Humour, bucketloads of charisma and oodles of talent to back it up – Cal Kramer, The Southern River Band’s frontman, could be the love child of Robert Plant and Brian Mannix.
During album highlight Suits Me Just Fine – with its cheeky, winking riffs – he admits, “I’ve got six Van Halen T-shirts,” which checks out.
Opener Don’t Take It To Heart’s blazing riffs make us nod like a bobblehead on the dash of a car negotiating multiple speed humps. This is rock ’n’ roll of the finest calibre. Cheesy vocal harmonies, bashing drums, curly riffage, unhinged harmonica and stop-starty moments of whiplash wonderment (see: Something’s Gotta Give – geez, these dudes lock into a groove so tight we suspect they share a pulse!). Hold up, did Kramer just drop a c-bomb? “You never know what these cunts just might have up their sleeve.”
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“If I wanted to be a businessman I’d be sucking corporate dick in the city!” – Kramer’s a funny one, alright. Check out his quote from the One Of These Nights (I’ll Be Gone) presser: “If you ever need a release valve opened on your tear ducts, give this one a go and report back.”
Gratuitous guitar solos showcase impressive guitar chops. One Last Dance, with its metallic, shadowing riffs, is a strutting blast.
“There’s no such thing as a new idea…” – they admit they’re not chasing originality. Mullets, spandex and a whole lotta ‘tude – you’ve just gotta glance at these proud bogans from suburban WA to know they rock hard.
Easier Said Than Done is harmless, dumb rock ’n’ roll (the best kind) played by top-notch musos.
