Saw Docs Meet US President

Gardening and the vocal styling of the Governor of Maryland were the topics of discussion when The Saw Doctors met US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama this week.

The Saw Doctors met with the couple following their performance at the concert in their honour at College Green in Dublin on Monday, when the Tuam group played their hit track ‘N17’ along with Sharon Shannon and Mundy, who performed the anthem ‘Galway Girl’.

The Saw Doctors manager, Ollie Jennings said that ‘N17’ went down very well with the 40,000 strong crowd and that it is significant that the group played the song this week.

“N17” is on the band’s first album, ‘If This Is Rock & Roll, I Want My Old Job Back’ and, actually, this week 20 years ago it was number one in the Irish Charts.  It was released on May 20, 1991” he said.

Mr Jennings said that although the song was written 20 years ago, the demise of the Celtic Tiger meant that it had suddenly become relevant again.

“A lot of young people have had to leave Ireland and are in bars in different parts of the world still wishing they could be on the N17”.

Following the concert on Monday, The Saw Doctors had the opportunity to meet with President and Mrs Obama, and guitarist Leo Moran chatted to the President about the band’s connection to the Governor Of Maryland, Martin O’Malley.

The politician’s band, O’Malley’s March, supported The Saw Doctors on several occasions before he became Governor of Maryland and President Obama commented that Governor O’Malley is “a good singer”.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama, who famously tends her own vegetable garden in the grounds of the White House, chatted to avid gardener, Saw Doctors bassist Anthony Thistlethwaite about different types of seeds and the best time to plant them.

Lorraine O’Hanlon

Galway Independent
25th May, 2011

Eleanor McEvoy has announced that she will be offering fans and new fans alike the chance to download her album title track I’d Rather Go Blonde for free via using the Pay With A Tweet campaign. An avid twitter user, this is the first time that McEvoy has offered a free digital song. It’s simple you go to her homepage: www.eleanormcevoy.com on the right hand side at the top of the page you will see the Pay with a Tweet button: Just click it, tweet it & download it!

Eleanor also recently took part in The 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in Kilkenny. The event raised €5,425 in aid of the very worthy cause which was attended by almost 300 people on Easter Monday night. The impressive line up that included; Bell X1 frontman Paul Noonan, Liam O’ Maonlai (The Hothouse Flowers), Clive Barnes, Eleanor McEvoy, Ian Doyle, Jamie Lawson, Bill Coleman and Declan O’ Rourke treated a very appreciative audience to a musical extravaganza that will remain in memories for a long time to come. The musicians sang 25 songs for 25 years — some of which came from the year 1986 — the year of the disaster. She also recently performed the Beatles’ “Her Majesty” live on The John Murray on RTE Radio 1 Show from Trinity College, Dublin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytxoFxeLt0Q

Eleanor’s song I Hear You Breathing In is featured in the trailer of Spanish film El Vuelo Del Tren (directed by Paco Torres).

Eleanor’s official YouTube channel is now in full effect here: http://www.youtube.com/eleanormcevoy

Eleanor flys out to Australia soon for a list of dates before returning to Ireland in July: listings below:

AUSTRALIA

MAY – JUNE

*Friday 27 Candlelight Concert, Barossa Regional Galleries, Tanunda, SA

*Saturday 28 The Singing Gallery, McLaren Vale, SA

*Sunday 29 The Promethean, Adelaide, SA

JUNE

*Wednesday 1 Humph Hall, Allambie Heights, NSW

*Thursday 2 Cat & Fiddle Hotel, Balmain, NSW

*Friday 3 Illawarra Folk Club, Diggers, Wollogong, NSW

*Saturday 4 Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba, NSW

*Wednesday 8 Brighton Civic Centre, Bridgewater, TAS

*Thursday 9 Brookfield Winery, TAS

*Friday 10 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

*Saturday 11 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

*Sunday 12 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

*Monday 13 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

IRELAND

JULY

Sunday 10 Keltic Hooley, Clan Ree Complex, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Sunday 24 Ardmore Pattern Festival, Ardmore, Co. Waterford

IRISH PR CONTACT: LINDA COOGAN BYRNE FOR ALL QUERIES/

linda@goodseedpr.com and or phone 0851659065

The Blackout are nominated for no less than 3 Kerrang awards:

BEST VIDEO presented by Kerrang! TV

1. 30 Seconds To Mars – Hurricane

2. My Chemical Romance – Na Na Na

3. The Blackout – Higher And Higher

4. A Day To Remember – All I Want

5. Young Guns – Stitches

BEST ALBUM

1. Bring Me The Horizon – There Is A Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let’s Keep It A Secret

2. Escape The Fate – Escape The Fate

3. The Blackout – Hope

4. Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare

5. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys

BEST BRITISH BAND presented by Rising Records

1. Bullet For My Valentine

2. Bring Me The Horizon

3. You Me At Six

4. The Blackout

5. Enter Shikari

Full list of nominations here: http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storycode=1045102

Following an amazing debut sold out Irish show Brooke Fraser has announced a date at The Academy on Sunday 9 October. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 9am. Check out her amazing hit song Something In The Water it is currently on playlists across Ireland- Including Rte Radio1 & 2FM where the album and single was RECORD OF THE WEEK. It was also on the A List on BBC Radio 2 where is reached album of the week! LISTEN AGAIN TO BROOKE LIVE ON TODAY FM:

Immediately embraced by the Irish public, Platinum-selling New Zealander Brooke Fraser released her debut Irish single ‘Something In The Water’ back in March, followed by the release of her album, ‘Flags’ in April. ‘BETTY’ will be the second single which will be out on July 8^th.

+ ‘Betty’ the follow up single here:

Prior to heading over to Australia for a tour  ‎Eleanor McEvoy talks to Rhythm & Roots magazine- see below for the full page interview out in this Months Issue..

Eleanor also recently took part in The 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in Kilkenny. The event raised €5,425 in aid of the very worthy cause which was attended by almost 300 people on Easter Monday night.

The impressive line up that included; Bell X1 frontman Paul Noonan, Liam O’ Maonlai (The Hothouse Flowers), Clive Barnes, Eleanor McEvoy, Ian Doyle, Jamie Lawson, Bill Coleman and Declan O’ Rourke treated a very appreciative audience to a musical extravaganza that will remain in memories for a long time to come. The musicians sang 25 songs for 25 years — some of which came from the year 1986 — the year of the disaster. The passion and enthusiasm that the musicians put in

The ‘full house’ at the Set Theatre enjoyed fabulous collaborations from the various musicians of their own music and also each sang a classic song from 1986. Some of the 80s classics on the night included The Bangles ‘Manic Monday’, Kenny Loggin’s ‘Danger Zone’ and Peter Cetera’s ‘Glory of Love’, to name but a few. MC Martin Bridgeman invited all the musicians back on stage at the end of the night to close the event and they sang ‘Higher Love’ and ‘War’.

Eleanor’s song I Hear You Breathing In is featured in the trailer of  El Vuelo Del Tren (directed by Paco Torres).

Eleanor’s official YouTube channel is now in full effect here: http://www.youtube.com/eleanormcevoytv

Check out her new Australian gigs here http://www.eleanormcevoy.net/blog/category/tour-dates/