Robert Jon & The Wreck - Live At The Ancienne Belgique.

ROBERT JON & THE WRECK

LIVE AT THE ANCIENNE BELGIQUE

(Journeyman Records)

By Paul Davies

Robert Jon & The Wreck's musical journey, especially in Europe, is smoothly drifting from middle lane madness to a riotous life in the fast lane. Playing larger venues on return trips to these shores is a sure sign as is the growing record sales. Plus, the received kudos for their studio output, such as recent EP One Of A Kind, has buffed up their burgeoning reputation. In the age-old tradition of bands needing a bit of breathing space between studio releases, this live album, recorded in Brussels in June 2022, documents RJ&TW musical achievements seven years into their tuneful adventure. Plus, being released on Joe Bonamassa's record label, it's certainly a case of so far, so good as Live at The Ancienne Belgique proves.

The musical modus operandi from the cautionary tale of The Devil Is Your Only Friend, with its intertwining of slide and lead guitar and keyboards, light and shade musical mood colours, and the Allman Brothers influenced duelling guitars on Do You Remember, is one of good time blues hued Southern Roots Rock. As those who have seen the band live will attest, lead guitarist Henry James Schneekluth is a guitar genius of this genre who fuels this band's rocket of songs with his fiery fretwork par excellence. His guitar solo, three songs in, says it all as he slides into the boogie riff to Hey Mama. Not to be overlooked, Robert Jon Burrison's mid to high register vocals communicate these tunes straight out of the dogeared Southern Rock boogie book of how to do it right.

Overall, as good as the musicianship is, this bulging genre of bands would be nothing without good songs and The Wreck has very good songs. Blame It On The Whiskey, Oh, Miss Carolina, Tired Of Drinking Alone and, especially, Shine A Light On Me Brother sound as excellent live as they do on record. California's finest, Robert Jon & The Wreck are the real deal!