Words by Tim Milroy | Photos supplied
“The greatest fucking rock and roll band in the world!”
That’s how Cal Kramer, lead singer of The Southern River Band described what you can expect from the band’s second album, Rumor and Innuendo.
The Southern River Band formed in 2013 and are one of the purest examples of ‘hard work hard pays off’. The band was formed after Cal began songwriting while drumming for local blues legends Blue Shady, who encouraged him to branch out and pursue his own band.
Fresh off the back of WA’s largest one day music event, HWY To Hell and performing alongside Wolfmother and Grinspoon at Sugar Loaf Rock, we sat down with Cal at the band’s spiritual home, Lakers Tavern, Thornlie.
How would you describe The Southern River Band to someone who has never heard you before?
“It’s an assault on all the senses, grounded in rock and roll, it sounds like Saturday night.
“I saw this doco on the Stone Roses where they were talking about wanting to be the biggest band in Manchester. Everyone wants to be the biggest band in the world but I just wanted to earn everything, start at the bottom by playing gigs in my home town, sets at The Thornlie Tav, Lakers and we built it up from there.”
What’s coming up next for the band?
“We’re supporting The Darkness on their national Australian tour which is a fucking dream come true, before circling around to play a few shows at home at the end of the month. We’ve got some new music coming out which we are really stoked with and then straight back out on tour. The goal is to just keep playing shows and become the hardest working band in the world. Wherever there’s a place with a stage and people want to hear us, we’ll be there.”
How will the Alby Made Community Arts Grant Help you?
“The grant is going to pay for our accommodation while we head out on tour which is pretty unreal and imperative to the process.”
You can find out everything you need to know about The Southern River Band as well as download their music and buy merch at www.thesouthernriverband.com.au