noticable by its absence was "A Woman's Heart" (although its inclusion was queried on my copy of the set list)the career instigator has had a much "rockier" sound in recent shows,and whilst most artists feel obliged to include their "best known piece" playing Live I think Eleanor and the band made a brave yet valid point in its omission to underline the musical progression they are making. The audience was made up of family, friends, followers and the usual Press corps / Record Company invites although it was difficult to label any member of the crowd as you could see the genuine enjoyment in all the faces of what was being seen and heard.Much credit also to the Band; Jim Tate, keeping the bass "churning" as ever, Lloyd on drums seemed to be enjoying himself as much as the crowd and making his lead guitar bleed Kieran McEvoy (God, does that whole family have the monopoly on talent or what!)
It's difficult to play "Guess the next single" when every new piece merits a wide audience,I'd bet that every member of the crowd that night has the disc now in their collection,I'm sure the American tour will have the same effect. In answer to the title question "Whats Following Me", Eleanor, I am, for what I hope will be a very long and successful career with many more nights like this one.
