Irish Emigrant

"one of the best musicians (Irish or otherwise) playing in Boston."

-Jim Mc Grath
August 27th-September 2nd 2007
 

Steve Morse, WBOS

Paddy Saul at the Druid. The up-and-coming Celtic rocker energized a packed house at the Druid with a seamless, high-energy show. He was riveting on ballads (in which his idealism shone forth) and also rocked the place for all it was worth, sounding like the Waterboys one minute, then an expansive, world-music-like group at another, with a special nod to ingenious fiddler Damon Leibert. Paddy is on his way to a tour of Ireland and they'd better be ready for him.

-Steve Morse
Critic At Large for WBOS 92.9FM
May 30, 2007

"One of the best voices I've ever had the pleasure of committing to tape." Engineer Pete Weiss (Aimee Mann, Charlie Chesterman, Vic Chestnutt)
 

WERS 88.9FM Boston Featured Artist of the Week

"Paddy Saul illustrates the diverse experience of his travels through music. Having arrived in Boston from Ireland in 1995 and having played throughout New York, Ireland and the New England area, he certainly has a lot to offer. His flexibility in playing and singing, as well as in his roster of fellow musicians enables him to create a lively, melodic sound that is ever-changing, but remains rooted in a humble honesty. His debut album One Town Tasted, to debut in early April, has been honed and sculpted so as to best portray this journey."

-Will Selfridge-WERS 88.9 FM Boston-

February 26, 2007
 

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FOR 'ONE TOWN TASTED'

Ireland to Boston: Paddy Saul Releases his Much Anticipated Debut Record 'One Town Tasted'

Paddy Saul blows his audience away. You wouldn’t necessarily expect it from the slight, unassuming Irish transplant. But when he takes stage, hands strumming, feet stomping, and head wiggling, he slowly, steadily fans a spark to a blaze. He closes his eyes, casts them upward, and opens his mouth, delivering a plaintive wail that hushes the room and raises the hairs on the back of your neck. His fans love it, returning week after week to see him perform in pubs, clubs and lately, large music halls where he’s opened shows for more established performers such as Josh Ritter, Mark Geary, Juliet Turner and Rubyhorse.

Hailing from Drumconrath, County Meath, Ireland, Paddy came to Boston in 1995. The experience of a young man leaving Ireland in the mid-90's and coming to the U.S. to make his way is a familiar tale. Yet the skill and passion with which Paddy tells his stories and sings his songs makes him stand out in a town teeming with talented singer-songwriters.

His debut CD One Town Tasted (Nine Mile Records), chronicles his journey, capturing snap shots of a fledgling performer who’s left behind the comforts of home, old friends and lovers, and dead-end jobs for the promise of new adventures. Recorded at famed Zippah Studios by engineers Pete Weiss and Brian Charles, the CD offers a collision of transatlantic styles. Traditional fiddles and banjos spar with electric guitars and big backbeats, creating a beautiful and compelling blend of folk and rock: Old World substance meets New World style.

“These songs are really about my first ten years in Boston,” explains Paddy. “Soon after I arrived my life got pretty crazy, both good and bad. I fell in with some serious musicians and serious partiers. And while I watched a lot of friends become amazing artists I also watched a lot of people fall in and out of trouble. Yes, some fell in for good. ‘The Devil Must’ addresses this pretty directly…the refrain “All my loving gone for good” was about the culmination of this period when everything came to a head, where some close relationships got severed for me.”

Another cut on the CD, ‘You’re Alive’ was written about Paddy’s brother Frankie who was in a serious car wreck back in Ireland. Frankie narrowly survived the accident, but a close friend of his didn’t. The song poured out of Paddy instantly as Frankie lay in the hospital recovering, and to this day, it’s a difficult one for Paddy’s mother to hear. “I guess it really brings all of that back to the front,” he says. “I was just so happy he made it, I couldn’t stop writing. And it’s definitely one of the songs I’m most proud of.”

But above the spot-on production and intense subject matter, it’s Paddy’s voice that carries the record. The sheer force of it would cause any casual listener to stop what they are doing and tune in – the same way his live performances do. Engineer Pete Weiss remarked that it is, “One of the best voices I’ve ever had the pleasure of committing to tape” - high praise from someone who’s worked with luminaries such as Aimee Mann, Vic Chestnutt, and Chris Brokaw.

The Noise

"Paddy Saul obviously remembers the Australian band The Church. His voice is reminiscent of their lead singer Steve Kilbey. One Town Tasted also reminds me of early efforts from Midnight Oil– another Aussie product. To be fair, Paddy puts his own spin on this compelling combination of folk and rock. I like the dark edge of his writing. Paddy is a long way from his home in Ireland and has many stories of his travels to relate to us. He has a convincing way of delivering his lyrics and strums his acoustic with the conviction of a surgeon. There is plenty of love coming from a Telecaster on many of these 12 tracks as well. If I were to make just one suggestion, change the name the CD to One Woman Tasted. Yeah Boi! Now were talking!"

 -Lance Woodward
The Noise - Silver Circle Reviews
April 2007
 

The Irish Emigrant

... "Even with the debut album, the CD release party, and the upcoming Ireland tour, Paddy still finds time to work on music for his second record. “This one’s going to be more about being out and about Boston,”he says. While he’s pleased with how One Town Tasted turned out, he’s still got plenty more songs in him. If you haven’t seen Paddy and his band already, make sure to come by The Paradise Lounge on Saturday night to see a man that won’t remain a Boston secret for too much longer." ...

The Allston-Brighton TAB

Album offers taste of Boston, taste of Ireland
This week, Paddy Saul released his debut album, “One Town Tasted” (Nine Mile Records), and will hold a CD release party at the Paradise Lounge on Saturday, April 7 at 9 p.m. The album may reflect his time living here, but growing up in Ireland was also an influence.

Boston Herald

An Irish ex-pat living and strumming in Boston,
Saul has shared the stage with half the Irish singer/songwriters who visit the Hub. ...

-Jed Gottlieb
The Boston Herald
April 6, 2007

Boston Globe

Picks of the Week
"Paddy Saul celebrates his new CD at the Paradise Lounge."

Northeast Performer

"Paddy's sound expands and grows, and by the end of the first song, “Walking the Dog,” the listener is drawn in by his deep, mellow voice. Saul continues to impress...with intriguing lyrics and layered sounds."

-Robyn Burnham
Northeast Performer
May 1, 2007

Three Imaginary Girls

"Saul and his band provided just the right soundtrack for a packed Irish pub at dusk, and his impassioned voice was enough to make the Guinness-mustached mouths curve upwards."

-Betsy Boston
Three Imaginary Girls -'Seatle's Sparkly Indie-Pop Press'
May 11, 2007

The Freewheeler

"Paddy Saul, an Irishman who put together a fine band in Boston, and was apparently bringing it all back home. He is likely missed. Very sincere young lad. On first sight, looks the lightweight, maybe Emerald green be'ind the ears. But he has the chops, bro. He has his convictions, and his songs, and gets it across. He closed, in succession, with what he termed "a song about losing a girl" followed by "getting a girl." He's aware of how those 2 scenarios explain most of life. The band, starring a super bass guitar, had me tappin the toes big time."
 

-Matt Hanley
blogging at The Freewheeler
re: Matt Molloy's, Westport, Ireland
June 1, 2007