Prior to the formation of Meyer & McGuire, Frank Meyer was a solo performer. In 1993, he invited other musicians to join him in the production of Home Town. John Dady, Joe Dady, and Wayne “Maynard” Penlon contributed their exquisite talents to the development of this recording.
Shortly after Frank Meyer produced Home Town, he joined forces with Siobhan McGuire to create the duo of Meyer & McGuire. Meyer & McGuire now perform the songs from that album.
After reading many inflated promotional descriptions about performers, it is the desire of this writer to portray, as accurately as possible, a clear and genuine picture of Meyer & McGuire. It is this writer's hope that, after one reads this description, the reader will not be disappointed if the choice is made to purchase the music of this duo or attend one of their performances.
One of the most important issues to address in describing Meyer & McGuire is their sound. All the vocals are done by Meyer. His voice, while not polished, emits a depth and sincerity which endears him to his audience. His decision to perform the works of such artists as Buffett, Dylan, Croce, Guthrie, Kristofferson, Nelson, and Prine
should give the reader both a sense of the power, style, and range of his voice as well as a sense of the themes that appear in his original material. Meyer accompanies his voice with rhythmical sounds from his acoustic guitar and his harmonica, which generates either melodic or improvisational tones. McGuire brings a fullness and depth to Meyer's sound with her acoustic bass. Whether Meyer is singing a sensitive folk ballad or a hard driving bluegrass tune, McGuire impresses the audience with her ability to add the perfect touch to the songs.
The sound of Meyer & McGuire has been presented in many different settings. One may see them at a campfire, private party, family reunion, restaurant, bar, coffee house, festival, or concert. The nature of their performance can vary. At times, one may see them performing with a small sound system. This usually occurs in areas where the purpose of the music is to enhance the atmosphere. Other times, one may hear them performing with a larger sound system. This usually occurs in larger areas where the purpose of the music is to engage and ignite the audience. Whether their presence is unobtrusive or conspicuous, Meyer & McGuire generate a great deal of energy in their shows. While some of their songs invite listening, most of them encourage audience participation. Meyer & McGuire are at their best when they are able to persuade their audience to become participants in their show. Those who attend a Meyer & McGuire performance will often find themselves singing and clapping along to the sounds of classic folk, country, rock, bluegrass, blues, Irish, Caribbean, and original tunes.
As stated earlier, it is the desire of this writer to give the reader a clear and authentic picture of Meyer & McGuire. The description of their sound and the nature of their performance is genuine and unembellished. If one, after reading this description, chooses to hire Meyer & McGuire, attend one of their shows, or purchase their music, he or she will not be deceived. Their performance will generate an unpretentious warmth that will open the heart and soul.
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