Live Review : The Southern River Band + Us @ District, Liverpool on May 21st 2024

In a music scene where, at the lower level, one often finds oneself seeing the same old same old bands and perhaps feeling a little jaded, it’s nice to sometimes feel the fresh breeze of a new experience. Australia’s The Southern River Band aren’t so much a fresh breeze though as a tearing hurricane, and tonight they are bringing their brand of good-time boogie to Liverpool. Word has obviously got around, because although District is a snug venue holding 275 patrons the remaining tickets on the door were down to single figures and inside the venue was hot, sweaty and crowded from the get-go. 

Support band Us are from Finland, much to my delight. They are young, energetic and on point, with a sound that’s a crossover between Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters, held together with a little Rolling Stones. The harmonica is fierce, the blues are hummable and the whole thing gels together into s set of toe-tapping good times. I didn’t find anything outstanding in the song selection but it was solid, enthusiastic and very very catchy. Pop notes mixed with soft rock and a modern twist made Us worth getting in early for.

The Southern River Band are also delightful. The first delight is that singer/guitarist Cal is (like all good Aussies) shirtless. The next is his sparkly trousers (“daks” in his native vernacular) that have “SRB” emblazoned across his bum. The third and most important, not to mention relevant, delight is that this band is superb live. They blast onto the stage with ‘Vice City III’, a paean to the ever-popular shoot-em-up game done in 12-bar boogie, and follow it with another Quo-alike song that bounces along with a happy beat and some great harmony vocals. The next couple of songs showcase a pantheon of genre-crossing and eclectic sound ranging from blues to all-out rock and making some interesting turn-offs in between. My personal favourite song of the night ‘Do Ya Miss Me’ was one of the more rockier ones, with a sound akin to fellow Aussies Airbourne and a bounce that would put any decent ‘roo to shame.  

Current single ‘Stan Qualen’ is in there of course, with its epic instrumental breaks that take it to well over 6 minutes in length and bring to mind the best of Angus Young’s solos. I was half-expecting Cal to be either down in the crowd or up on the monitors for most of this song, but sadly the room was too packed and the PA was the wrong shape so he just threw himself about the stage instead. They then turn into Brian Adams for a couple of minutes before heading back to some 70s-inspired stomping that reminds me of The Sweet. It’s all here for our enjoyment and I would have said they don’t give a fuck except that they gave lots of fucks, freely. They’re that kind of band. Just when you think they can’t veer off in any other musical direction they throw out a bit of Iron Maiden inspired twin guitar heaviness that takes us all by surprise and sees the sweat rolling down the venue walls like Niagara falls. It edges just far enough into trad metal territory to get the silver-haired old boys at the bar nodding along and doing a surreptitious bit of air guitar noodling, another delight to be savoured! 

The main set ends but the crowd is baying for more so they hit us with ‘The Streets Don’t Lie’, a riproaring piece of rock and roll. I don’t catch the name of the final song but it’s another down n dirty ditty. It’s 70s pub rock, in the style of the original rhythm & blues done by the likes of Dr Feelgood, and it ends on a massive blues jam and a clash of instruments that is delightful (again!) in its uproar. With that the whirlwind is over, and we find ourselves gently brought back down to earth. What a ride, what a night, what a band! 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
The Southern River Band + Us