Saw Doctors to rock Maryland Governor’s Ball
By Brian Fitzpatrick
Fresh from a successful Christmas which saw their latest charity single, an a cappella version of “Red Cortina” reach number four in the Irish charts, The Saw Doctors hit these shores once more in March to play a coast-to-coast tour spanning Boston and New York to Boulder, Colorado, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.
The 17-show tour will be used to promote the band’s highly acclaimed recent studio album, The Further Adventures of The Saw Doctors, which was put together over the past year at Rockfield Studios in Wales and Grouse Lodge Studios in Co. Westmeath.
Before all that, though, there’s the small matter of heading for Baltimore, Maryland this week to play at the Inauguration Ball of the state’s Irish American governor, Martin O’Malley.
Readers may be surprised to learn that Mr. O’Malley’s connection with The Saw Doctors goes back to when “he and his band played support for us in a small pub in Baltimore, years ago,” Saw Doctor Leo Moran told The Irish Emigrant this week.
“Martin has been a great friend and ally to us for many years, going back to the time he was Mayor of Baltimore. O’Malley’s March [the governor’s band at the time] even covered our song ‘The Wisdom of Youth’ on one of their albums.” says the affable Moran.
“We did the same gig for him four years ago, and it’s great that he’s managed to get re-elected. It’s certainly no mean feat what he’s achieved; we were delighted to get the call again.”
Of the new album, Moran says the band is “seriously proud” of their first studio effort since 2006’s The Cure. “We’ll be using the tour to get the album out there, rejuvenate the set-list and show people what the 2011 Saw Doctors are all about.” he says.
Remarking on the challenges facing recording artists these days, Moran is frank:
“It’s definitely a tough climate for recording – you’re up against the recession and the downloads, but it’s vital to stay current and relevant.” he says, something which The Saw Doctors have managed better than most over the past year few years.
Their 2008 cover of the Sugababes’ “About You Now” shot to number one in Ireland ahead of Pink and The Kings of Leon, and the band’s recent renaissance has also seen them honored for Lifetime Achievement at the Meteor Music Awards. Throw in 2010 appearances at Glastonbury, Oxygen and the V-Festival, and it’s clear they’re as popular now as they ever were.
After Maryland and before they make the return trip to the U.S., the band jet off to Austria for a skiing trip, where they will entertain listeners as part of Today FM’s Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show. “I’ve never been skiing, it should be great craic!” Moran says, although fans on this side of the Atlantic will simply be praying that the band emerges from the slopes with all music-playing limbs intact.
The Saw Doctors play Boston’s House of Blues on Friday March 4th and Irving Plaza, New York on Saturday March 12th and Sunday March 13th. Tickets for all U.S. shows are available on ticketmaster.com. For more information and full schedule see sawdoctors.com.
