Robert Jon & the Wreck @Islington Assembly Hall, London

Robert Jon & The Wreck @ Islington Assembly Hall

Ryoko Media celebrated Thanksgiving in style as we headed to Islington Assembly Hall for Robert Jon & The Wreck’s Red Moon Rising tour, and one thing we are thankful for, without a doubt, is sweet sweet Southern rock.

Having skipped the capital off their 2023 European tour, Robert Jon Burrison and the band certainly made up for it with last night’s showcase of genre-blurring, spirited rock n roll. Having built a reputation as one of the hardest-working bands in the business, Robert Jon & The Wreck charged through an electrifying 2 hour set, raising the bar once again.

Entering unnoticed through the back of the stalls, RJTW took it in turns to set up their gear in front of an unusually inattentive audience. With the playlist off, and Islington Assembly’s staple disco ball setting the atmosphere, RJTW humbly took to the stage, opening the set with Hold On, the melodic track from the new record Red Moon Rising; hailed as “groundbreaking”, “transformative”, and one that “sets a new standard for the Southern rock genre”. The audience is now locked in. Rolling straight into Rager, the explosive single released earlier this year, lead guitarist Henry James and keyboardist Jake Abernathie gave a raw and heavy duet - a taste of what is to come later in the evening. Only two songs down and the crowd already can’t contain their love for this band, I for one being one of them.

Halfway through the set, Shine a Light on Me Brother, the title track of their 2021 record (impressively written, recorded and self-produced during the COVID pandemic) feels like it was cherry picked at the perfect moment for this crowd. Moving from lyrics of forgiveness to thankfulness, Robert Jon took a moment to celebrate the holiday and give a special shoutout to his wife, the boys in the band, and of course the audience. RJTW aren't strangers to the UK/European shores and have amassed a loyal British following since their conception in 2011.

During the soulful Oh Miss Carolina the band paused, with Jake Abernathie drawing the crowd in with the soft melody for a singalong as they neared the end of the set. The almost 14 minute long rendition of Cold Night brought the evening to a close, as the spotlight shone on the musical talents of the band. It felt as if we were a fly on the wall of an epic jam session from the 70s with the likes of the Allman’s birthing a masterpiece. As the band said goodnight, the crowd were stomping their feet eager for one final song, which was of course, Last Light on the Highway.

RJTW have a mission to connect deeply with their audience and carry the indomitable spirit of rock ’n’ roll forward into the future, which was showcased at every beat of last night's set. With two nights left on British soil (Oxford and Nottingham) I’d strongly recommend you make a point of seeing this tour. The final date at Rock City is sold out but last tickets remain for Oxford, available at robertjonandthewreck.com/tour.

Robert Jon & The Wreck were supported by These Wicked Rivers.

Setlist:

1. Hold On

2. Rager

3. Boss Man

4. Red Moon Rising

5. Waiting for Your Man

6. Point of View

7. Shine a Light on Me Brother

8. Don't Let Me Go

9. Gold

10. Oh Miss Carolina