The Saw Doctors announce American tour

West Ireland based rock band, The Saw Doctors announce their Spring 2008 American Tour: a non-stop 16 city run beginning February 26 in Annapolis MD and concluding March 17 in Northampton, MA. Most notably, The Saw Doctors will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day Weekend onstage in New York City, with two shows at the famed Nokia Theater.

“The Saw Doctors sing earnest, folk-rocking anthems of small-town life “for those who feel they’ve been mistreated/Discriminated, robbed or cheated.” In Ireland their populism has brought them a huge national following; even in New York City, there should be plenty of voices with brogues singing along.”
Jon Pareles The New York Times

Just prior to their arrival in the U.S., The Saw Doctors are to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 Meteor Irish Music Awards. The televised presentation and ceremony will take place Friday, February 15 in the RDS, Dublin and will include a special live performance by the band. Previous recipients of the award include, The Pogues, Clannad, Bob Geldof, and The Dubliners .
2008 marks the 20th Anniversary of The Saw Doctors musical career which includes three Irish Number One singles, a UK Top Ten album and sold out shows in over 10 different countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Holland and the UK. The Saw Doctors will kick off a year long celebration with a one-off Dublin show on February 22 before the five piece band embark on their month long USA tour which visits Chicago, Washington DC, Boston and Cleveland.
In the spring of 1988, when The Saw Doctors were playing a four-week residency at the Quays Bar, Galway, their energetic live show attracted the attention of The Waterboys who were nearby recording ‘Fisherman’s Blues’. Pub sessions and budding friendships among the musicians would prove fruitful for the Saw Doctors' future, and would see eventual crossovers between the two groups. The band's current bass player Anthony Thistlethwaite was the former sax player for The Waterboys.
Both bands remain interconnected through musicianship and friendship.

“Much has changed since the Saw Doctors formed in Ireland in 1988. What remains the same is the group's sonic attack — gritty, rollicking and inspired.”
PhillyBurbs.com

The Saw Doctors revolve around the songwriting partnership of Davy Carton (Vocals) and Leo Moran (Guitars). On stage line-up also includes former Waterboy, Anthony Thistlethwaite (Bass Guitar, Saxophone), Kevin Duffy (Keyboards, Vocals), Eimhin Cradock (Drums, Vocals).
The Galway band has made over 50 successful trips to the USA since their first visit in 1991 including the recent Summer 2007 string of US dates where the band had the distinction of appearing along with The Black Crowes at the Irish Connections Festival in Canton, MA and captivating West Coast audiences with their performance at one of the nation’s premiere outdoor music events; The 24th Annual California Strawberry Festival.

“…A Saw Doctors concert is like going to a joyous church service: There is a huge communal feeling, some comforting ritualistic traditions and plenty of great music. The Irish rock 'n' rollers put on yet another stellar and uplifting show that clocked in at about two hours before a near-capacity crowd.”
The REPUBLICAN, Northampton, MA

Feb 26 Annapolis, MD Rams Head Tavern
Feb 28 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre
Feb 29 Washington, NC Turnage Theatre
March 1 Philadelphia, PA Fillmore at TLA
March 2 Bethlehem, PA Winter Classic Festival
March 4 Richmond, VA Toad's Place
March 5 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
March 7 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
March 8 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
March 9 Royal Oaks, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
March 11 Scranton, PA Cultural Centre
March 12 Syracuse, NY Mulroy Civic Centre
March 14 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
March 15 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
March 16 Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre
March 17 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre

The Saw Doctors are on tour in support of their rarities release:
‘That Takes The Biscuit – 23 Assorted Tracks by The Saw Doctors’
That Takes The Biscuit (Shamtown Records) includes studio recordings of the hilarious ‘I'm Never Gonna Go on Bebo Again’ (Bebo is an Irish networking Web site, much like MySpace), the mid tempo fan favorite ‘She’s Got It’, early demos from the late eighties of songs such as ‘Ways of the World’, and several live tracks from the December 2002 London Shepherds Bush Empire show. In all, the new CD features twenty three ‘rare’ recordings that as a whole serve to showcase the sheer variety of musical influences (pop, rock, folk and traditional Irish music) that make up The Saw Doctors' signature sound.

“These folksy lads leave their saws at home and bring Springsteen-like rock with an Irish accent.”
Boston Herald

About The Saw Doctors
The Saw Doctors enjoy an enthusiastic following both at home and abroad. The band’s international fan base displays the sort of fervor for the music and the live show that has them often compared to fans of the Grateful Dead. Fueled by those in Ireland as well as those of Irish descent in the US, UK, and elsewhere, this unofficial fan club prides itself on seeing the Docs as many times as possible. They regularly meet online in a forum on the band's website and maintain a lively and global conversation about the band.
During the past two years, The Saw Doctors have toured non-stop throughout Europe, USA, the UK and Ireland. With their song “I Useta Lover” The Saw Doctors can claim the biggest selling single in Ireland, outselling Irish icons, U2, Sinead O’Connor and Van Morrison.
In a Saw Doctors' song, you'll listen in vain for the usual swaggering rock clichés about life on the road, drug problems and easy sex. Instead, continuing the tradition of all-time greats from Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams, their songs range from bringing in the harvest, to running away to join the army; from the plight of Ireland's unmarried mothers to the effect of strong religion on a nation's youth; from playing Gaelic football against a neighboring village to loving the prettiest girl in town but lacking the courage to tell her.
Previous band CD’s include: If This Is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back (1991), All The Way From Tuam (1992), Same Oul Town (1996), Songs From Sun Street (1998), Villains? (2002), The Cure (2006).

www.sawdoctors.com