Southern rock stalwarts Robert Jon & The Wreck‘s new album, Red Moon Rising, is out now via Journeyman Records, and is already being touted as their “most ambitious project yet”.
Available on CD, vinyl and digitally, tracks featured on Red Moon Rising are ‘Stone Cold Killer’, ‘Trouble’, ‘Ballad Of A Broken Hearted Man’, ‘Red Moon Rising’, ‘Dragging Me Down’, ‘Hold On’, ‘Down No More’, ‘Help Yourself’, ‘Worried Mind’ and ‘Give Love’, plus on the CD versions you’ll get the bonus tracks ‘Rager’ and ‘Hate To See You Go’.
The band has also unveiled a music video for their latest single, ‘Down No More‘, a joyful, breezy, acoustic-driven, country-pop leaning track that showcases their versatility and knack for storytelling. “‘Down No More’ is a song we co-wrote with Dylan Altman (Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean) during a trip to Nashville,” said frontman Robert Jon Burrison. “This song reveals that you can be down on yourself or down on your luck but there’s always a bright side and you don’t have to be down no more.”
You can stream the single here.
“Red Moon Rising is a new chapter for Robert Jon & The Wreck,” the singer continued. “We as a band are very excited for its release and for everyone to hear it! We want to thank Kevin Shirley, all the co-writers on this record, and everyone at Journeyman Records for helping us in making this record.”
Prolific songwriters with a wealth of new material, refusing to be constrained by traditional release strategies, the band’s new partnership with Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records affords them the opportunity to work with the world’s top producers and release a steady stream of high-quality singles on an ongoing basis, cutting through the industry chaos and ensuring new music is accessible to fans as intended.
Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the East Coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, Californians Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), and Warren Murrel (bass) have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and memorable tunes. Recently, keyboardist Jake Abernathie joined the band as an official member as they continue to tour and record in the studio. Simply put, it is difficult to ignore when these talented musicians take the stage.
The band continued to bring out a series of varied single prior to Red Moon Rising, with ‘Trouble‘ seeing the light of day only last month. With its unforgettable riff and catchy chorus, ‘Trouble’ is a track that fans won’t be able to get out of their heads.
A lazy summer car-cruising southern rock riffed tune with fun lyrics, ‘Trouble’ can be streamed here and you can check out the video for it here at RAMzine.
Co-written with Wreck alumni Kristopher Butcher (Kilo Bravo), ‘Trouble’ captures a classic tale of a person who brings chaos wherever they go. “‘Trouble’ comes from a song idea from years back,” noted frontman Robert Jon Burrison. “This track embodies a familiar tale we’ve all heard before about a person that is walking bad news or trouble; everywhere they go. With a hard-hitting riff and a chorus that’s hard to get out of your head, you better watch out for ‘Trouble.’”
Word also has it, ‘Trouble’ is poised to become a staple in Robert Jon & The Wreck’s live performances.
Back in May, ‘Give Love‘, came out as a single, and in contrast to their previous rock-driven hits, it proved to be an invigorating blend of uplifting piano melodies and soaring vocals, intent on delivering a message of universal love and compassion.
“’Give Love’ is a song with a simple message, yet it’s hard to truly understand and practice,” admitted Burrison. Co-written with acclaimed songwriter Tom Hambridge, the track has apparently been a staple in the band’s creative sessions for years and now comes to life with its compelling lyrics and heartfelt musicality. “This song makes you feel what it means to,” added Burrison. “We could all use a little more love in the world.”
You can stream the single here and check out the video on this very page at RAMzine.
The month before, saw the band bring out ‘Worried Mind‘, an introspective track that showcases a different facet of the Southern California rockers’ musical prowess, emphasising vulnerability and the universal need for connection.
The evocative ballad captures the essence of heartfelt conversations and the importance of sharing one’s fears with others. Co-written with Nashville’s own Austin Jenckes, the song began as a simple acoustic melody, that the band chose to preserve in its recording.
“‘Worried Mind’ was a song inspired by how important it is to talk with others about the worries that you may have because when you hold it in, it can become so overwhelming,” said frontman Robert Jon Burrison. Recorded live with three acoustic guitars, harmonica, and Burrison’s signature vocals, the song’s production by Kevin Shirley ensures its place as one of the standout tracks on Red Moon Rising, offering a “very bare bones sound compared to the rest of the record.”
Available digitally, you can check out the lyric video here at RAMzine.
It followed ‘Dragging Me Down’ as a single, still available here and you can also watch the video here at RAMzine.
“‘Dragging Me Down’ is a bonafide, heavy hitting riff-rock anthem,” according to guitarist Henry James. The song went through several iterations before reaching its final, compelling form under the guidance of Shirley, and it was recorded at the prestigious Village in Santa Monica, California.
‘Dragging Me Down‘ offers a dramatic narrative of an ill-fated one-night stand, backed by punchy, overdriven guitars, pounding drums, and an anthemic vocal performance that demands audience participation. “Featuring punchy, overdriven guitars, pounding drums, and an anthemic rock vocal performance, this is sure to get you singing along & get your feet stomping!” said the guitarist. Check it out yourselves…
Intended as a bold declaration of evolution and rebirth, capturing the essence of the band’s transformative years and setting a new course for their musical odyssey, the album’s lead single and title track, ‘Red Moon Rising’, came out a little while back and acted as a beacon leading the way for band’s new era.
“’Red Moon Rising’ started out as a simple jam in the room and took on a life of its own,” revealed frontman Robert Jon Burrison. “It’s about all the beliefs, myths, and traditions surrounding a red moon, symbolising rebirth and change, which perfectly encapsulates the spirit of our new album.”
Coming on like a harrowing cowboy ride through a hot desert there’s a deep funk undertow and intermittent psychedelic wails over what fundamentally is a hard rocking blues number at heart, whereby you feel America’s ‘Horse With No Name’ had been repurposed for a remake of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s acid western El Topo, that or a song of hope in what too often feels like the world at large’s apocalyptic death wish. Check out the video here at RAMzine.
Following their critically acclaimed September 2023 UK tour, Robert Jon & The Wreck return to the UK for a 10-date tour playing leading venues this November. Tickets are available now from Planet Rock and will go on general sale 10am on Wednesday 14th February the band’s website.
