Robert Jon and the Wreck: Portland Gig Review

Robert Jon and the Wreck performed at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday, November 23, 2025. They were touring with Samantha Fish and opened the show at 8:00 PM with a 45-minute set comprised of six songs. The band featured Robert Jon Burrison on guitar and lead vocals, Andrew Espantman on drums and vocals, Henry James on lead guitar and vocals, Warren Murrel on bass guitar, and Jake Abernathie on keyboards.

Their set opened with “Ashes in the Snow” from their ninth studio album Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes, released on Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records in 2025. It was the first single from the new album, issued in January 2025. The song began with twangy guitars and soaring vocals, creating a beautiful harmony that ascended with every note until Henry James dove into a short solo.

“Blame It on the Whiskey” from 2015’s Glory Bound followed with a country flavor. The band built a driving beat that sparked a foot-stomping reaction paired with screaming guitars. Burrison greeted the Portland audience and expressed his appreciation for their attendance. “Better of Me,” another track from the new album, carried a Southern rock sound with Abernathie’s keyboard intro. Burrison bellowed that “you can’t get the better of me” over a driving beat led by Espantman’s explosive drums, accompanied by a stellar solo from James.

“Red Moon Rising,” from their 2024 album of the same name, brought a hypnotic groove. I’ve always enjoyed watching a skilled drummer, and Espantman certainly fit the bill as he pushed the tune forward. The band kicked into high gear, led by pounding drums and punctuating keyboards, as Robert Jon hit soaring high notes. There was tight interplay between James, Abernathie, and Espantman before the song wound back to Robert Jon’s wailing vocals and James’ standout guitar licks.

“She’s a natural born beauty with a deep low cut
Poison in her fingers, with a violent strut”

Burrison talked about signed artwork available at the merch booth as the band broke into “Oh Miss Carolina” from 2020’s Light on the Highway. The song reflects memories of regret, longing, and the desire to reconnect with what’s been lost, blending blues rock and Southern rock with a soulful Americana-tinged sensibility. Keyboards played a dominant role, complemented by blazing guitars.

The final song was “Cold Night,” again from 2015’s Glory Bound. It was guitar-driven and reminiscent of the Allman Brothers, with fiery guitars and driving keyboards anchored by Murrel’s thumping bass and Espantman’s drums. James and Robert Jon played facing each other before James stepped to center stage for an extended solo while the rest of the band jammed behind him. His stratospheric guitar lines, paired with intense keyboards, built the song into a wild, guitar-fueled crescendo. The audience rose to their feet, clapping in time as strobe lights flashed. When the song ended and the band left the stage, the crowd clearly wanted more while the crew prepared for Samantha Fish’s set.