Loading ...THE SAW DOCTORS – IGNITE A FROSTED CHICAGO AUDIENCE
This year Chicago changed both the time of year (from fall to spring) and the location of its CelticFest. Millennium Park, the crown jewel of Chicago’s downtown area, now hosts this annual gathering. Performing on Saturday night at the Pritzker Pavillion, a new state of the art stage, sound system and audience facility, were The Rogues at 4:00pm and followed at 7:30pm by the evenings main attraction, The Saw Doctors, the Irish rock group from Co. Galway, Ireland who had kicked of their U.S. tour the evening before at the Magic Bag in Detroit (See Fanrealm’s tour section for dates and locations for U.S. appearances.).
I must admit to being a brand new Saw Doctors fan, six months 
ago I had no idea of whom or what Saw Doctors were. That was then, this is now….. In these few short months I am transformed; a total convert to their music, to their fandom, to all things Saw Doctor.
Being a newbie in an audience of seasoned Saw Doctors concert goers is an experience unto itself. The fans are decked out in their maroon and white Galway GAA jerseys and waving the red and green flag of Mayo. Faces silently (and no so silently) mouthing song lyrics, couples with arms entwined, and swaying together to the music, others dancing alone in the aisles, all in high spirits and excited to be a part of the revelry happening in the audience. Both the young and not so young continually rush the stage to be a part of the animated mass pressed together and in unison signing, waving and swaying to familiar songs pounding from amps mounted above the stage. This is The Saw Doctors!!! Big, bold, loud and loved unconditionally by every single person in the audience. These guys are fan favorites and it shows from the moment they take the stage until the final notes of their encore. They never took a break, segueing flawlessly from one song to another, singing, playing, laughing and interacting with each other and the audience as though every fan there was a long lost and dearly missed friend. Being a part of this love fest was an amazing experience for me. Having it in my home town, a part of CelticFest Chicago and free just added to my nights’ treasured memories.
The band shared two songs during the course of the concert, gifting the audience with You’ve Got To Be Yourself, a song never performed for a Chicago audience before and second, Takin’ The Train which will be included in their new album scheduled for release this Summer.
They performed straight through for the entire 1½ hours on stage, ending with I’ll Be On My Way and then returning to shouts of encore, encore to perform an additional three of the fans’ favorites. I missed the first encore, forgive me, I was on the way out. (Hey, give me a break, I’m new to the protocol.) I sure didn’t miss two and three, N17 and Hay Wrap.
Aside from the weatherman sending an arctic wind and almost freezing temperatures, the only flaw to a perfect evening that I could find was a report that the City of Chicago didn’t allow, or wouldn’t supply any alcohol in the backstage area, though they were selling it out front. I’m sure a few were had by those deprived as Leo later blogged “don’t worry, we went for a few afterwards, met loads of people and drove off to Ohio at 3am. ~Leo”
To any of you still wondering if seeing The Saw Doctors is something you want to do – YES, IT IS!!! This is one of the best rock bands I’ve ever experienced and they truly do love their fans.
The Saw Doctors:
Davy Carton: Vocals, Guitar
Leo Moran: Guitars, Vocals
Anthony Thistlethwaite: Bass Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
Kevin Duffy: Keyboards, Vocals
Eimhin Cradock: Drums, Vocals
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