Backstage Pass Radio

S4: E6: Robert Jon Burrison - (Robert Jon & The Wreck) - Last Light on the Highway

February 20, 2023 Backstage Pass Radio Season 4 Episode 6
Backstage Pass Radio
S4: E6: Robert Jon Burrison - (Robert Jon & The Wreck) - Last Light on the Highway
Show Notes Transcript

Date: February 21, 2023
Name of podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
Episode title and number:  S4: E6: Robert Jon Burrison - (Robert Jon & The Wreck) - Last Light on the Highway


Artist Bio -
Reigning from southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the southern rock sound from the east coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, these four native Californians; Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry 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. Fueled by this success, RJTW took the road again delivering fierce performances, emblazoned with commitment, and dripping in a rawness that’s impossible to fake. Simply put, it is difficult to ignore when these talented musicians take the stage. Little wonder they have made an impact on audiences across the world, where they’ve played a run of sold-out shows and proudly shared bills with talent the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout, and Rival Sons. The Wreck found their flow with yearly tours, returning to California and prolifically releasing new music. 2021’s studio album Shine A Light On Me Brother gained worldwide acclaim. They teamed up with Joe Bonamassa’s independent label and released two singles in early 2022 with “Waiting For Your Man” and “She’s A Fighter.” On September 30th, The Wreck released their latest Album “Wreckage Vol. 2” which has paved the way for even more exciting new music from the band. 2023 will be an incredible year of touring and new music from Robert Jon & The Wreck. To stay updated visit at www.robertjonandthewreck.com. #GetWrecked


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Robert Jon & The Wreck 

Fri, Feb 17, 2023 3:01PM • 56:52

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

band, song, play, people, robert, artists, songwriting, music, backstage pass, tour, wreck, write, road, record, called, orange county, radio, listeners, friends, warren, GetWrecked, Robert Jon Burrison, Robert Jon & The Wreck, SoCal, Randy Hulsey, Randy Hulsey Music, Randy Hulsey Podcast, Backstage Pass Radio, Backstage Pass Radio Podcast, Music Interview, Best Music Podcast, Crystal Vision Studio, Cypress Texas

SPEAKERS

Randy Hulsey, Robert Jon, Adam Gordon

 

Randy Hulsey  00:00

Today I am joined by a rockin act that formed over a decade ago in Southern California. Happy New Year to everyone. It's Randy Hulsey. Here with backstage pass radio. The band received an award for Best Live Band and 2013 by the Orange County Music Awards. And I'm going to jump right in the middle of a conversation with founder singer and guitarist Robert John Burson, of the band, Robert John and the wreck when we return.

 

Adam Gordon  00:26

This is backstage pass radio, the podcast that's designed for the music junkie with a thirst for musical knowledge. Hi, this is Adam Gordon. And I want to thank you all for joining us today. Make sure you like, subscribe and turn the alerts on for this and all upcoming podcasts. And now here's your host of backstage pass radio, Randy Halsey.

 

Randy Hulsey  00:55

Robert, Happy New Year, Brother, how are you? Welcome to the show, man.

 

Robert Jon  00:58

Happy New Year. Thanks for having me. So it's off to a busy start.

 

Randy Hulsey  01:02

Yes, sir. Usual indeed. And I think we're gonna jump into a little bit about what's going to have you so busy here coming up pretty soon. But I did want to give a quick shout out to Warren for being instrumental in getting us set up to chat. So thanks to Warren there. Yeah. And so you made it through the holidays and New Years, of course, and I guess you guys are ready to get to work here in the new year. Right. Yeah.

 

Robert Jon  01:27

We're always working man. It never,

 

Randy Hulsey  01:29

never stops. Were the holidays kind of some downtime for you? I think if, if if I remember my conversation with Warren, I think you might have been maybe out on the East Coast when we were talking. Is that right? Does that sound right? Or? No?

 

Robert Jon  01:45

I mean, I don't know when you were talking to Warren, but we were on the East Coast. Okay, man, what was that late September, early October.

 

Randy Hulsey  01:53

Okay. Okay. But you don't have family out on the East Coast. Do you? You're originally were you with

 

Robert Jon  01:59

us on the I was on the East Coast in thanksgiving. Yeah, that's what he was taught as well from Florida. So

 

Randy Hulsey  02:04

we got out there that year. That's what it was. Okay. Well, I know that I stumbled across you guys. I think it was probably social media. You know, I'm always kind of pounding the pavements on social media, looking for artists that kind of stick out. And I'm sure it was there that I stumbled across you guys. But I was talking to a buddy locally here. And it was kind of ironic, because he said, there's this band, and they just I went and saw him play in Houston. And I don't remember when he said it was but it was like it Fitzgeralds or something like that. And he said, it's this band called Robert John in the wreck. I said, how funny I said, I'm actually in contact with the bass player right now trying to get those guys on the show. So it's funny that that you even bring it up. So so here we are, man, I'm glad that you're here. And we could talk about Robert John in the wreck and all the things that you guys have going on and what you have coming up, man? Yeah, definitely. And I know that you recently added a keyboard player and when I say recently, you can kind of fill me in on the definition of recently but you guys were four piece for a while. And now you're five piece right now, is that correct?

