LIVE: SOUTHERN RIVER BAND – Perth | Boorloo, 13 June 2026

LIVE: SOUTHERN RIVER BAND – Perth | Boorloo, 13 June 2026
With Cosmic Psychos, Dallas Crane & Grub
The Ice Cream Factory, Perth, Western Australia
Reviewed by Tia Pinnegar with Shane Pinnegar (supports)
Photography by De Williams

If there’s one thing I know about Southern River Band, it’s that these guys love rock n’ roll – and when you love rock n’ roll and want to throw a party, you make damn sure it’s a rock n’ roll hootenanny of the highest order. Having toured Europe and Australia a handful of times in recent years, the Thornlie lads made good chucked an undeniable celebration and 2000 of their closest friends came out to join in the hijinks.

Local openers Grub showed why they’re fast making a name for themselves with an almost post-punk sound, emphasised by a triple guitar wall of sound and a collection of songs which sound like they’ve come straight from the therapist’s couch. Stability Please is about getting off the grog, Goalpost about frontwoman Matilda Beales’ dislike of Instagram, Floor about chemotherapy-induced depression with a catchy A.F. anthemic chorus “don’t stay down there on the floor – come on cunt, get up, push your body, push it a little more.” It’s cathartic and far more meaningful than most pub rock fare, while closer Hate must be the most upbeat song we’ve ever heard about how people are so shit you want to eat them and shit them out and they’ll be the worst thing even to come out of your body. Phew!

If Grub are upbeat catharsis Dallas Crane are an exercise in exemplary pub riff rock that takes no prisoners. There’s a no shortage of fans in the room, with Wrong Party, Trouble Knows My Name, Ladybird and a tasty cover of Led Zep’s Rock n Roll all hitting the sweet spot. Dave Larkin & Co seem legit thrilled by the crowd’s love, the frontman declaring at one point, “There’s a lot of dickheads around Australia who think rock is dead – but just look at THIS!” He’s dead right, this is a fantastic turnout for real rocking music, and when they finish their set with Sit On My Knee and – “one more? We’re keen!”, and so are the crowd – Dirty Hearts, there’s a legitimate feeling that we’d just seen a headline band.

Ice Cream Factory – tonight in the warehouse space which is an old school beer barn room with a bar and stage at opposite ends – boasts triumphant sound, with the only real problem being the seemingly unpoliced proliferation of smokers between the band room and the toilets. Nobody wants to wake up smelling of somebody else’s tobacco and coughing up a lung like we’re back in the ‘80s. Apart from that, ten out of ten for the venue.

Talking of headliner-status bands, the legendary Cosmic Psychos keep the party rollin’ with their unique brilliance. “Welcome to soundcheck,” Ross Knight quips as they strap on their guitars and launch without any fuckin’ ado into Pub and Go To The Pub, Dead In A Ditch, Go The Hack and much more. Knighty and Mad Macka haven’t changed their corporate uniform in forever: faded farm wear for the singer/bass player and chesty Bonds blue singlet for the guitarist – and the combination of dirge-like bass and Macka’s no fucks given riffing and shredding is perpetually endearing. Recent instaclassic I Like Beer betrays their poetic heart, a monolithic behemoth of a riff that pummels you like a punching bag in a kickboxing gym and builds the thirst for another tinny – possibly part of the reason the bar committed the fundamental sin of running out of amber nectar so early. The Psychos wrap up another superb set with singalong Fuckwit City and Lost Cause, and once again if the night had finished right there, we’d all have had our rock n’ roll fix very happily indeed.

The Thornlie headliners, having received well-earned global recognition over the last few years, are back at it again, delivering nothing but perfection on their “A Bloody Good Night Out” show, and a bloody good night was definitely had by all. Southern River Band lit up the Ice Cream Factory with pure Aussie talent – insane guitar riffs, mullets and mohawks, and several C-bombs included (of course)!

Opening with “Don’t Take It To Heart,” they rocked straight into “Something’s Gotta Give” lighting up the audience. “You warmed up a bit now? Fuck yeah me too!” said frontman Cal Kramer, although the heat is nothing compared to the raging hype towards the end of the show.

SRB’s set included a handful of well-known hits like “The Streets Don’t Lie” and guitar frenzy “Stan Qualen,” plus newer songs “One Last Dance” and “Summer Song”. They also performed an emotional yet wholesome rendition of “One Of These Nights (I’ll Be Gone)” with having brought out Kramer’s mum to perform together as the first song of the encore.

SRB of course wouldn’t be the same without Cal’s energy and hilarious stage presence, once again committing to his shirtless performance streak – despite wearing his own merch for the first 3 songs – during winter.

While being wholeheartedly Aussie and dropping C- and F-bombs left, right and centre, these guys have a heart of gold, ensuring the mosh was safe and enjoyable for all, encouraging everyone to have a fabulous but mindful “fucking rock and roll party” (in Cal’s words). Most importantly they addressed the state of the world not once, but twice – “there’s a lot of fucked up shit happening in the world right now – but TONIGHT that doesn’t matter, we’re gonna have a fucking good time!” In the state of political and economic outrage our world is in right now, artists like this who provide an escape are all the more important – because art IS political.

As far as encores go SRB may have just about nailed it, starting with Mum Cal joining them on stage, reigniting the mosh pit with “Fuck You Pay Me,” and finally introducing “Vice City III” by saying “this song has the greatest fucking guitar riff of the 21st century- and trust me I’ve listened to them all!” Anyone in the audience would have found it incredibly difficult to disagree with him.

Between phenomenal guitar riffs, instrumental solos and songwriting that’s so catchy it won’t leave your head – the Southern River Band really is Aussie perfection: as perfectly flawed as rock n’ roll can get. There’s no doubt that these four Thornlie boys are going to make a name and a half for themselves.

Set List Southern River Band:

Don’t Take It to Heart
Something’s Gotta Give
Watch Yourself (You’re Gonna Hurt Somebody)
The Streets Don’t Lie
One Last Dance
Summer Song
All Over Town
Lay It on Me
Stan Qualen
Chasing After Love (I’ll Burn a Hole in Your Shoes)
Vice City III
Chimney

One of These Nights (I’ll Be Gone)
Fuck You, Pay Me
Vice City II

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries