Robert Jon And The Wreck Oxford Academy 08-10-26
First up was These Wicked Rivers who's new studio album Fire And Folklore was number 19 in the midweek UK charts.
I love the new songs and was looking forward to the band's own wonderfully unscientific description of their sound as “wizard-blues rock” which in the live setting went down a storm.
Led by John Hartwell on lead vocals and guitar who's deep melodic soulful vocal style meshes wonderfully with lead guitarist Arran Day's guitar riffs and superb melodic soloing.
Black Gold from 2024's Force of Nature album opens and it's huge guitar riff impresses as does lead guitarist Arran's improvised add libbing all over it.
Next up was the first single from the new album Ain't No Smoke with it's stop start guitar riff and drum rhythm leading into the chorus. Lovely bit of pacing mid song down to a whisper bulding into a superb guitar solo from Arran.
More from the new album with the storytelling of Brother Oh Brother before Love To Love and it's ease in pace and downtuned guitar riff and another superb Aaaron guitar solo.
Horse To Water with it's driving beat and big vocals in the verse and love the ease in pace pre chorus and subtle keys as the chorus starts. Big chorus and again a band ease up as Aaron starts his solo. Great radio track to drive too.
Don't Pray For Me gives John's vocal a chance to shine in the keys and vocal intro and another great chorus and extended guitar solo from Arron and a full band outro of huge proportions with Aaron soloing the whole time ! Wow.
Superb but only 6 songs and 30 minutes which seems to the norm at O2 Academy's now after seeing a one hour support from 10 Years to Kris Barras Band the night before.
These Wicked Rivers tour across the UK in support of Fire And Folklore throughout the autumn go see them.
Robert Jon And The Wreck never stop it seems with this the last night of a second UK tour of the year in support of last year's Heartbreaks And Last Goodbyes album and this year's Wreckage Volume 3.
You never know what they will play as they rotate the setlist nightly and there is no sign of road fatigue of any description as they blast through a 95 minute set .
The band led by Robert Jon Burrison on lead vocals and rhythm and lead guitar start with a leisurely Pian No More with some early slide guitar from Henry James Schneekluth impressing.
Second song Blame It On The Whiskey is a live full band extravaganza with Andrew Espantman on drums, Warren Murrel on bass and Jake Abernathie on keys all playing their asses off with Henry James playing a lengthy extended guitar solo and jaws dropping across the venue. I said to my friend Andy as it ended to huge applause that many bands would end with a show of musicianship like that and we are 2 songs in !!
Sittin' Pretty is another show stopper with it's stop start guitar riff and Andrew's stunning drum rhythm and Robert's fast paced vocal lines filling the gaps in the verse. Break neck speed with Henry James guitar soloing like his life depends on it. Brilliant and only 3 songs in !!
The pace eases on Long Gone and Keep Myself Clean with Robert's vocals to the fore and he impresses with his melodic vocal lines and more great choruses and long held notes in the chorus of the former.
The title track of their last album makes a welcome addition with Robert again to the fore in the gentle intro and verse and a beautiful chorus with held vocal notes.
Don't Let Me Go has Henry John's slide guitar intro as it builds to a big chorus with lots of backing vocals and then back to the slide guitar riff on it's own and an extended slide mid song solo.
Ballad Of A Broken Hearted Man is pure Americana with it's picked guitar riff from Robert and some deft slide touches from Henry John. Story telling at it's finest with more stunning vocals from Robert in the verse and a chorus ready for stadiums.
With the rotating setlist you never know what you will hear but when the guitar riff and drum rhythm for Oh Miss Carolina starts the world is in a better place. A beautiful song with Robert's vocal perfect with a big chorus ready for crowd participation and Oxford doesn't disappoint raising the roof off the Academy. Crowd and band in complete unison and smiles everywhere !!
Do You Remember has Robert and Henry John twin guitar soloing in the intro and throughout like Skynyrd in their prime and all the better for it.
The Epic Cold Night ends the set on a high and thanks to Andy for the timing of it at 15 and a half minutes long. It really does have it all with every band member getting their chance to shine. Lengthy guitar soloing from Henry John throughout and amazes me that it never feels overplayed !! Jake on keys who until this point had minimal solos gets his spot and then he and Henry James play alternate solos pushing each other higher and higher to musicianship heaven. Wow.
The encore was a romp through Skynyrd's Call Me The Breeze with the band joined by Arran Day from These Wicked Rivers. He fitted in perfectly and the version had it all. Of course guitar solo's a plenty with Henry James and Aaron trading them back to back before joining in guitar nirvana and I am sure they could have played all night !!
Superb ending to a great night and Robert Jon And The Wreck will return with venues increasing in size as they are one of the best live bands on the planet.