 

Robert Jon  03:18

We a little different. We've been a five piece since the beginning of time. Okay, since 2011, we've been a five piece and just recently, in this past year, our keyboard player at the time has moved on. He currently plays in toto but he's been with us this whole time. And this year, when he joined total he was out on tours, we kind of got some subs and and had some other people working with us. And then it was just time to part ways. So yeah, there was a there was a small period of time probably in the social media realm that everyone saw pictures of just the four of us because yeah, you know there there was no there's no stopping the train

 

Randy Hulsey  04:02

right if you will. No, I get it I get it. You can't let lineup changes slow you down for sure. And that's probably what threw me off in all fairness, that's probably what threw me off a little bit when I was doing my homework. I went out and I looked I looked at the website and it listed for you guys. Yeah, but then I saw live you know, like live videos of five of you. And then And then so I said okay, wait a minute. Let me let me let me see here let me do a little bit more homework. So then I reached out and I talked to Warren and he said no, we were five piece we added a you know a keyboard player and maybe maybe it was a play on the words I'm not sure but it was almost like you guys were maybe five piece than you were four piece then you're back to five pace, which I guess technically you were. But I mean, it was just a short gap of where you didn't where you change keyboard players, right?

 

Robert Jon  04:59

Yeah, yeah. Technology. We have a we have a great new player and he's coming out on the road with us. And hopefully, that's just the beginning. Yeah, for us. So

 

Randy Hulsey  05:06

for sure, we'll talk to the listeners a little bit. Now, you know, now that we're kind of on the whole players in the band conversation. Talk to me about the lineup. Who are the players? What are they play in? And where are these guys from? Where did you find all these guys? Right? Yeah, so

 

Robert Jon  05:23

currently the current lineup right now, which I hope that is is the lineup for for years to come. Andrew is Fatman is on the drums. I've been playing with Andrew since before Robert John the wreck was the wreck. I met him through going to a community college for songwriting at the time, he was dating a really good friend of mine, and we hit it off because I asked him if he wanted to go on tour and play some coffee shops up the West Coast. And he's like, Yeah, okay. And I remember that that first tour, I think, you know, we were in my pickup truck. And he was, you know, he was playing like a snare and using the snare case as the kick drum. Okay, now you put a little mic in there and Rick and hold it up. Yeah. So yeah, I mean, Andrew and I have been on this road together for years before the wreck was a thing. We have Warren Merle on the base, which you've talked to. He's from Southern California. And we actually met him at a festival in Washington. And the way that we met him was we said, hey, man, you guys are great. Where are you from? And they said, We're from Orange County. And he said, No, we're from Orange County. And we didn't know each other. We didn't know that we were both from the same exact place. Never crossed paths. Before that. I know. Just crazy how that works. Yeah, we were friends for a long time. And still, you know, we needed a bass player. And he was he was the call that I made, because I knew that that was just it's just, he has this presence about him. Yeah. And, and then we have Henry James on guitar, who is also from Southern California. And kind of, at the time, when when we still had our guitar player before Henry. He was jammin with with us, we had a jam thing every Sunday at the time. And he was coming in. He was almost kind of like a sixth member of the band. We did this cool Eagles tribute and he was the second lead player. Okay. You know, he was he was kind of around and and then that guitar player at the time, his name's Chris butcher, he moved on to better things. And we asked Henry to, to join and he joined and three months later, we played the biggest show we ever played in Europe. So it's, it's been a crazy road right now on keys. Hopefully, for the future going out on this tour. His name is Jake Abernathy from Long Beach, previously from out in the desert here in California. So we're all California boys. This is just where we're from. And none of us, you know, kind of grew up together. You know, you have some bands that this is my brother's my cousin. And sure, we kind of all met each other, you know, after after the high school days and just kind of fueled by music and and being good people and we found each other on moving forward.

 

Randy Hulsey  08:09

Yeah. Right on and you you kind of mentioned it earlier, but I wanted to maybe drill down a little bit on you know, prior to Robert John in the wreck, it sounded like you know, there were some cover bands going on or whatever. What talk to me just high level about, you know, you're you're coming up through music. Was it cover bands along the way? Or did you get started late in music? Where have you I've always been a musician. Talk to me a little bit about that. Yeah.

