Local rock outfit The Southern River Band are slowly floating back down to earth after having completed their first tour of Europe.
The Perth rockers played at huge festivals alongside some of rock’s biggest names such as Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, The Black Crowes, Megadeth and Australia’s own Parkway Drive.
Southern River Band’s lead singer Callum Kramer said it was the buzz to end all buzzes, finally getting to meet their overseas fans for the first time, who well and truly showed the Perth rockers their appreciation.
“They absolutely f**king loved it,” he said.
“Smiles as far as the eye could see. The crowd were almost louder than the band at some of the shows.
“Getting that roar as you walk on stage makes you feel like you can run through a goddamn wall,” Cal said with a laugh.
Cal and the band said touring overseas for the first time is something they will never forget.
“At our own (overseas) shows we were doing anywhere from 300-500 people, and 85 per cent of those shows sold out ahead of time so we knew we were going be in for some rippers, and rippers they were,” he said.
“We were lucky enough to get on some great festivals too, at Sweden Rock Festival we played in front of about 25,000 people, Rock Werchter (Belgium) we had about 10,000 and Down The Rabbit Hole (Netherlands) was the same.
“We’re mega stoked about those guys giving us a shot and I’m pretty sure that the punters there were stoked too. There’s a video on Youtube of our full set at Rock Werchter if you want to check it out.”
The Southern River Band is no stranger to doing the long haul when it comes to touring, having spent the past 10 years on the road playing wherever they could get a gig.
Cal Kramer said driving across Europe was a mind-blowing experience for the band.
“You can drive the distance from here to Geraldton and be in a new country speaking a completely different language by the time you get there, which is a total spin out to a guy like me who’s lived in Thornlie his whole life,” he said.
“Obviously there’s shitloads more people over there which makes getting in a van and going from city to city for two months straight far more viable than it is here, but at the same time, that’s exactly what we’re doing here in Australia for our ‘D.I.Y’ tour next month.”
Last week, on their way back home, the band also proved that they are still as popular as ever with their home-grown audience, attracting a huge crowd in Adelaide before heading back home to Perth.
“It never ends man, in a good way though,” he said.
“Our new record ‘D.I.Y’ is out on CVA August 16th, and we’re doing another hot lap of Australia to celebrate.
“Think the tour starts at the end of August and wraps up at the start of October. We’re doing two shows in W.A, one at Magnet House in Perth and one at Freo Social. You can get tickets to them and preorder the album (on vinyl or CD).
“I tell you what man, I loved Europe, but as they (me) always say: There’s no place like Thornlie,” he said.
