Elders Discography and History

Ellen's Page for the Elders

The Elders were formed in 1998. Norm Dahlor and Brent Hoad had the idea to together a Celtic rock band in Kansas City. They called up Mike Bliss, Randy Morrow, and Steve Phillips, and shortly thereafter the band asked Randy Riga to join. Tommy Dwyer replaced Randy Morrow before the band played their first gig.

The Elders
2000

    (Songwriters in parenthesis)
  1. 1849 (Michael Bliss)
  2. It'll Be Alright (Brent Hoad, Norm Dahlor)
  3. Turning Point (Steve Phillips)
  4. Jailhouse of County Fife (Brent Hoad)
  5. Molly McGuire (Michael Bliss)
  6. True Believer (Brent Hoad)
  7. What Kind of Animal (Brent Hoad)
  8. Aunt Louise (Steve Phillips)
  9. Sweet Angel (Michael Bliss)
  10. Save Me As I Am (Dwight Marcus)
  11. Long Way Home (Michael Bliss)
  12. We Was Wrong (Brent Hoad, Steve Phillips)
Produced by Brent Hoad and Steve Phillips.

Guest Background vocals on "We Was Wrong" by Charles Waltz.

Christmas (2 song CD)
2000

No other details listed on the CD, I'm told. I think it would be the same members as the self titled CD, except I believe I heard there was a different drummer on these two songs. As for songwriters, I could be wrong, but I'd guess the first track, Brent Hoad, possibly with bandmate co-writers. And the 2nd, Michael Bliss, again, possibly with bandmate co-writers. Steve Phillips does lead vocals on the first song, and Michael Bliss on the 2nd. This was apparently only available for a short time. Long out of print.

Okay, I don't really know the history of the drummers in the early days (as in, before I discovered them) of the Elders. I do know that both Shawn Poores and Tommy Dwyer, who both play drums on this next album, have been members of the Elders playing live shows with the band, though Tommy Dwyer is the one who gets listed as a band member on the album.

And while they were working on this album, Michael Bliss left the band due to moving to the East Coast. Ian Byrne joined as the main lead vocalist, and Norm Dahlor took over the bass playing duties. Thus no more banjo at their lives shows, but they still use it sometimes on their albums. Ian's first show with the band was in February 2002.

Pass It On Down
2002

    (songwriters in parenthesis)
  1. Packy Go Home (Brent Hoad, Norman Dahlor, Steve Phillips)
  2. Fire in the Hole (Brent Hoad)
  3. Green and Gold (Brent Hoad, Steve Phillips)
  4. Love of the Century (Brent Hoad, Norman Dahlor, Steve Phillips)
  5. Buzzz's Jig (Michael Bliss, Norman Dahlor, Steve Phillips)
  6. Ten Pound Earhole (Brent Hoad)
  7. Message From the Battle Zone (Brent Hoad)
  8. Devil's Tongue (Brent Hoad, Stephen Phillips)
  9. Someday Soon (Brent Hoad)
  10. Keepin' The Faith (Brent Hoad)
  11. Highlands (Michael Bliss)
  12. Blaze of Glory (Brent Hoad, Steve Phillips)
  13. Don't Sit On My Jimmy Shands (Richard Thompson)
Produced by Steve Phillips and Brent Hoad.

Other musicians:
Mike Bliss: bass on "Buzz's Jigg", "Battle Zone", "Keepin' the Faith", "Highlands", and vocals on "Highlands".
Shawn Poores: drums on "Battle Zone", "Devil's Tongue", "Keepin' The Faith", "Highlands", and "Blaze of Glory".
Dave Shaughnessy: bodhran
Doug Sparling: flutes and whistles
Dan Ketter: cello on "Battle Zone"
Joe Miquelon: keyboards on "Highlands"
Jeff Porter: riddim guitar on "Highlands"

In the Fall of 2002, Tommy Sutherland joined the band. (He's always listed as Tom in the credits, but everyone in Eldersland always calls him Tommy.) His first show was in early September, though he did not go to Ireland with the band, Shawn Poores did. But after that, from then till now, Tommy Sutherland has been the Elders drummer.

Hollie Poppin'
2003

This DVD features a radio interview that Ian did with Mike Murphy (the rest of the band are there, captured on video, but Ian does all the talking) as well as showing the band playing. Most of it was filmed for ESPN. This is now out of print. They now have a much better DVD available. But that comes later in the discography.

The Elders made their first trip to Ireland in September 2002. As I understand it Ian Byrne, a native of Ireland now living in Kansas City, thought his bandmates needed to see Ireland. And so they did an Ireland tour. Some of the songs on their next album, American Wake, were inspired by that trip. A second Ireland tour followed the next year, again in September, shortly after the release of American Wake.

