My knowledge of Irish music is a little deeper than “hey, U2 is from Ireland, right?” but even so, I’m not sure where The Saw Doctors stand in the pantheon of Irish music. That said, if they aren’t heroes in their own land, there’s a little secret I’d like to let you Irish folks in on. The Saw Doctors are simply amazing.

Any time I play The Saw Doctors for people who have never heard it, regardless of their musical tastes, they ask me who it is. There’s something undeniable about the combination of solid pop-rock songcraft and lyrics that can be both personal and universal at the same time.

Maybe it’s that timeless Celtic ring in the melodies and instrumentation that everyone the world over responds to, or maybe it’s simply the fun that’s evident even in the studio recordings. The music seems to want to make you take notice. It’s not a challenge, or a puzzle, or an aggression. It’s a welcome, an invitation to sit for a while and simply enjoy yourself.

They play almost no shows in the US, except for an occasional festival show in Hyannis, MA and one in NYC. So, if you’re ever anywhere near a Saw Doctors show in the UK, please go and tell me how it is. I wish I could make the trip to see them.