A grand night with The Saw Doctors

The Saw Doctors, Lemon Grove, Exeter, Tuesday 6th December 2011, 7.30pm

By Ed Coate

The first time for this reviewer at the re-vamped Lemongrove for the Saw Doctors gig on Tuesday 6th December 2011.

The Keith Mullins Band warmed up the mostly 30-something* audience nicley (* at £25 per ticket; hardly surprising).

When they started it was a slow drawing in of the audience with some old classics and some new tunes from The Further Adventures of the Saw Doctors and within ten minutes many a foot was tapping along to the Irish barnstormers.

With their catchy folk-rock ditties the Saw Doctors were the perfect band to point out the folly of the Lemmy cutting back on bands – as is mooted for the next academic year.

The Lemmy itself is set out in much the same way as it has been for a while now without the ridiculous huge cage for the sound engineers. The only brand new feature being the wooden slats shutting off the back half of the bar.

One thing that disappointed on the night was the lack of access for the disabled. It is possible but involves a long old hike up the hill and around the back. Also from what I could see the only possibilty of seating is to sit in the bar on a stool.

“It’s been too long since we were in Devon,” said Leo Moran to loud cheers. The red and green of Galway a major part of this bands outlook it can certainly be hoped they are true to their word. They re-iterated it when they said: “We’ll be here a bit longer and back again soon I think.” Cue more loud cheering and a surge to the front for more jumping tunes from a band that makes me reminisce for a place I’ve never been…

The obligatory encores included N17 and of course I usedta love her, (the glory of her ass) – yes, I have seen them before.

All in all a grand night and one I hope more people in Exeter can experience in the future.