thePULSEBy Christopher Reddy
What could be better than having one of the world’s best Irish Bands back in Worcester just before St Patrick’s Day! It’s funny how sometimes you get a true sense of just how popular a band is by the number of times they come up in conversation. I was recently in Vermont on a ski trip and the subject of favorite Irish artists came up ~ and both the musicians and non-musicians in our group of friends immediately put The Saw Doctors at the top of their lists. The band’s rousing performances ~ both live and recorded (although of course it’s much more of a treat to witness their shows in person!) ~ earned high points for exemplifying modern Irish rock while maintaining true Irish heritage. This high-energy combination of modern and tradition is one of the reasons they have a fan base that includes everyone from teenagers to grandparents.
Currently, The Saw Doctors are on tour in the UK ~ but they’ll be returning to the States in time to perform on Thursday, March 8 at The Hanover Theatre in Downtown Worcester. Last month, I was lucky enough to catch up with Leo Mora, guitarist/vocalist for the band, on the phone as he took a breather between shows to chat about the new tour and album, The Further Adventures of The Saw Doctors. Just as his magnetic onstage persona suggests, he was an absolute pleasure to interview ~ and here’s what he had to say…
As guitarist and vocalist with the band, Leo shares the front man duties with his longtime friend and fellow guitarist/vocalist Davey Carton. The two are the heart and soul of the band; they grew up together in the Galway area of Ireland, making music and releasing seven studio albums over the past twenty five years. Along with band members Kevin Duffy, Eimhin Cradock, and Anthony Thislethwaite, also known for his stint with The Waterboys, the band has been touring in support of the new album and is excited about their return to Worcester. When I asked Leo how the tour was going, he shared ~ in his thick Irish brogue, of course ~ that he and the guys were getting comfortable with the new songs and that the shows were being very well received. And what did Leo have to say when the topic of returning to Worcester came up? Only good things! He and the band fondly remember their shows at Hanover and the [former] Irish Times a few years back, and they truly appreciate the support and enthusiasm they receive from fans in this area. In short, The Saw Doctors are delighted to be coming back here.
Towards the end of our conversation, I asked Leo if changes in the music industry, specifically the internet and the falling off of CD sales, were hurting the band at all; he replied that they were savvy enough to be utilizing iTtunes, along with touring, to keep The Saw Doctors humming along.
Don’t miss the chance to see the band live on March 8 at The Hanover Theatre, and get in the mood for the show and for St. Patty’s Day by downloading The Further Adventures of The Saw Doctors from iTunes.
www.sawdoctors.com
www.myspace.com/thesawdoctors
www.facebook.com/sawdoctors
