Don't Take It To Heart

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs spinning vinyl at THE ZOO radio station, have been cranking up the volume on "Don't Take It To Heart" by The Southern River Band, a high-octane single that dropped in 2025, lighting up the airwaves for their devoted Zoo Freaks. This track, described as a "riff-loaded jolt" with a blend of Thin Lizzy bravado and Aussie pub rock energy, is a metaphorical middle finger to taking life too seriously, urging listeners to shake off the small stuff. According to a post on The Southern River Band's Instagram, the song's vibe was born from a late-night jam session after a particularly rowdy gig, with frontman Cal Kramer scribbling lyrics on a bar napkin about brushing off haters. The music video, shared on YouTube on June 25, 2025, captures the band in their element—sweaty, chaotic, and unapologetic—filmed in a dive bar with fans chanting along. The song follows their earlier 2025 release, "F**k You, Pay Me," a rally cry for anyone stiffed on a paycheck, showing the band's knack for anthems that resonate with the everyman.

The Southern River Band, hailing from Thornlie, Western Australia, formed in 2013 and have since carved out a reputation as the torchbearers of modern Australian rock 'n' roll. The band’s journey kicked off in local pubs, where their electrifying live shows—fueled by strutting guitar riffs and Kramer’s swaggering vocals—built a grassroots following. Their big break came in 2021 when they performed at the AFL Brownlow Medal Awards, a gig sparked by a viral fan campaign using the hashtag #SRBAFLGF, which even caught the attention of local government officials, landing them a lunch at Parliament House. By 2024, their album D.I.Y. hit #6 on the ARIA charts, and their feature on Justin Hawkins Rides Again catapulted them onto the global stage, leading to sold-out European tours and festival slots at Download UK, Hellfest, and Sweden Rock.

Fans can keep up with the band’s antics on their official website, where tour dates and merch drop regularly. Their Facebook page, boasting over 20,000 likes, is a hub for Zoo Freaks to share concert photos and memes, while their Instagram offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of tour life and studio sessions. On X, the band interacts directly with fans, often retweeting praise from Zoo Freaks and dropping cheeky one-liners about their rock 'n' roll lifestyle. For diehard supporters, the fan-run SonicHits page is a treasure trove of lyrics, song meanings, and band trivia, while the Southern River Band Fans Facebook group is a lively community where Zoo Freaks swap stories about epic gigs and debate the band’s best riffs.