 

Robert Jon  08:38

I mean, I was I was a drummer. I was a drummer for many years. And I was in the garage bands. I remember in high school every Friday, me and the guys would come over to my house and we rehearsed in my bedroom. At the time, I had a weirdly large bedroom. Okay. And so that's where we rehearsed. I had my drum set there and, you know, played, we played two pretty amazing shows, they were called birthday parties, for our friends, you know, turning 16 and 17 You know, and then we moved on and we always started writing, we were always writing music. We never really were a cover band. Okay, I'm following on from the big from the beginning. Okay. And then so I was I was writing material by myself and I played at a coffee shop around the corner every Thursday night for a year, I didn't get paid. I just played my my songs on Thursday and invited my friends to come and it kind of like, you know, grease the wheels, you know, just playing in front of people for sure to get used to what that feels like and cuts mercy when you when you're performing your own songs, which, at that time, man they had to have been terrible, you know, so that's kind of where it began. And then, you know, and as that groove I was meeting people who played instruments and moving forward and trying to go You know, let's not play a coffee shop, let's go play this, absolutely this venue or this bar or something like that. And then it kind of turned into like the Robert John band out there playing venues and stuff like that. And then we had this group of guys who, you know, we were, we decided to go on the road, we went out on the road in the Midwest in the winter was a great time of year toward the Midwest. And, you know, we were writing songs together and doing everything together. So it became more of kind of an entity than just my backing band. Right. And so we wanted to create this band. You know, so was Robert John and the what you know, and that was a whole, that was a whole decision to make. But it came out to be the wreck. And it was a good idea, because at that point, we were drinking quite a bit. Some nights we were wrecked. And then we just, we just kept pushing forward as a band does.

 

Randy Hulsey  10:52

Is that literally though, what were you coined the name the wreck is just from from reckless behavior, or was it really something else?

 

Robert Jon  11:00

It was, it was a it was an added bonus? Okay. You know, I think we had an idea about Robert John, the train wreck. And then I had a buddy that said, I don't want to go see Robert on the train wreck, but I go see Robert John in the wreck. Okay. And that just stuck with me. And he's still a good buddy of mine. I don't know if he knows I tell the story or not. But yeah, so it just it just kind of, you know, it sounded good. Well, yeah. You know, and then and then since it since it sounded good, then we had to figure out why. Right? You know, he's kind of like the reverse. Okay. So that's just what I say sometimes, because we were we were pretty reckless back in the day. We've all you know, calmed down a little bit. Older. Yeah, we have a responsibility now and things that live for so

 

Randy Hulsey  11:49

well. Well, they will they say when you go out and do the debauchery and all the dumb things that we used to do, it takes a little longer to recover these days than it did you know, 30 years ago? Well, we

 

Robert Jon  11:59

certainly wouldn't. Right. Especially on the road. Yeah,

 

Randy Hulsey  12:03

for sure. And you know that the road is a grind anyway. And I don't, yeah, I'm assuming that, that you don't need anything else slowing you down. While you're on the road, you want to feel good. You want to be your best at the shows? Or, you know, at the shows for the or for your listeners, for sure. Right. So the last thing you want to do is, you know, walk on stage feeling like you know, that you've been drugged in by the cat, and you're on your last leg. Right. And so, so many artists have done that over the years. You know, you think back to the old 80s Hair Metal Days, you know, where that's all those guys were just living beer after beer after beer and sloppy and like, it must have been alive for sure.

 

Robert Jon  12:49

Oh, yeah. I mean, I'm sure there was a time and a place for it. And I'm sure there was certain substances that they use to overcome that for the time being or temporary. No, and yeah, temporary cures, and we'll probably temporary cures that turn into permanent permanent cure. Yeah, exactly. We still we still know when to have fun and where to have fun. Absolutely. When and when to when to be ready to do our job.

 

Randy Hulsey  13:18

Right on. Well, they call that professionalism. Right. So I was gonna ask you, it sounds like you've been in the game for a while Did did you kind of know what an early age that music was going to be kind of what you did for a living when you were growing up? Or did that that that thought process come later on in life for you?

 

Robert Jon  13:37

Yeah, I think it definitely came on later in life. Because I think at the age that music came in, in my life, you know, I I feel like it was just Well, yeah, we play music. That's fun. Yeah. You know, there was no financial responsibility with it. There was no, there was no other thing that needed to be done at the time. Yep. You know, and then as you grow older than you realize, oh, well, you know, I, this isn't paying enough. So I gotta get a job. And then you realize, okay, well, I have to work these hours. I got to find a job that I work in the mornings and not at night when I want to play music. Absolutely. You know, then the ball just keeps rolling. You know, if we're going to be gone this long and not making any money, then where am I going to make it? It was always what I knew I wanted to do. And I think it was how to make that. How to make that ball keep rolling down the hill. Absolutely. And growing, but make sure like, the ball is going straight and not curving off to the side. You know, so I've had my odd jobs and everything down the road. But this has always been the bread and butter the road, the road I'm on you know, sure. I've you know, if not, then you have to be all in or you're it's not going to work out how well I mean if you know everyone is different. Yeah, you know, I don't want to say that. But for me, it was I was all in and everything on the side is helping this move forward, that makes sense.

