The Kansas City based Celtic-rock band The Elders has long been one of Kansas City’s most popular bands, performing regularly at prominent civic gatherings including the Plaza Lighting Ceremony on Thanksgiving.
On Saturday, the band oversees another annual tradition: The Elders’ 15th annual hoolie.
In honor of their featured status this week, we're playing "Meetings of the Waters," off of the band's seventh studio album, 2014's Story Road.
A representative distillation of the Elders’ sound, “Meetings of the Waters” contains elements of the iconic Irish rock band U2, the heartland rock of John Mellencamp and Irish troubadours like the Clancy Brothers.
Ian Byrne’s urgent vocals, the propulsive drumming of his son Kian Byrne, and lively fiddling are the song's most engaging elements. Diana Ladio, the newest member of the band, will play the violin at Saturday’s concert.
The Elders Hoolie Show, 8:30 p.m., Saturday, March 11, at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester, Kansas City, Missouri, 64120; 816-483-1456.
Bill Brownlee’s writing appears weekly in The Kansas City Star and Ink magazine. He blogs about Kansas City’s jazz scene at Plastic Sax.
