Review: Robert Jon & The Wreck at Boiler Shop, Newcastle

The Americans played a sold-out show in Hartlepool in February. And with the release of a new live and studio album, the band was back for the second round.

Due to the in-demand group’s action-packed touring schedule, Robert Jon and the Wreck have barely been outside of Europe lately. The band’s current tour is part of The Wreck’s fourth transatlantic tour in 2023. In this regard, the well-traveled group’s tireless work ethic is almost unparalleled. The US rocker’s most recent show at the Boiler Shop was her biggest Northeast concert to date.

Robert Jon and the Wreck’s eclectic sound spans the entire spectrum of the roots/rock arena. And with a songbook full of radio playlist singles and sing-along anthems, the Tyneside crowd were in their element from the opening notes of Pain No More at the start of the show.

The infectious melodies of tracks like “Do You Remember” and “Tired of Drinking Alone” will stay with you for days. They are real catchy tunes. Maybe that’s part of their appeal; Once you’ve heard the song, you can’t get it out of your head. Combine that with the band’s stirring two-part guitar harmonies and frontman Robert Jon Burrison’s incredible voice, and the group is a force to be reckoned with.

Each member of Robert Jon and the Wreck is a virtuoso in their own right. And they all took advantage of their moment in the spotlight throughout the set. Lead guitarist Henry James is one of the most talented guitarists in rock today. The audience’s jaw dropped every time Henry stepped to the edge of the stage and unleashed his wild guitar playing during countless solos.

Of course, with a new studio album under their belt, the band also included tracks from their latest release, including “Bring Me Back Home Again”, “Don’t Look Down” and the incredible title track “Ride Into The Light”.

One of the group’s radio hits, Oh Miss Carolina, was used in the latter stages of the show. While the group’s incredible chemistry and incendiary playing came to the fore during the main set closer, ‘Cold Night’.

With each new visit, Robert Jon and the wreck continue to gain momentum. And just like the mood in the last song of the evening, Shine A Light On Me Brother – Robert Jon and the Wreck continue to shine, and their star only gets brighter.