 

Randy Hulsey  15:07

You know, I have to assume that everybody in the band is kind of on that same mindset or that same wavelength right with you that it's the music, and they're all in with that. And if there's an odd job or whatever, to supplement income, it's whatever, but it doesn't get in the way of the band. Is that a fair assumption? Oh, yeah,

 

Robert Jon  15:28

definitely. And I mean, we've gone through lineup changes throughout the years, you know, and, and the lineup changes happen when, you know, that person isn't on that same road. Make sense? Which is, which is fine. You know, I mean, we love everybody that's been in the band, and we're still friends with everyone that's been in the band. And it's okay, that roads, you know, veer off in a different, different ways. Sure. Cuz that's life. You know, that's what life has people can do, you know? Yep. And for everyone in the band right now, that's the trajectory. And that's where we're headed. And I think every time a new member joins, which, you know, hasn't happened in the past five years, until now, you know, maybe there's a little bit more vetting, you know, making sure that this is what they want to do. Sure, sure. Making sure is making sure they want to be on the road and write music and play rock and roll for a living. Before. Anything else.

 

Randy Hulsey  16:21

Absolutely. Now, you can kind of plead the fifth on this. It's really not a I'm trying to I'm trying to get y'all excited. I'm really not one of those guys, I have to preface my question by saying, I never tried to trap somebody on a question, because I think that's it's kind of a bullshit move. But I'm gonna ask the question, and you'll you'll understand where I'm coming from. But is there a common denominator over the years with Robert John in the wreck? Or the outfits that you've played in? In general? Is there a common denominator of, of why the attrition in the band? Like why people have left? Or has it always just been for different personal reasons? And I don't need to know any of the reasons per se. But I didn't know if there was one thing that you see more times than not, oh, wow, this guy's gotta leave because of this. And you see that all the time more than other things? Or is it kind of just all over the all over the place for you guys? specific to your band? Right. Yeah,

 

Robert Jon  17:23

I mean, since since we've been kind of going full bore, you know, touring and recording and everything, there's really only probably been a change of four people. Okay. And I honestly don't think there's one. Okay, I think every individual person had their reasons that were different than the other person.

 

Randy Hulsey  17:42

I didn't I didn't know. I mean, sometimes a band will say, you know, we had six members that left and four of them just couldn't they didn't want to be away from family or they didn't want to be you know, what I'm saying? Like it, but nothing in particular, but it seemed like, like, I was always curious about that, not not just with your entity, but entities in general. What What's the main reason why people leave? Is it because they have differences in songwriting, like they don't they fall out of love with your music, per se, they want to do something different, or is it because they don't like the road? And so I just wanted to hear it from you, like kind of what's been your track record?

 

Robert Jon  18:20

I think there's people that love the studio more than the road.

 

Randy Hulsey  18:23

Sure, a little easier. You know,

 

Robert Jon  18:27

that I think that's a big thing. I think there's people that have have other opportunities. And, you know, might think that that opportunity might be more viable for their future. Okay. You know, there's genre differences, you know, like, people are passionate about music, and people can be passionate about rock and roll. Yes. And even rock and roll has its 1800 sub genres, you know, and they can be more passionate about one of those, and when something sparks over there, you know, I mean, but yeah, there hasn't been a common denominator. Okay. Anything.

 

Randy Hulsey  19:03

kind of all over the map, then? Yeah,

 

Robert Jon  19:06

I mean, I tried to shower every day. So I don't think it's not because you

 

Randy Hulsey  19:09

stank. Well, you talked about it a little bit earlier. And I wanted to ask you, do you serve as kind of the primary songwriter in the band? Or is it more of a collaborative effort? With the boys in the band? Talk to the listeners a little

 

Robert Jon  19:25

bit about Yeah, it is all a collaborative effort. Okay. I mean, maybe right. In the beginning, I was the main one, because I was the one getting the people together in the band and, you know, wanting to move forward and but now, I mean, it's a it's a man, I couldn't do this without any of the guys

 

Randy Hulsey  19:44

in the band. So they all brought a little something to the table then. Oh, yeah.

