2016 – The Southern River Band
By Phillip Smith; Nov. 12, 2016
Nothing quite compares to a
big healthy dose of pure unadulterated rock and roll, and that is exactly what
one gets when they press the play button on Live
at the Pleasuredome, from The
Southern River Band. The music is vibrant
and resonating, boasting grandeur vocals from Callum Kramer, ripping guitar performances by Jason Caniglia, frenzied thunderous beats from drummer Carlo Romeo, and awe-inspired basslines
from Anton Dindar. These four guys, from a town called Thornlie (not far from Perth, Western Australia), take their
cue from some of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time: The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, and Lynyrd
Skynyrd, to name but a few.
Lush guitar riffs and a catchy
hook draw me in to “Pandora”, like an ant to honey. I immensely enjoy the ferocious rock anthem “Let
It Ride”, steered by Kramer’s amazingly
intense vocal prowess. Caniglia adds a generous serving of southern
fearlessness to this bluesy masterpiece. “Two Times the Fool” feels like a
newly discovered Black Crowes song uncovered
from a lost box of master-tapes. Soulful
and melodic vocals surf atop an avalanche of intensive jam. “Little While” is a terrific song too. Kramer
takes a relaxed approach in singing this charming power-ballad while dabbling
on just a smidge of textured rasp.
I haven’t heard an album with
this kind of presence in a long time. The Southern River Band scores huge
with Live at the Pleasuredome. This
is indeed one epic listen.
