Robert Jon and the Wreck

One of the newest bands around, Robert Jon & the Wreck, the five-piece blues/rock outfit is as hardworking as they come. Nominated for Best Blues at the 2012 O.C. Music Awards, these newcomers have traveled up and down the coast, as well as the biggest cities this country has to offer. While the band released it only album in 2011, 2012 is when it got in front of its fans and made a name for itself. Playing at showcases and O.C. staples such as the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa helped breed its ever-growing fan base, but it’s the sweet licks and smooth jamming style that separates this band from the pack. - CBS Local Media (KROQ)

Blues-inspired rock as a genre is one of those tricky things to tackle -- there's a reason why a certain scene from Ghost World is as famous in certain circles as it is, for instance -- and for every recent revivalist that's brought something distinct to the field there have been ten times as many timekillers, dullards and just plain disasters. So Robert Jon and the Wreck get credit for following their heart because it's not always easy to do something with that kind of reputation, but Fire Started deserves note because while it's a traditional album in many ways, it's a kind of modern traditionalism that draws on multiple sources. What Fire Started has as a bit of a secret weapon that becomes clearer the more it goes is how there's an easy-to-enjoy feeling that never really comes close to bar-band tedium. If anything, they could be slipped into more adventurous country playlists as much as anything else -- songs like "Love Roulette" have the same sense of arena/hard rock scale that pretty well defines modern Nashville, perhaps minus the precise radio-ready kick and specific country sonic touches, but it makes the performances feel a little warmer, especially when guitarist Kyle Michael Neal busts out a great solo (as he does more than once).

Jon also scores by not sounding like the chokehold of so much post-grunge spinach that's come down over the years -- if his harmonies and that of his bandmates are pleasant more than full-bodied, there's something to be said for understatement, and there's an appealing conversational feeling to his lead vocals that, even when he takes full flight on a song like "Run Away," doesn't feel the need to strain to convey the point. Fire Started isn't about innovation but it's not about being freeze-dried either -- thank goodness. - OC Weekly

Robert Jon and the Wreck is a quintet that really rocks. Southern California native Robert Jon found a passion for music through the piano when he was six years old, and learned guitar and drums soon after. Eager to share his music with others, he played in several bands and began writing songs before finding four other guys with a similar vision. Their latest album, Fire Started, is a blues-heavy full-length album with a soft country feel to “Look in Your Eyes” and edgy classic-rock nuance driving “Run Away” and “Love Roulette.” Indeed the album speaks of love and freedom; a travelogue of both a physical journey that is constantly descending to an emotional footing that crashes safe and comfortable into the soothing, guitar-picked track “Come Down Children.” They recently completed a nationwide tour, and now you can check out Robert Jon and the Wreck in our BeatCrave Fav series below! - Beatcrave.com

"....best ever booked!" - - Jack Ballenger, Rockslide Brewery (Feb 15, 2010)

"I saw Robert Jon Live. He is Amazing. The Album is very good(I think his live show is a bit better) but this album showcases his talent for songwriting and his passion for music. Watch out for this guy he's going places" - vhdave, Buy This Album! (Dec 23, 2008)

"Cruising in the car creates an appetite for some stellar tunes to sing-a-long to. It calls for a certain upbeat quality, a perfect blend of a relate-able croon and a dash of seductive rhythms. Robert Jon and his CD "Ep" is the ideal combination.....His folk-rock roots are reminiscent of Bob Dylan's transition to electric and he has mastered the art of bluesy guitar rifts. Jon's voice has a smokey yet sweet demeanor that wraps up the listener into a thoughtful blanket of lyrics. ....Ep's eclectic collection of six songs hold a hint brassy tones, acoustic accents and a wide range of instrumental creativity that infuse the whole spectrum of emotion. Songs like "Bound by Love" will wake you up for a sunny day, where as "Perfect" is just the thing to soothe your way through a less than relationship" - Kristen Vermetten, Western Herald April 15 2010