 

Robert Jon  19:49

Everyone has ideas. Everyone brings stuff forward. I kind of see it as you know, someone brings in the blueprint to a house and every song has a house. Yep, we're building this cul de sac with a with an owl. Well, every house is a little different. Because everyone kind of starts with a blueprint. And then we all come in and, you know, throw that color on there, you know, put a balcony over there. And it makes sense, you know, the landscapes different in each place, but it's all in the same place, it's all the same, you know, called sack and, and it's all built by us, you know, and maybe all the, I'm trying to keep going with this weird analogy, and I'm going to stop because I was just about to say something like, you know, we build it all with the same wood, or shall get the wood from a different place. Right. But anyways, yeah, I mean, we're, we're, it's all cohesive. We all work together on things, and it's how I want it to be I mean, it, if it doesn't have a little piece of everybody in it, then it's less visible, right? Yeah, it's meaningful. When we play it live, it's less meaningful when we, when we record it. Yep. You know, I mean, so sometimes, you know, I mean, we all we all write, and if we have a song that's completely done, and we think this is the song that, like, this is how it should be, we usually don't even bring it into the room, okay, it usually gets put in a folder for your personal use later, okay. And, you know, at least that's how I look at it. Because if it doesn't have a little bit of everybody in

 

Randy Hulsey  21:18

it, then it's not the band's not I get it in your you guys remind me a little bit of another band I did an interview with, I think it was in my season three, a great band, a very established band, called the Wilder blue. And they're a five piece out of Texas, and they kind of like you guys reminds me a lot of you, they, they want the input of all five members of the band, it's very important. It's not like, you know, there's two main guys, and the other three are just, you know, the road boys, you know, they, you know, it's like, it's a true democracy, they want the input, let's talk about it, it's, it's everybody gets 1/5 of the stake of the band. And that's kind of the, that's kind of the mentality,

 

Robert Jon  22:05

it's a lot harder to do that way. Sure. It's a lot harder to have five heads in the room, not trying to agree upon one song. But in the end, it's worth it. Well, if you want it to be easy beforehand, then that's not the way to do it. But the end goal is what we look at, and the end result is what we look at, and we're going to be the ones playing this music for the next few years, you know, so if we're not all in it, then at some point it's going to take,

 

Randy Hulsey  22:33

I agree and I'll give you I'll give you an example of that. So I'm I'm a local artist here in Cypress, Texas. But I do have a full nine to five job in my full nine to five job it you know, your widget is music, my widget is information technology, where I work for a consulting firm. And when I do projects for a customer, sometimes you have to have those hard conversations at the beginning of the project. And we all we all get this go. And we all get the heads nodding. Yes. Do you understand this is the scope, this is what we're doing. And it's a little more upfront work. But it cuts down on all the bullshit that might follow when the project what we call the project going sideways or the project derailing or unraveling. Same thing with you guys. Right? Yeah, it's probably a little harder, you know, to get by in on five guys all nodding their head, yes. Now, but in the end, there's no fighting. There's no wall. He didn't include me in this and you know, it just it that's I think that's what breaks bands up is when there's not good communication in the band. Right? Those conversations, save you a whole lot in the long run. Just like you said,

 

Robert Jon  23:50

communication is key and everything in life and your personal relationships. We still work on, you know, in the band, which we still work on.

 

Randy Hulsey  23:59

You got that's all it is. Yep, you know, that you guys released some new music, but I know you release some and 2022 but you also released some music in 2021 that had gained or some worldwide recognition for you guys. And I think that effort and correct me if I'm wrong, that effort was called shine a light on me brother. And I wanted to kind of ask you, you know, when you when people hear things like we're getting worldwide recognition or we're winning these major awards, how does that impact a group like Robert John in the wreck, you know, what, what do you see changing for the band when you go from maybe being you know, this we're we're local heroes, you know, everybody loves our stuff, and then you and then that kind of broadens out how do you what does that feel like in the band to you guys? Hopefully my question makes sense to

 

Robert Jon  24:57

you. Yeah, I mean, In, I hope the answer isn't less than what you wanted nothing

 

Randy Hulsey  25:06

to everything, I don't,

 

Robert Jon  25:07

I don't think anything really changes, okay, other than the opportunities that we we are getting Okay, possibly, okay? Like, and I say that in like, we are still the same, we work just as hard, we're still writing, we still pedal to the metal. And we just may get some opportunities that we didn't get before. And I got to the year before that, you know, and it means that there's more time that needs to be spent to get out to these opportunities and do these things and be a part of these things. But the overall mind set of the band really doesn't change too much.

 

Randy Hulsey  25:43

That makes sense. I don't think we dwell

 

Robert Jon  25:45

too much on that.

 

Randy Hulsey  25:46

And I think that that's kind of what I was looking for. I was wondering if, when, you know, I've talked to artists where they say, Well, I was featured in People magazine, or I was featured in, in this publication, or this TV show, or I was, you know, how to hit song on BBC Radio or whatever. It's like, what happens for the artist, you know, when when those types of events take place? And the first thing that came to my mind, and I didn't want to put words in your mouth, is it? Does it expand the opportunities, like, Okay, now more people have heard of Robert John in the reg. So it's a little bit easier to maybe get a show that maybe you wouldn't have gotten before because of the highlight, right? And, and it sounds like you kind of already hit that nail. You know, we're kind of in lockstep with the thinking, but I was wondering if the opportunities might increase for you, when you get that kind of recognition,

 

