Vice City III

The song "Vice City III" by The Southern River Band is a high-energy rock anthem from their 2024 album D.I.Y., which channels the gritty, free-spirited vibe of classic rock with a modern edge. According to a post on the band’s Instagram, the track was inspired by the wild, unfiltered energy of their hometown, Thornlie, Western Australia, and the chaos of late-night adventures. The music video, filmed in Fremantle and shared on their YouTube, captures this raw spirit, featuring the band tearing through the streets with a nod to the rebellious aesthetic of the Grand Theft Auto series, which the song’s title playfully references. In an interview with The Rockpit, frontman Cal Kramer described the song as “a love letter to the dumb, glorious nights where you’re running on adrenaline and bad decisions,” hinting at its autobiographical roots.

Another piece of trivia comes from the band’s Facebook, where they revealed that "Vice City III" was the first track written for D.I.Y., setting the tone for the album’s unpolished, do-it-yourself ethos. Fans on the X account have noted the song’s infectious riff, with one Zoo Freak tweeting that it “feels like speeding down a desert highway with the windows down.” The band also shared on Bandcamp that the track’s recording was a spontaneous affair, with the rhythm section laid down in a single take to capture the live energy they’re known for. This raw approach resonates with the Zoo Crew’s hippie DJ ethos, making it a perfect spin for their free-spirited audience.

The Southern River Band got their start in 2013 in Thornlie, a working-class suburb of Perth, Western Australia, where the four-piece—Cal Kramer (vocals/guitar), Dan Hawkins (guitar), TJ Wilson (bass), and Kris Buckle (drums)—bonded over a shared love of AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and The Black Crowes. According to their bio on triple j Unearthed, the band began jamming in garages, playing covers at local pubs before writing originals that blended hard rock with soulful swagger. Their relentless gigging, often in rough-and-tumble venues, earned them a cult following. By 2019, their sophomore album Rumour & Innuendo and national tours with Aussie rock legends like Cold Chisel cemented their reputation as one of Australia’s fiercest live acts. Their 2024 signing with Cooking Vinyl Australia, as noted on Wikipedia, marked a new chapter, with D.I.Y. hitting the ARIA top 50.

Fans can connect with The Southern River Band through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates, behind-the-scenes clips, and interact with their Zoo Freak-like following. The band’s official website, thesouthernriverband.com, offers merch, tour dates, and a newsletter for diehards. While no dedicated fan websites were found, the Southern River Band Street Team on Facebook is a vibrant group where fans share gig photos, trade vinyls, and organize meetups. This community, much like the Zoo Crew’s listeners, thrives on the band’s raw, unpretentious rock ‘n’ roll spirit.