Robert Jon & The Wreck
Reigning from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the east coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, these native Californians; Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), Warren Murrel (bass) and new member Jake Abernathie (keyboards) have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and memorable tunes. Simply put, it is difficult to ignore when these talented musicians take the stage.
Little wonder they have made an impact on audiences across the world, where they’ve played a run of sold-out shows and proudly shared bills with talent the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Blackberry Smoke, Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy and Rival Sons. 2020’s ‘Last Light On The Highway’ garnered worldwide acclaim for the band and 2021’s ‘Shine A Light On Me Brother’ continued their upward trajectory, leading to a collaboration with Blues Rock Titan Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records, which paved the way for even more new and exciting music. Most recently they released ‘One Of A Kind,’ a dynamic, multi-faceted EP, featuring material produced by GRAMMY-Award winners Don Was (Bonnie Raitt, The Stones, John Mayer) and Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Blackberry Smoke, Rival Sons). This year also saw the release of ‘Live At The Ancienne Belgique,’ their first official live concert film spanning the last decade of their exceptional career, which Music News called, “one of the best live albums I have heard in years.” The Wreck are touring extensively across the world and recording even more new music to release to their rapidly growing fanbase.
Robert Jon & The Wreck are a double shot of southern rock with a blues chaser. Roots rock jams, whiskey drenched lyrics and fervent stage shows only scratch the surface of what makes RJ&TW one of the best live bands to emerge from Southern California in years. With a growing discography and billings alongside the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Sturgill Simpson, and Peter Frampton, the quintet is poised for their greatest work yet. Based in Orange County, CA with a vibe straight out of the south, Robert Jon & The Wreck are blazing a path into 2021 with a new album and international tour.
Composed of Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals/guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums/background vocals), Steve Maggiora (keys/background vocals), Henry James (lead guitar), and Warren Murrel (bass), Robert Jon & The Wreck are currently writing their fifth LP. The new album is untitled to date and set for release in spring of 2020, and will launch a stateside tour that spans southern California to Florida. The U.S. dates will be followed by a European leg toting stops in Valencia, Paris, and Frankfurt, with bookings still underway and locations in Japan and Australia to be announced.
Reigning from southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck, has been taking the southern rock sound established on the east coast and bringing it to the West Coast. Since their inception in 2011, these 5 native Californian’s; Robert Jon Burrison (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Andrew Espantman (Drums/Background Vocals), Steve Maggiora (Keys/Background Vocals), Nick Phakpiseth (Bass) have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, boogieing grooves, rich vocal harmonies and arguably perfect tunes.
This quintet began their musical journey together in February 2011. Within 6 months the band had not only embarked on a coast-to-coast national tour, but also released their first album, “Fire Started”. This album, produced by Robert Jon & The Wreck was mixed by Michael Vail Blum (Pink Floyd, The New Radicals, Prince) and mastered by Dale Becker (Macklemore, What So Not). While this album is not widely recognized as being in canon with their later work, it certainly served as a launching point for the bands wildly successful and travel-filled years to come.
2013’s “Rhythm of the Road,” produced by Warren Huart (The Fray, Aerosmith), engineered by Philip Allen (Adele), and mastered by Robert Vosgien (Smashing Pumpkins, No Doubt) at Swing House Studios in Hollywood was filled with new, and even edgier material that simply added more fuel to the fire that Robert Jon & The Wreck ignite while performing. Audiences nationwide crammed venues, salivating over a band that is determined to not miss the mark. This sharpshooter like mentality was fully recognized when Robert Jon & The Wreck won the title of “Best Live Band” at the 2013 Orange County Music Awards, along with nominations in the categories of “Best Rock,” and “Best Blues.”
Fueled by this success, RJTW took the road again delivering fierce performances, emblazoned with commitment and dripping in a rawness that’s impossible to fake. Simply put, it is difficult to ignore when these five musicians take the stage. Little wonder they have made an impact on audiences across the world, where they’ve played a run of sold-out shows and proudly shared bills with talent the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout, and Rival Sons.
They returned to the studio in Summer of 2014 in between tours to record their 2nd EP at RedBull Studios in Santa Monica, CA, engineered by James Musshorn (Guns N Roses, Thrice, Something Corporate) and mixed by Warren Huart.
