About Engine Alley
Engine Alley (named after an alleyway in Dublin's Liberties) formed in Kilkenny in the late 1980s when the Kenealy brothers (Canice and Brian) teamed up with Eamonn Byrne and moved to Dublin to take over the world. They then joined forces with Ken Rice and Emmaline Duffy-Fallon, and quickly built up an impressive reputation for their superb live performances.
A pivotal figure in the early development of the band, Pete Holidai of The Radiators from Space, discovered them after hearing their Fanning Session and attending one of their live shows. Recognizing their potential, Holidai assisted the band in recording additional demos and later became their manager. This support led to a record deal with U2's Mother Records later that year.
In 1991, the band expanded their lineup by adding Kenneth Rice, a classically trained violinist and keyboardist from County Kerry. Their vibrant and energetic live performances, combined with their 70s glam-inspired image, quickly garnered them a dedicated following.
The band's growing prominence was reflected in their appearances on major chat and music television programs in Ireland. In October 1992, they released their debut album, A Sonic Holiday, produced by Steve Lillywhite (known for his work with U2, Peter Gabriel, and The Rolling Stones). The album won Best Irish Album that year from Hot Press, Ireland's leading music magazine. It featured several successful singles, including the notable "Song For Someone," which featured backing vocals by Lillywhite's then-wife, Kirsty MacColl and the hits ‘Infamy’ and ‘Mrs. Winder’. It won the Hot Press award for Best Irish Album in 1992. The band then toured the UK and the US. In 1995, Engine Alley released their second album, entitled Shot in the Light. It had a much darker sound than their glam-pop debut album, and although it didn’t register the same number of hit singles, it was praised by music critics in Ireland and abroad.
Engine Alley broke up in 1996 but got back together within a year, although in a more limited format than their heyday. Since then they have continued to record and perform music sporadically as Engine Alley and released their third album Showroom in September 2018.
Lineup
Vocals and guitar - Canice Kenealy
Guitar – Brian ‘The Lion’ Kenealy
Bass – Eamonn Byrne
Drums – Paul O’Byrne
Video
Engine Alley - Switch on RTE TV 1994
Comments
corkboy wrote on 2011-09-10 00:00:00:engine alley were from kilkenny
joncal wrote on 2006-10-31 00:00:00:
sonic holiday is 1 of my fav albums ever
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