Robert Jon & The Wreck Live
7th May 2025 – Gloucester Guildhall
Robert Jon & The Wreck hit the stage running, launching into Hold On with raw intensity before a packed Guildhall. The usual sprung floor remained still, as there was barely room to breathe, let alone bounce—but over a two-hour, 14-song set, the audience remained rapt, hollering their appreciation. Blending brand-new, soon-to-be anthems in their own right with bona fide Robert Jon classics, the aptly named Wreck bulldozed, bludgeoned, and seduced in equal measure. Even a broken snare (after the soulful rock of Boss Man) couldn’t hold the band back—a bit of gaffer tape and eventually a replacement snare saw the band stomp on.
The band’s set showcased their infectious blend of Southern rock and soulful bluster, from a smouldering Ashes in the Snow to a driving Highway, captivating the audience with an array of searing solos (courtesy of Henry James), powerhouse drumming (Andrew Espantman), deep-seated bass grooves (Warren Murrel), and soulful keyboard swirls (Jake Abernathie). All the while, Robert Jon Burrison delivered his rock sermons from out front like a whisky-soaked preacher, matching gravel and grit with heartfelt emotion and soul.
Oh Miss Carolina, arguably the band’s most iconic number, turned the audience into a fervent choir. As the band stripped back the layers, the masses took over—a collective holler, conducted by Burrison, lifting an already sizzling anthem to all-new heights. The band followed up with the mesmeric Ballad of a Broken Hearted Man, before the somewhat ironically named Cold Night (definitely not inspired by an evening in Gloucester) brought the main set to a thunderous conclusion.
But the audience weren’t going anywhere until they heard one ‘more’—and Robert Jon & The Wreck perhaps saved the best ’til last, delivering a jaw-dropping Shine a Light on Me Brother, with each member of the band showcasing their chops on a glorious, elongated rendition of their barroom gospel classic.
A sold-out crowd and a band on fire makes for a sweaty and deeply satisfying night of soulful Southern rock at its absolute best. Gloucester… you’ve been wrecked!
Words Will Munn
Photography Graham Munn