Eoin Glackin: Rain Finally Came

Initially inspired to take up music full-time by his hero Damien Dempsey (and now signed to the same management company), Eoin Glackin made a big impression with his 2011 debut Not Lost. His energetic live shows and high-profile support slots, meanwhile, have won him a growing legion of fans.

This eagerly-anticipated follow-up, recorded with Ian Grimble (Manics, Beth Orton, The Stunning etc.) aims high and for the most part, hits the spot. Glackin is an old-style troubadour, autobiographical, clearly passionate and self-assured in his approach.
Backed by a meaty rhythm section with piano, fiddles and guitars, the rousing title track blends Waterboys-esque textures with apocalyptic imagery, also calling to mind ‘80s outfits such as The Black Velvet Band. ‘New World Blue’ continues in a similar vein while ‘Mrs Campbell’ is inspired by the 2006 shooting dead of 20-year-old Anthony Campbell, an innocent bystander caught up in the Dublin gang wars. Angry and defiant here, Glackin evokes the spirit of Dylan playing ‘Hurricane’ and ‘The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll’. Lyrically he drives the point home: “Just an eager young tradesman working hard, peaceful, alone / Who’ll tell Mrs Campbell, her son’s not coming home?”
Elsewhere ‘Last Night In This Town’ boasts Springsteen-esque imagery while the rollicking good-timey raggle taggle of ‘Everyone Is Goin’’ will make it a live favourite. Childhood nostalgia reigns on ‘Ninja Turtles (With The Wind)’ while closing track ‘The Hour’s Gone Too Late (For Holding Hands)’ recalls the almost-forgotten Barry McGuire and his ‘60s anthem ‘Eve of Destruction’ with more hints of early Springsteen. Impressive.