It’s not just the people of West Cork who inspire, but their words too

Skibbereen’s O’Donovan’s brothers coined a phrase almost 10 years ago that has gone down in the history books: close the eyes, and pull like dog. The phrase has recently been co-opted by Dublin band The Scratch, with their recent single release and upcoming album borrowing the famous phrase. 

The foursome played Connolly’s of Leap in August this year; no word on whether it was gazing out over the estuary is where they found their inspiration, or has the phrase simply seeped so effectively northwards into the lexicon that the Dubs have simply absorbed it too.

Either way, they make good use of it for an Irish trad/heavy metal fusion that’ll have you sweating in January when you (finally) head back to the gym.

Daniel Lane says to Nialler9: ‘It’s about tossing aside the idea of apologising for merely existing or hoping that if I keep colouring inside the lines I’ll get what I think I deserve.’

‘Mocking myself a bit but also getting the blood going so I’ll grab life by the scruff and be loud about it.’

That’s not the only recent release linked to West Cork, as drummer Josh Sampson features on the latest outing from RÓIS, Did you ever get The Ride at The Wake House? The Toe Head native ‘came in with an acoustic kit modded to sound like a crunch DMX, Singerland hybrid’ say collaborators hhH. Josh nailed it on the second and final take; the video is well worth the watch too with mesmerising movement from dancer Alex Vostokova in the hillside of Kerry, and a wry and subversive look at the Irish funeral.

While West Cork sounds  like to spread their wings, renowned quintet The Kates are fresh from performing at Other Voices in Dingle, and are coming back home for a gig in De Barras on January 3rd. Home and away, the bands play on.