Robert Jon  26:41

you know, that as coming up as a young band, that's all you're looking for, you know, so know how to obtain that exam. You know, I didn't think that, you know, when you when you start off and you record an album, and you're like, Man, why aren't we playing these festivals or doing these things? Or, you know, we recorded a record, and we've been on tour, like, what else do we need to do? Yep. I mean, it's a very naive mindset, it's a very young mindset. And it's just you just the work hasn't been put in, got, you know, you haven't done enough, no matter what the work is, you haven't done enough work to be there. And whenever you do enough work, the pieces of the puzzle, start adding up. Yeah, and when when you deserve to be there, that's when you probably going to be there. And if you want to be somewhere, you just keep working, that makes sense. You know, don't don't, don't go head straight into, you know, stalking someone's stalking the book, or have some festivals, life or something, because that's just not how it works. You know, you just gotta keep putting in the work and things start coming in and always, always been working. Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  27:51

Would you say that like, so if you gain that recognition for the shine a light on me brother effort? Do you understand as a band? Why that got the recognition? Whereas maybe some of the previous stuff didn't? And are you able to rinse and repeat that? I guess that scenario is probably not the right word. But I think you understand where I'm going with the question, right? Like, if, if you get to that, okay, we just hit this success plateau, so to speak, how do we do that? Again? How do we continue to make every effort successful and get that kind of attention? Do you know that formula? Or is it kind of a shot in the

 

Robert Jon  28:38

dark? I think you just try to, you know, you try to write the best songs, you can, okay, yeah. And I think songwriting kind of stepped up a notch. I think it was less out on the highway, when we were writing that record, it was like, let's think about this a little bit more, a little bit more than we have ever thought about it. Okay, and, and I think that that good songs, you know, pay with a good team to get to get the songs out there. I've heard amazing records of people that have put out records in Orange County that they've never seen the light of day. So you know, I mean, that's just one piece. Like, it's not just how good the songs are us. Is it still hard enough to get it out there? It's not. You can't just have a team to put to push out there. Because, you know, you can push out anything and it doesn't mean that it's going to click Exactly. So really we, man, that's a good question. I don't know if we're rinsing and repeating. But we're, you know, we're taking the knowledge that we've learned and using that and trying to make it better. Yeah, but no, and all the ways that we can make it better and our hope is that it's better. Yeah. You know, And if it's if it's not people will let us know,

 

Randy Hulsey  30:03

a measure. And you know, that's a great answer. I mean, I don't there was no right or wrong answer to that question. I mean, because sometimes you don't know what the damn answer is. You just, you know, you're just you, like you said, you said it best. We worked hard. We put the stuff out every time we put all of our blood sweat and tears into it. And if success comes out of it, then so be it. If success doesn't come out of it, you try to figure out why. And you try not to do that again. Right. I mean, that's, that's really the process right there. And you mentioned last slide on the highway. That was I think that was right during the middle of the pandemic, was it not when you guys are Lisa 2020 2020 20. And then the shine, shine light on me brother was the following year, like post post COVID Right. Okay. Yeah. Just trying to make sure I had my, my ducks in a row. You got it, man. So you guys recorded a couple of songs. So fast forward to 2022 you recorded a couple of singles. One was called waiting for your man and the other was called she's a fighter. I'd like to play a short clip of she's a fighter. And then we'll come back and chat about that song. Fair enough. Sounds great. Alright, Sam, Bye brother. A hooky tune there brother. I really enjoy that. And it's funny that when I when I create the clips or I go through kind of the catalogue of the artists, you know and I listened to everything and then I tried to say okay, I need to highlight something new of course because the the artists love to talk about the the latest thing that's out but always looking for that song that catches you like that. And this is one for me that did and also one that I I won't necessarily feature on the show. Oh, Miss Carolinas. love that song. In fact, I play an acoustic duo here in Cyprus and my lead guitarist Chris and I are actually learning that song by you guys. So yeah, you'll have some guys have covered. Yeah, for sure. And so we talked about the songwriting kind of how the song you know, all you guys are part of the songwriting efforts. Talk to me about is there a formula in the band? Like do you guys start out with like, for for she's a fighter specifically? Is it lyrics first? Is that a riff? First? Is it a melody line first? And is the songwriting kind of a rinse and repeat for you guys? Like do you write songs the same way all the time? Or does it just vary? It could be lyrics first, it could be melody, like, talk to the listeners a little bit about the specifics of the songwriting, right,

 

Robert Jon  33:43

I would say about, you know, 75% of the time, it's definitely not lyrics first, okay. I feel like I feel like usually, lyrics come in later, after you have a cool melody and a cool vibe and a cool beat. And usually singing nonsense. But you know, you're, you're singing something

 

Randy Hulsey  34:05

long, or whatever, right? Yeah, sure.