Not even 6 months later, the band set up shop at the legendary Sunset Sound Studios (Led Zeppelin, Prince, The Doors) in Hollywood with Warren Huart producing. Recording the 10 track album live from the floor with minimal overdubs, the band found their sound and strength in their songs. “Glory Bound” released 24th February, 2015.
In 2016, RJTW teamed up once more with producer Warren Huart for their 2nd full-length album, “Good Life Pie”, recording this time at Hybrid Studios in Santa Ana, CA and mastered by Grammy Award Winner and 5x Latin Grammy Award winner Adam Ayan (Dawes, Lady Antebellum, Father John Misty).
With yearly European tours now becoming an integral part of their touring regiment through touring agent Manny Montana’s Teenage Head Music (The Delta Saints, Blackfoot Gypsies, Them Dirty Roses), Robert Jon & The Wreck found their flow being on the road most of the year, returning to California and prolifically pumping out new material. In 2017 they recorded their self-titled album, “Robert Jon & The Wreck”, but due to lineup changes in the band (resolving with the addition of James and Murrel), the band re-branded their “Rhythm of the Road” and “RedBull Sessions” EPs to form “Wreckage: Vol.1: B-Sides Collection”, and with the new band members in tow, took to Europe once more with a breakout performance at the Moulin Blues Fest in Ospel, Netherlands. Their self-titled album released in May 2018 to high praise and the band didn’t skip a beat.
Robert Jon & The Wreck released their first live album, “Live from Hawaii” in October 2018, showcasing live recordings from their first show on the islands, wherein the skies opened up and poured drops of sunshine on the excited and dedicated crowd throughout the duration of the concert.
May 2019 saw the release of their 4th studio album, “Take Me Higher”, the first album written with new members Henry James and Warren Murrel. This album took them all over the world, with three separate outings to mainland Europe, to the UK playing the Ramblin Man Fair in the UK alongside Foreigner and Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and to the Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean Blues Cruise alongside greats Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton, Eric Gales, Robert Randolph & The Family Band and more.
Their latest album “Last Light on the Highway,” released May 8th, 2020 to rave reviews. Even with the global setbacks caused by COVID-19, the album has done remarkably well, quickly receiving accolades from major publications including Rolling Stone, and having an unprecedented 12-week run of radio play on Planet Rock Radio in the UK with their first single, “Oh Miss Carolina.”
The guys already have major plans for 2021, currently writing their 6th studio album (title pending). Along with plans for multiple European excursions, including festival performances at Bospop in the Netherlands, a full UK tour, and Australian and Japanese tours in the works, the band is also working tirelessly coming up with new merchandise and other goodies at their online store, and keeping their fans in-the-know and Getting Wrecked through their weekly podcast, “The Wreck Podcast” and email list giveaways.
Shine A Light On Me Brother 2021
Last Light on The Highway 2020
Take Me Higher 2019
Robert Jon & The Wreck 2018
Wreckage, Vol. 1 (B-Sides Collection) 2017
Good Life Pie 2016
Glory Bound 2015
Gethen Jenkins is an award-winning singer-songwriter born in Huntington, West Virginia, and raised in a rural Indian village in Alaska. All-American served eight years in the US Marines.
Sony/RED MUSIC and Five Music Inc. released his six-song EP titled Where The Honkytonk Belongs in July 2017; it had revolving play on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country and was one of the top-selling Outlaw Country albums on iTunes. After being honored with the Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year awards at December 2017’s California Country Awards, Gethen was recently named 2018’s Best Outlaw Country Artist in LA Weekly’s annual Best of L.A. issue.
Gethen Jenkins recorded his full-length album titled Western Gold in Nashville with award-winning producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Willie Nelson). “Bottle In My Hand”, “Restless Ways”, and “Me My Bottle and Nothing But Time” were recently featured on Paramount Network’s popular Western series Yellowstone.
Gethen’s played over 1,000 live shows, sharing the stage with prominent acts such as The Marshall Tucker Band, Billy Joe Shaver, Wanda Jackson, David Allan Coe, and many more.
Support from Firestone Walker’s 805 Beer, Gibson Guitar, Ernie Ball, SoFar Sounds, non-profit Team Red White and Blue, and Jam In The Van, to name a few.
Establishing a dedicated country fan base in Southern California – not been done since Dwight Yoakam.