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Song

West Coast Eyes

Artist

Robert Jon & The Wreck

Robert Jon & The Wreck backstory

Hailing from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the east coast and make it their own. 

Since 2011, Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), and Warren Murrel (bass) have ridden a wave of riff-fuelled goodness.

And the addition of full-time keysman Jake Abernathie has given the Wreck an extra spring in their step.

Six studio albums in a decade could have led to quantity eclipsing quality.

But RJ&TW are as skilled as they are prolific — shaping a varied back catalogue that’s caught the attention of Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records.

The wildly successful blues rocker has taken the Wreck under his wing.

And Bonamassa — alongside a few big-name buddies — has helmed what long-time followers of the band hope will be the lucky seventh long player.

Ride Into The Light will be released by Journeyman Records later this year.

In frontman Robert Jon Burrison’s own words

“We met with the legendary Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy), who’s written songs with a lot of great artists.

“A few weeks later we went into Sunset Sound in LA with Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith as our producers.

“It evolved into a bit of tribute to the LA session musician scene through the years.

“We combined elements from a few different decades and it wound up being a really fun sonic experiment. 

“Joe and Josh were also great to be around, providing a lot of fun musical suggestions and of course some top-notch vintage guitar gear!”

The verdict on West Coast Eyes

Bruce Hornsby meets Tom Petty with blues at the heart as RJ&TW drop a lazy, hazy slice of heatwave-ready prime Americana.

Stepping away from their Southern rock roots — although there’s still one foot firmly planted in classic Skynyrd — the Wreck make a smart play for commercial success.

And it doesn’t take a massive leap of faith to imagine West Coast Eyes jamming the Planet Rock schedule for weeks to come.

Session legend Jeff Babko lends a smoking tune some shimmering keys as Burrison croons his way through a new summer staple.

But it’s the standout guitars that steal the show on a track destined to become a storied  staple of this hard gigging band’s legendary live show.

Written in Nashville and recorded in Los Angeles, West Coast Eyes is a catch-all case of soft rock perfection.

What’s next for RJ&TW

Time off is an alien concept to Burrison and his buddies.

And the band’s wrapping up a run of US shows in June before stopping off at next month’s Maid Of Stone Festival in Kent.

After that it’s full steam ahead on the 38-date European tour kicking off in Germany on August 25.

Ride Into The Light is released on August 4.