Engine Alley
Engine Alley From; Letterkenny Active; Dublin 1989 – To Date
Style; Indie/Glam Rock
Line up;
Vocals & Guitar; Canice Kenealy
Guitar; Brian Kenealy
Bass; Eamonn Byrne
Drums; Emmaline Duffy-Fallon (1990)
Engine Alley is remembered as one of the most promising Irish bands of the early 90s. Often tipped as potential successors to U2. Thanks to their inventive songwriting, theatrical style, and critically praised debut. Their legacy endures through periodic reunions and their influence on Ireland’s indie rock scene.
Carling Hot Press Battle O The Bands 1990
Engine Alley included a 15 year old female drummer and played the following songs during the heats When Will We Go Roller-skating, The Fridge Song, Car On Fire and Pink Floyd’s Bike.
In 1990 The Carrellines entered the Carling/Hot Press Best unsigned act competition and won. Beating off stiff competition in the final from (2nd) Fantasy Garden (Dublin) and (3rd) Hidden Faces, Wicklow. In Heat 4 The Tearcollectors dropped out and were replaced by Hidden Faces.
The competition is held at Sir Henry’s, in Cork over 5 weeks. With the winner each week going on to the final.
Heat 1, 2nd May The Angelic Toenails (Balbriggan), An Atom Age (Cork), Fantasy Garden (Dublin), The Hunger (Bray).
Winner; Fantasy Garden
Heat 2, 9th May The Winchesters (Fermoy), Belushi (Dunsany), Boys In he Band (Dublin), The Carrellines (Derry)
Winner: The Carrellines
Heat 3, 16th May The Sun Kings (Cork), Wilder (Dublin), The Hedonists (Derry), Both Ends Burning (Dublin)
Winner; Both Ends Burning
Heat 4, 23rd May Ego Minefield (Letterkenny), Men Of God (Dublin), Hidden Faces (Wicklow), Charlie Don’t Surf (Dublin)
Winner; Hidden Faces
Heat 5, 30th May Engine Alley (Dublin), Thru’penny Opera (Wexford), Dreads (Drogheda), Donnybrook Garage (Dublin)
Winner; Engine Alley
Final 6th June Engine Alley, Hidden Faces, Both Ends Burning, Fantasy Garden, The Carrellines
The Judges, George Byrne (Irish Independent), Richie Taylor (Sunday Press) Jackie Hayden (Hot Press), Niall Stokes (Hot Press), Emmett O’Reilly (Hot Press)
The band gained early momentum after a Dave Fanning Session (1991) and support from Pete Holidai of The Radiators from Space, who became their manager.
