THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND

For the first time, Perth rockers The Southern River Band (SRB) hit Darwin for a gig at what can only be described as the perfect home for their vibe, Darwin Railway Club.

WORDS TIERNEY WHITE
IMAGE JARED HINZ

A QUICK SEARCH online or on the streaming apps for these guys, and you’d be forgiven for mistaking their music and videos for the Aussie rock gods of the 70s. Channelling the classic energy of greats like Cold Chisel, The Angels and AC/DC – whom they’ve supported – their music has earned them a loyal following, with more in the Top End surely on the way this Darwin Festival.

Charismatic frontman Cal Kramer, who was in another band in 2013 when they formed, recalls a feller at his local pub called Bear – with big stainless-steel rings on his knuckles – asking if they were in a band, going on to say he’d book them to play at the pub. Two weeks later, they were on, with a fortnightly gig that lasted about 18 months.

“Within, sort of, six months, we were, like, ‘oh, we're onto something here’, and started playing around Perth. And the rest, as they say, I don't really remember,” he laughs.

Kramer is the epitome of Aussie rock, with one heck of a mullet, attire you’d expect from a seasoned rocker, and endearing banter. His band mates – bassist Pat Smith, guitarist Dan Carroll, and drummer Tyler Michie – also play the part, the four bringing incredible artistry and chemistry to their live performances.

SRB’s star has been on the rise in recent years, and Kramer can pinpoint the exact moment their fortune shifted, in 2023, thanks to a little help from one of their friends.

“Our mate Justin Hawkins from The Darkness put us on his podcast, and it's literally like, when you look at, things like data – people love to use that word now, so it's like spikes and everything – it's when he put us out [and said] ‘now, this is a proper f-cking rock band’, and that just sort of really exposed us to a worldwide audience,” he says.

“Then six months later, we were selling out tours of Europe and everything like that. And playing with [The Darkness] was an all-time dream for us, and becoming friends … and it's just like, mate, you know, it's pretty hard to put into words, as you can tell by my stutter on display!”

With high-energy shows and to desire to rock out in the company of other joy-seeking humans, SRB are a perfect fit for Darwin. They simply want you to have fun.

“[We want audiences to] have a f-cking good time. Honestly, look, that's what it's all about,” Kramer says.

“It's like, you go there, we put on a show, we have a good time, and we just hope that the audience responds to that … there is like a nostalgia for the time before people had phones and people were doing sh-t, like human to human, you know? … That's such a human feeling. And it's one that we try to put forth at every show we do, and I think we succeed, you know, more often than not. Well, I know that at least every time we have a f-cking good time.”

SRB is supported by Mertas, a punk band from the remote community of Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land, their star also on the rise. The band’s played BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival, have shared the stage with King Stingray and Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, and are about to rep’ the NT at BIGSOUND – Australia's leading artist showcase and industry conference – in September.

If you’re on the fang for a ripper night of rock’n’roll, in one of Darwin’s most iconic music venues with two incredible bands, you need this ticket.

The Southern River Band
Supported by Mertas
WHEN SAT 15 AUG | 8-10.30PM
AT DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB
COST $45 | $41 CONC
INFO darwinfestival.org.au