The Southern River Band – Easier Said Than Done
The Southern River Band, who mix and match high-energy Aussie riff-rock with melodic power-pop and catchy hooks, have followed 2024’s D.I.Y (a release that, other than one new song, collected or re-recorded tracks found on earlier albums) with all-new studio album Easier Said Than Done.
D.I.Y worked well as a promotional tool to allow UK & European rock fans to become more familiar with Western Australia’s best kept secret (having first grabbed attention when their riff-tastic, boogie-strut calling card 'Stan Qualen' was featured on the Justin Hawkins Rides Again video channel).
But Easier Said Than Done is a far stronger marker of who The Southern River Band – Cal Kramer (lead vocals, guitar, drums), Dan Carroll (guitar, vocals, synth), Pat Smith (bass, vocals), Tyler "The Hawk" Michie (drums, vocals) – are.
Opener 'Don’t Take it To Heart' is a perfect example of The Southern River Band sound, where rockin' little riffs and hook laden power-pop meet in perfect harmony guitar lines.
The 80s-influenced song then steps up a further gear for a quick boogie with guitar solo before kicking back in to the hooky chorus.
The punky-pop of 'Something’s Gotta Give,' powered by an insistent drum rhythm, ups the tempo further before 'Bad Luck Baby Bye Bye' rocks the Southern River Band's corporate snubbing roll.
Downtempo contrast then comes calling in the shape of the lyrically reflective 'It’s What It’s' followed by the mid-tempo groove of the relationship pondering 'One Last Dance' ("just you, me and the disco ball, maybe we coulda had it all").
'Suits Me Just Fine' has the band getting a little funky between the staccato guitar chords, while 'All Over Town' mixes early AC/DC with a touch of blues and boogie.
The rock-blues orientated 'No Such Time,' which sports some nifty six-string licks, carries more than a little 70s rock in its DNA (never a bad thing); it’s followed by the equally impressive 'Lay It On Me,' a part boogie, part bass-pulsing dance-rock number that includes some tasty Wah-driven soloing.
For the band’s musical peers and fellow musicians working the club or grass roots circuit, 'Fuck You, Pay Me' a feisty little rocker with some wicked little harmony guitar parts, will strike a (probably unpaid) chord.
"Can't pay my rent on this fucking band's wage - I'll start selling gear, seems it's all the rage; pay rise up in the ivory towers, I'm trying to eat on twenty bucks an hour!"
Any such money worries are put aside for a couple of minutes on the harmonica blowin’ fun of boogie woogie rocker 'We’ve Got Plans Tonight' before 'One Of These Nights (I’ll Be Gone)' closes out the album in fine, Country & Western (Australia) balladeering style.
A song that's been in the band's repertoire for a good few years, it's nice to see and hear this break up number finally find a recorded home. A surprising but welcome highlight.
'Stan Qualen' (1.6M YouTube views and counting) being featured on JHRA unquestionably helped put The Southern River Band on the UK & European rock and roll map (and some of their concert venues).
But, as proven by Easier Said Than Done, which has a great sound courtesy of producer & mixer Nick DiDia, there’s a lot more to this band than their boogie buddy Mr Qualen.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
D.I.Y worked well as a promotional tool to allow UK & European rock fans to become more familiar with Western Australia’s best kept secret (having first grabbed attention when their riff-tastic, boogie-strut calling card 'Stan Qualen' was featured on the Justin Hawkins Rides Again video channel).
But Easier Said Than Done is a far stronger marker of who The Southern River Band – Cal Kramer (lead vocals, guitar, drums), Dan Carroll (guitar, vocals, synth), Pat Smith (bass, vocals), Tyler "The Hawk" Michie (drums, vocals) – are.
Opener 'Don’t Take it To Heart' is a perfect example of The Southern River Band sound, where rockin' little riffs and hook laden power-pop meet in perfect harmony guitar lines.
The 80s-influenced song then steps up a further gear for a quick boogie with guitar solo before kicking back in to the hooky chorus.
The punky-pop of 'Something’s Gotta Give,' powered by an insistent drum rhythm, ups the tempo further before 'Bad Luck Baby Bye Bye' rocks the Southern River Band's corporate snubbing roll.
Downtempo contrast then comes calling in the shape of the lyrically reflective 'It’s What It’s' followed by the mid-tempo groove of the relationship pondering 'One Last Dance' ("just you, me and the disco ball, maybe we coulda had it all").
'Suits Me Just Fine' has the band getting a little funky between the staccato guitar chords, while 'All Over Town' mixes early AC/DC with a touch of blues and boogie.
The rock-blues orientated 'No Such Time,' which sports some nifty six-string licks, carries more than a little 70s rock in its DNA (never a bad thing); it’s followed by the equally impressive 'Lay It On Me,' a part boogie, part bass-pulsing dance-rock number that includes some tasty Wah-driven soloing.
For the band’s musical peers and fellow musicians working the club or grass roots circuit, 'Fuck You, Pay Me' a feisty little rocker with some wicked little harmony guitar parts, will strike a (probably unpaid) chord.
"Can't pay my rent on this fucking band's wage - I'll start selling gear, seems it's all the rage; pay rise up in the ivory towers, I'm trying to eat on twenty bucks an hour!"
Any such money worries are put aside for a couple of minutes on the harmonica blowin’ fun of boogie woogie rocker 'We’ve Got Plans Tonight' before 'One Of These Nights (I’ll Be Gone)' closes out the album in fine, Country & Western (Australia) balladeering style.
A song that's been in the band's repertoire for a good few years, it's nice to see and hear this break up number finally find a recorded home. A surprising but welcome highlight.
'Stan Qualen' (1.6M YouTube views and counting) being featured on JHRA unquestionably helped put The Southern River Band on the UK & European rock and roll map (and some of their concert venues).
But, as proven by Easier Said Than Done, which has a great sound courtesy of producer & mixer Nick DiDia, there’s a lot more to this band than their boogie buddy Mr Qualen.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