American Wake
2003

    (songwriters in parenthesis)
  1. The Moore Street Girls (Ian Byrne, Norm Dahlor, Brent Hoad)
  2. Hard Line (Brent Hoad, Steve Phillips)
  3. American Wake (Brent Hoad)
  4. St. Kevin (Ian Byrne, Steve Phillips)
  5. Men of Erin (Ian Byrne)
  6. Big Box Dinny (Brent Hoad)
  7. Nation of Love (Brent Hoad, Norm Dahlor)
  8. Ballymun Road (Brent Hoad)
  9. Dig Me A Hole (Brent Hoad)
  10. If I Know Murphy (Ian Byrne, Norm Dahlor)
  11. The Haverty Boys (Ian Byrne, Norm Dahlor, Steve Phillips)
  12. Seventeen (Brent Hoad)
  13. The Auld Land (Ian Byrne, Norm Dahlor)
Produced by Brent Hoad and Steve Phillips

Other musicians:
Dennis New: Scottish Highland Pipes
David Shaughnessy: Bodhran
Doug Sparling: Tin Whistles

Live: The Best Crowd We Ever Had
2004

  1. The Best Crowd We Ever Had
  2. 1849
  3. Packy Go Home
  4. Fire in the Hole
  5. Moore Street Girls
  6. Battle Zone
  7. St. Kevin
  8. True Believer
  9. Men of Erin
  10. Galway Girl
  11. It'll Be All Right
  12. Buzzz's Jigg
  13. Ten Pound Earhole
  14. Turning Point
  15. 1849 (acoustic)
Recorded by Jay Lindhorst, Mark "Buzzz" Collins, Glenn Major, Lanny Coil, and Dave Mac.
Produced by Steve Phillips, assisted by Brent Hoad and Ian Byrne.

The first track is a short little non music track. "Galway Girl" was written by Steve Earle. See previous albums for songwriters on the other tracks.

At least, I assume all the tracks have that lineup and don't go back earlier. That was the lineup at the time they put it together, and had been for nearly 2 full years, anyway. And those are the guys in the picture on the back.

In August 2004, right around the time of the release of Live: The Best Crowd We Ever Had, accordion player Randy Riga left the band. His replacement was Brett Gibson.

Live at the Gem (CD and DVD)
2005

CD track list
  1. Michael's Ride
  2. Packy
  3. American Wake
  4. Moore Street Girls
  5. Love of the Century
  6. Turnpike
  7. Send a Prayer
  8. Haverty Brothers
  9. 1849
  10. Brettski's Medley
  11. Men of Erin
  12. Buzz's Jig
  13. Fire in the Hole
  14. Devil's Tongue
DVD track list
  1. Michael's Ride
  2. Packy
  3. American Wake
  4. Love of the Century
  5. Turnpike
  6. Men of Erin
  7. 1849
  8. Moore Street Girls
  9. Fire in the Hole
  10. Devil's Tongue
  11. Haverty Brothers
    Bonus Tracks:
  • Brettski's Medley
  • Send a Prayer
  • Buzz's Jig
Michael's Ride composed by Shaun Davey.

Recorded live at the Gem Theater, Kansas City Missouri, February 4, 2005.
This show was video taped for airing on KCPT and other PBS stations, and released on DVD and CD as well.

Executive Producer: Randy Mason
Producer: Sandy Woodson
Audio Recording Engineers: Clayton Stubbs, Jeff Hudson, Jason Slote
Recording Remix Engineers: Steve Phillips and Brent Hoad

In November 2005 the Elders made their third trip to Ireland. This time they did something different. They invited fans along. Hammond Tours took care of organizing stuff for the fans, the Elders booked themselves some shows, and a great time was had by all. Around 100 fans came to Ireland with the Elders.

In February 2006, accordion player Brett Gibson left the band. He was replaced by keyboard player Joe Miquelon (who played on "Highlands" on the 2nd Elders CD as a guest musician).

Racing the Tide
2006

  1. Send a Prayer
  2. Bad Irish Boy
  3. Dear God
  4. Cousin Charlie
  5. Right with the World
  6. Racing the Tide
  7. Banshee Cry
  8. Gonna Take a Miracle
  9. Australia
  10. Story of a Fish
  11. Five Long Years
  12. Ever Be a Nation
  13. Saint Brendan Had a Boat
All songs written by Brent Hoad, Steve Phillips, Ian Byrne, and Norm Dahlor, except "Australia", "Saint Brendan Had a Boat", "Dear God", and "Right With the World", written by Brent Hoad.

Produced by Steve Phillips and Brent Hoad

Special Guest Musicians:
Brett Gibson: accordion
Doug Sparling: whistle
Dave Shaughnessy: bodhran
Dave Marsh: accordion
Stan Kessler: trumpet
Dan Ketter: cello

additional guitars: Brent, Norm
additional accordion, keyboards, and cornet: Brent

The Elders plan another trip to Ireland for March 2007, again with fans coming along. For information on this and for other current Elders news, visit The Official Elders Website.

Ellen's Page for the Elders

Ellen's Homepage

Thanks to Steve Phillips for information on the founding of the Elders and for a bit of proofreading.
Thanks to a fellow Elders fan for the Christmas CD cover picture.

Created: July 8, 2006
Updated: July 23, 2006

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