Review: Robert Jon & The Wreck ‘Live At The Ancienne Belgique’
By Mike O’Cull
Roots rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck shine brightly on the band’s first-ever live concert DVD and album Live At The Ancienne Belgique.
Set to make impact April 21st, 2023 on Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records, the film captures the group onstage at the peak of its powers. It all went down at a sold-out show at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium on June 29th, 2022 on the band’s longest tour ever. Amazingly, they did 67 performances in 75 days across nine countries. This particular gig was better than 50 shows in and it’s obvious that they were living, breathing, and playing as a single organism by this point in the run. The set list sums up the last ten years of RJ&TW’s life and creative output in an uplifting, vibrant way that demonstrates how and why they hit the top of the roots rock scene.
“A lot of time and effort went into our show at the Ancienne Belgique,” said frontman Robert Jon Burrison. “We had been meaning to make a live album for years, so we saw this as an opportunity to document and release unique, more evolved versions of our songs.” Evolve, they have, into an outstanding band that combines blues-based riff rock and the singer/songwriter tradition and puts it down with the power to make you believe. Robert Jon and his friends have been at it since their 2013 debut and have made lasting impressions around the world. These European dates had been on hold for a couple of years due to the Covid pandemic, so when they got the chance to hit the stage in Belgium, they hit it hard.
Opening the show with the edgy-yet-melodic “Devil Is Your Only Friend,” the band is immediately electrified. The guitars crunch out the main riff but fade behind Robert Jon’s voice when the verse drops, displaying their tightness and discipline. Their live sound as a unit is solid and detailed. The lineup of Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), Jake Abernathie (keyboards), and Warren Murrel (bass) goes all-out but never loses control. Imagine Tom Petty fronting Lynyrd Skynyrd and you’ll catch the vibe.
“Rollin’” quickly shifts into a mid-tempo state of mind. Warren Murrel rocks a sweet bass line from the downbeat and guitarist Henry James Schneekluth tastefully answers him back. Schneekluth is a smooth, articulate player who adds quite a bit to The Wreck’s sound. He’s quite likely a genius that the world at large is still discovering. He combines the tasteful jamming of Dickie Betts with the song-supporting grace of Mike Campbell and his own deep well of slide and fretted musicality. How cool is that?
You’ll be happy to know that the stage production, audio, and camera work in the film is top-shelf and artistic in its own right. The lighting, cinematography, and camera shots are all exceptionally well done and put you in the middle of the night’s action. Mishandling those things can ruin a concert film but this one gets everything right.
“She’s A Fighter” is a classic, two-guitar body-rocker that the Belgian crowd adores. It has an intricate signature riff and driving beat that you just have to respond to. Robert Jon’s vocals soar on top of The Wreck’s muscle and they create a perfect rock and roll moment for everyone in the room.
The stomping “Hey Hey Mama” struts the stage like it owns the place. It invokes swampy blues, 50s rock, and the songwriting chops of classic rock’s best days. The band fearlessly rips into it, especially in the middle where guitarist Schneekluth shows us his true soloing might. He takes the entire group to a higher place that simply has to be experienced.
Every moment of Live At The Ancienne Belgique is entrancing and epic. Robert Jon & The Wreck prove that straight-up rock and roll still matters and can move modern fans. Don’t miss the greatness of songs like “Shine A Light On Me Brother,” “Old Friend,” and the 13-minute “Cold Night.” We’re all lucky that this show was captured for our eternal enjoyment. It’s a winner on every level.
Stream/Purchase Live At The Ancienne Belgique Here
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