For my 100th opinion here on Ciao I thought I would have a go at something a little different from my normal opinions, and delve into to my CD collection. So go easy on me ok it’s my first one; any comments would be most welcome!
The Saw Doctors – who the heck are they? A question I asked myself as I was dragged along to Rock City one typically cold and windy night, to see yet another band I have never heard of. The Saw Doctors are Davy Carton (vocals/guitar), Leo Moran (guitar/vocals), Pearse Doherty (bass/vocals/flute/tin whistle) and John Donnelly (drums), who hail from Tuam, County Galway.
The Album Songs from Sun Street is actually the 4th one from the Saw Doctors – released in 1989.
The music and lyrics of the Saw Doctors are a curious mix, the up beat sounds of the trumpet, penny whistle, fiddle and accordion mixed with the more mellow sounds of the saxophone, trombone and flute. The lyrics could be perceived as depressing on first hearing a song, but there is always the element of hope at the end of the song. There is little ‘sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll’ about the Saw Doctors, more gentle up lifting lyrics about life and growing up, falling in love and attaining your dreams, portrayed in a foot stomping, voice stretching, roof raising manner.
1. Good News – A song concerning all the bad news in the world ‘the oceans all polluted and we’ve damaged all the sky’. However not a song of entire doom and gloom, with the optimistic ending of ‘put away the misery, put away the gun, its been a hard old century, there's a better one to come!’ The tune itself is pretty upbeat and foot tapping, despite the truth of the underlying message. The chorus certainly gets people singing along at their live gigs – even when they don’t know the rest of the lyrics!
2. Sugar Town – Another seemingly depressing song regarding the closure of the sugar beet factories and the effects on the lives of the people who worked there. Again there is a message of hope within the song, as the ‘kids have dreams’ that will most certainly flourish to a prosperous future. This is a pleasing tune, although not so delightful as some of the other tracks – probably my least favorite on the album.
3. Galway and Mayo – this is a beautiful song with simple, down to earth honest lyrics. The song is basically about travelling in the car with your parents when young, and the way they point out the landmarks of the places you pass. IT has a real Celtic feel to the song and a pleasure to listen to with its haunting melody and lyrics.
4. Carry me Away – This song began as a poem for Leo Morans own funeral, despite its funereal theme, it is actually a really beautiful song.
5. Heading for the Sunshine – This beautifully uplifting song depicting that despite the bad times, there is always sunshine ahead.
6. Catriona Tells Lies – This is my second favorite song on the album with some bizarre lyrics to boot. The song is about a girl who is a two timing liar. The tune is very catchy, certainly a gig crowd pleaser – with everyone joining in with ‘Liar, liar pants are on fire’ reminiscent perhaps of halcyon days of the playground.
7. Blah Blah Blah – A very amusing song about the verbal shorthand that people often use and the annoyances of everyday life, mobile phone, traffic etc. This is yet another crowd pleaser, one that stretches your vocal chords to their very limits!
8. D'ya wanna hear my guitar – A very funny song, loosely based on the alleged old chat up line ‘d’ya wanna come home and see my holy medals’. Again this is an upbeat, catchy tune with some very funny lyrics.
9. Joyce country ceili band – Definitely a top track of the album, a real foot stomping, thigh tapping, head bobbing, jig about tune.
10. High Nellie – instrumental music box style sound, pleasing but not memorable.
11. Best of friends 12. Will it ever stop raining?
The above two are not particular favorites of mine, possibly the weakest tracks on an otherwise very strong album, both musically and lyrically.
13. Tommy K – This is most definitely my favorite on the whole album, a really madcap sound that will have you out of your seat and dancing along. The song itself is about Tuams first DJ, Tommy Kavanagh who was drummed out of the town by the bishop, for holding a dance during lent. He later returned to Tuam when diagnosed with terminal cancer, the song was written and performed for him and he died the following day. The lyrics are simple and funny yet carries a poignant tribute to a much-loved man. There is a bizarre dance routine that goes along with the song, amusing to watch as several thousand try and join in.
All in all the combinations of the guitar, bass, fiddle accordion, keyboard, saxophone, trumpet, flute, penny whistle, flugelhorn and trombone, make an exciting rich sound that I think would be irresistible to any listener. My father, who is nearing 70 loves the Saw Doctors and can be seen at their gigs regularly jigging away!
The Saw Doctors certainly have that ‘joyful’ sense of fun to lift your spirits on the darkest day, with their songs of passion, power and poverty.
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Rovers standard. And every bit as backwoods basic as some Carter Family lament from the '30s. Nope. There's not much fault to be found with the pint-swilling, rafte...
Songs from Sun Street -
As feel-good friendly as a vintage Tom Petty anthem. As singsong jangly as an old Irish
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Rovers standard. And every bit as backwoods basic as some Carter Family lament from the '30s. Nope. There's not much fault to be found with the pint-swilling, rafte...
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