 

Robert Jon  34:07

And if we're talking about that song, I think every song is different. There's no rhyme or reason. There's no formula we follow. Every song comes in, in a different way. And so like, she's a fighter, for instance. I mean, we were just jamming in the room. And I think Henry played, like, that cool riff in the beginning. And we're like, Well, that sounds cool. Then we just went with it, you know, seeing what happens and then, you know, come up with some sort of chorus and I don't know what I sing before. She's a fighter, but I could probably figure it out. I think I have some voice memos. Okay. You know, it was probably she's alive or somebody, you know, weird little things, you know, but yeah, so that kind of came together in the room. No plan, just jamman and then, you know, later on going back and kind of creating the song she's a fighter, which is about my wife, because the past year and a half has been a little different for us. We have a 11 month old at home and just watching her go through the pregnancy and the birth and you know, well, man, I guess the song was written before she, before we had our son, because there's a line in it that says, Your prince is coming early. And we didn't know if it was a boy or girl yet. Wow. And my son, which, you know, did actually come early. So it was kind of a weird, weird thing to write. And then it came true.

 

Randy Hulsey  35:37

Yeah, but so grats on that, by the way, congrats. Thank

 

Robert Jon  35:39

you. Yeah, yeah, so this song, you know, it has a special place. And yeah, just just watching any, any woman for that matter, but watching her go through? Yeah. The body transformation and becoming a mother and everything. It's not an easy, easy thing to overcome. So

 

Randy Hulsey  35:59

well, you know, you know what they say, you know, if men had to have babies, there would be no more humans being born on the planet, right? Probably not do that. Or want to go down that path? Yeah, for sure. You know, we talked a lot about the songwriting. And would you say that? Are you are you kind of, uh, are there certain times of the day that you sit down and dedicate to songwriting? And the reason I asked that is I had Michael Sweet from the rock band striper on my show. And he said, you know, Randy, and I, honestly, Robert, don't don't remember what time he said. But he said, You know, honestly, every day, at 10 o'clock, am I sit down, and I spend X amount of time writing, that's my time to sit down and focus on writing. Is it that way for you? Or is it just whenever the urge strikes you? And it could be in the middle of the night when you wake up with a, an idea or or something? Talk to me a little bit about that? If you're a structured song?

 

Robert Jon  37:02

No, there's no structure, especially with an 11 month old, nothing struck structure? Yes. But ya know, it's always different for me, I feel like I can remember a lot of times waking up first thing in the morning, and having something in my head, I grab a cup of coffee, and I just write it down. Gotcha. And a lot of the times, I don't know what it means yet, I feel like, if I was to say a general view, it's always in the morning, okay. In the mornings, when I like to write, like, you know, if we have a song that needs lyrics, that's, that's when I wake up and write, okay, have a cup of coffee, and sit out there shitting my patio and just and write lyrics. That's, that's when I can do it. Like, once the day is started, life has happened. It my my brain goes into different worlds. See, I like to definitely do it in the morning. And then you know, but sometimes I'll be driving. At any point, when I'm driving, they can happen, you know, something comes into my head. I write it down or sing it. Yeah. So it's always different from me. But the mornings is when I get the most work done. I got Yeah, but maybe not the inspirational part where it's just like, well,

 

Randy Hulsey  38:08

I follow you. Well, it sounds like we're kind of poured out of the same mold there. And that's abnormal as you I don't have to tell you that, that that's abnormal for a musician to be creative in the morning, because most of the time, musicians are night owls, right. And they they do, they're, they're the most creative at midnight, or one o'clock or two o'clock in the morning. And I've never been like that. I'm always my brain is always the freshest, like you said, waking up in the morning, getting that cup of coffee, it's ready to go. Because I'll be honest with you know, 839 o'clock rolls around, you look outside, it's pitch black outside, my mind just starts to shut down. Like I just I don't know why, but that's just me. So it sounds like we're kind of some mold there.

 

Robert Jon  38:52

I'm not a doctor, or know if any of this is true. But if you have, if you have stuff during the day, if you do things during the day, you know, your mind is working all day. Sure. You're, there's, there's only so much you can do for your mind in a day. You know, I mean, it's like cramming for a test if you if you study too much than you read, you lose the retention of it correct mid you know, so if, if you have a full day of tons of stuff, and then you go in the studio at eight o'clock at night, pretending like your brain is going to be creative. I mean, I've done it and you know, we've done it we've you know, it happens, but if you can, if I can if I can control it now. I'm like, well, let's get the studio at 11 or 10 in the morning where I'm fresh and all I've done is literally had a coffee and drive somewhere. Yes. And now all my thoughts are brand new without being you know, contaminated if you will, people you know and then but or not or you know if it's eight o'clock then maybe you need some Do something to brighten you up. You know whether it's a little booze or little smoke or something, you know that I ever feel and it's a thing.

