After nearly 15 years away from American stages, The Saw Doctors are making their triumphant return to the US with a highly anticipated tour that includes a stop at the legendary Palladium in Los Angeles on July 22nd.
The Tuam, County Galway outfit has maintained a fierce cult following since their late ‘80s emergence, when Waterboys front-man Mike Scott discovered them playing in the back of a Galway pub during a storm.
That chance encounter led to support slots that eventually catapulted them to Irish stardom with their 1990 single “I Useta Lover,” which still holds the record for Ireland’s all-time best-selling single.
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What makes The Saw Doctors endure isn’t just their catchy hooks but their unfiltered authenticity. While founding members Leo Moran and Davy Carton have steered the band through numerous lineup changes, their core approach remains unchanged – merging punk energy with folk sensibilities while celebrating their rural Irish identity rather than downplaying it for international appeal.
For the uninitiated, think Mumford and Sons, but Irish.
Their lyrics speak directly to working-class experience, small-town life, emigration, and relationships with both humor and heart.
The band describes their mission as preserving “the positive elements of our background and marrying them to the sounds which have culturally invaded our milieu through TV, radio, 45’s, fast food restaurants, 24-hour petrol stations and electric blankets.”
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Though they haven’t released new material since 2010’s “The Further Adventures of the Saw Doctors,” their live performances remain the stuff of legend. The current lineup features Carton and Moran alongside Anthony Thistlethwaite, and Rickie O’Neill on drums.
For American fans who’ve waited a decade and a half to see them, this tour represents a rare opportunity to experience firsthand what Irish audiences have known for years – few bands can match The Saw Doctors’ combination of punk spirit, folk storytelling, and electric stage presence.
The Palladium show promises to be both a heartfelt reunion and vivid reminder of why these unassuming rockers from Galway earned their Lifetime Achievement Award and devoted international following.
