When County Galway natives Leo Moran and Davy Carton joined musical forces in 1986 to found The Saw Doctors, they could not have envisioned the staying power the popular Irish ensemble would enjoy for the next quarter-century.
Now back in the States for a tour of music festivals and other venues, they stop by Washington’s 9:30 Club on Thursday with a few teasers from their upcoming album, “The Further Adventures of the Saw Doctors.” Fans also can look forward to hearing many longtime favorites, including “I Useta Lover,” Ireland’s biggest-selling single of all time. On Saturday, they are headliners at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival.
“Our songs resonate throughout the English-speaking world because they’re simple and translate well,” Carton said. “We originally traveled to the States to play to the young Irish who had emigrated to Boston or Chicago to find jobs during bad economic times. They brought their friends to our gigs, and the word quickly spread.”
Unlike many successful Irish musicians who tend to adopt what Carton calls “a mid-Atlantic accent,” The Saw Doctors stay close to their Galway home in the lyrics written by Moran about people and events that have universal appeal, whether serious or funny. Carton, whose day job during those early hardscrabble times was as a textile factory worker, adds the melody. One number in the latest album, “Takin’ The Train,” was co-written with twentysomething drummer Eimhin Craddock, a newcomer two years ago to the seasoned lineup that also includes Kevin Duffy on keyboards and Anthony Thistlethwaite on bass guitar and saxophone.
Like their Stateside counterpart, Bruce Springsteen, The Saw Doctors sing about universal problems and the troubles of the average man. They regard the west of Ireland as the key element in their existence and find magic in everyday experiences, even Moran 11-mile bicycle ride from his home to his favorite fishing spot.
“Our rock song called ‘Fridaytown’ is about the winding, twisty road he follows,” Carton explained.
Along the way are lots of little townlets where hardly anyone lives. The chorus is all the place names, one after another. It’s the favorite of the man who pitches the album to U.K. radio stations because he likes the lovely guitar sound throughout and the chorus with all those names.”
By the time the 21st century rolled around, Ireland was enjoying a prosperity it had never before experienced, and The Saw Doctors’ light, frivolous songs struck merry chords. Just as suddenly, the economic collapse caused mass unemployment and young people resumed emigrating for jobs in Australia, the Middle East and elsewhere. By the time band members began working on the new album, The Saw Doctors decided to focus on the serious implications of the downturn. Still, no matter how poignant the subject matter, their tunes are always melodic and their lyrics optimistic.
“First of all, we like playing music,” Carton said. “This is not a career for us, even though it is, but it’s based on what we love to do. We tour only a hundred days a year, which means that we’re always fresh and always enjoying ourselves. The highlight of our day is playing together, connecting with the audience, hearing them singing our songs and getting their feedback.”
