I’m not sure why but growing up, I’d never gotten in with Irish music. Not trad or anything like that, (which I don’t like either) but for some reason Irish people just weren’t making the kind of music I wanted to hear. That changed a bit in the early 90’s when Therapy?’s rise spurred on some alt rock bands, and for the first time, I was actually excited for Irish music.
Kerbdog were one of these bands. A bunch of young lads from the South East with a love of big riffs and Husker Du, decided to take on the rock world. Their self-titled album is fun but the band are clearly still finding their feet. However it was enough to build a buzz for the band and their live show was really something to see.
Their second album, On The Turn was recorded in 94 but held back by record label nonsense till 97 and by then no one cared. (Well, my friend Ian and I did) The days of shouty rock music being popular was a thing of the past and the band broke up. And it’s a huge shame. This album is so good, a step up on the debut in almost every way. The songwriting is stronger, they are in better control of their dynamics, and there are hooks everywhere. Where the debut was a full on, heavy grunge album, On The Turn is almost poppy in comparison. But these guitars still have teeth, and I’ve caught more than a few bruises in the mosh pit to these songs.
The album seems front loaded at first listen, three of the first four songs were the lead singles, and they’re so strong that they eclipse the rest of the album until you get to know it. The opener, Sally, demonstrates in the first few bars just how much the band have changed. Out with the detuned riffery and in with the upbeat alt rock. Which was a surprise the first time I heard it but all these years later, it’s still amazing to pogo to. JJ’s Song is one of my favourite songs of all time. It just rips out the gate with prime alt rock goodness but at 2:08 when the guitar snarls it’s magnificent. It’s the perfect blend of catchy and heavy that the KD do better than most bands.
Cormac Battle has one of rock’s better voices as well as rock’s better names. He might be pushing his voice a bit too hard on the title track but it has as one of my favourite breaks in any song. Just such a wall of noise and then bang, straight back to the chorus, so I don’t care if he can’t quite hit those notes.
It’s really difficult for me not to just list these songs and go through why each one is hardwired into my system.
There’s a weird stereotype (probably American) that all Irish people know each other. Obviously it’s nonsense, but I was wearing my Kerbdog t-shirt when visiting my cousins in Carlow and one of them told me he’d seen Kerbdog’s first ever gig. At his school Christmas disco.
This place is tiny.
It’s a massive pity that Kerbdog never made it, but the two records we have bring back great memories and the sporadic tours they still do are a joy for all of us who turn up and jump around like we’re 30 years younger. I guess that’s a lot more than most bands get. But it’s still not right.
https://songwhip.com/kerbdog2/on-the-turn
The ways of exile 
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