 

Randy Hulsey  40:09

I agree and I, a lot of people they asked me all the time. Do you ever sleep because I'll be in the studio editing at like four o'clock in the morning like I'm just an early bird like literally, you know three hours of quiet time with nobody, you know messing with me I can get a whole lot done. So, so this single she's a fighter and waiting for your man. We're both released on KTVA records. Is that correct? That joke Giovanna mosses. Label? Yeah. Talk to me about that. Out Katie. Yeah, we relationship there.

 

Robert Jon  40:49

We went on a cruise. Joe Bonamassa. Keeping the booze alive at sea cruise. Man, what year was that? 2000 2018. I want to say, That's my guess for now. And that was great. We met a lot of people. And we met the whole Joe Bonamassa team, basically. And we just kept in touch and we got off for the next cruise and saw them again. And you know, just creating a relationship. There was nothing other than that, okay. We just like to meet people and hang out with people and enjoy people's company and talk about music. And that's it, you know? So there was there was nothing really that we were trying to do. We were just meeting people and having a good time. And so, you know, and then a few years later, we created a relationship. We, we know them and they wanted to start doing some stuff together. So we're working with them now. And it's been it's been great. It's been awesome to kind of have a team surrounding us. We're excited to move forward with, you know, even more stuff going on. Not just those two tracks. Sure.

 

Randy Hulsey  42:03

Absolutely. Did I get that right, Katie? Katie, Baa. I think that's an acronym for what? Is it? keeping them alive? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I

 

Robert Jon  42:13

actually think now it's journeyman records, journeyman records. I think they're kind of transition in between those in the meantime. Okay. Okay.

 

Randy Hulsey  42:23

And was there involvement from Joe directly with the production of your music? Or was it just the studio team that works for or KTVA

 

Robert Jon  42:37

now with those two songs, Okay, gotcha specifically. But we have done more singles this past year, with a bunch of different people that will be released that we're excited to release. So there's a lot a lot of magic,

 

Randy Hulsey  42:54

for sure. For sure. Well, I wanted to jump back kind of if we if we jump in the Time Machine, there's not much of a time machine. But if we go back to 2020 Real quick, I wanted to share a song that came off the last light on the highway record and it's a song called tired of drinking alone and let's listen to a quick clip of that and then we'll come back and chat about that one as well.

 

43:30

I'm not really worried obviously, we had to get some drinks.

 

Randy Hulsey  44:13

So that's tired of drinking alone. And so Robert, not only is another one of those hooky tunes, that has a great chorus line in it's very memorable. But there's there was also a fun video that was associated with it on on YouTube and you had cameos. I'm assuming that they're all artists and I could be wrong, but talk to the listeners a little bit because I want to make sure that the listeners go check that video out because I love that. Talk to me about the people that appear in this video. Are they all artist are there some family members friends talk to us about that?

 

Robert Jon  44:53

Yeah, I mean everyone there is a bunch of different people From artists, to family to friends to aunts and uncles to sisters and brothers to some local Orange County artists. Yeah, just everyone that we could that we could think of. We asked, okay, if they could do that. So, you know, there was a buddy from the UK was on there. I mean, yeah. AJ from lit, was on there, man, just just a ton of friends of ours, just people that, you know.

 

Randy Hulsey  45:30

So it was really just throwing a dart, Dart throwing a dart at the board. Like there was no rhyme or reason. You just said hey, will you do a cameo on on the video? Okay.

 

Robert Jon  45:40

Yeah, that's, you know, I mean, it was the song came out during COVID. We recorded the song before COVID was a thing. And so when the idea came up for the video, we we knew everyone was stuck at home. Yeah.

 

Randy Hulsey  45:57

Kind of worked out. Right. Great. A great idea. And it was funny, because I was watching it. And I'm like, wait a minute. I know that dude. Right there. So you actually had a buddy of mine that did my show with me. And I think it was season three. Clint Woolsey from stone Senate. Yeah, I was just in Nashville last month. And I was supposed to hook up with Clint and we were going to have a beer. And he was going to give me a couple of sign records. But I think somebody there the office came down with COVID or something like that. And he was worried, you know, about, you know, oh, gosh, did I did I get that? That I'm not getting it? And I'd probably rather just stay away. So we wound up just kind of not hooking up. But yeah, when I saw that, I was like, wow, there's Clint there in the video. So very great, guys, man. Yeah, really, really cool. Guys, him and James, were on my on my show together. So I had a good time with those guys. Awesome. So February 3, kicks off a big tour for you guys share the tour plans, as you know them today with the listeners, if you will be will be

 

Robert Jon  47:11

out in Europe, I think we play four or five shows in mainland Europe. And then we're off to the UK. For about 14, my numbers are probably wrong, by the way. So these are just rough. And then we head back to mainland for a few more before we head back home. So it's, you know, last time we were out there, we were out there for three months. And it was it was a very long tour. So we're looking forward to kind of getting out there and getting the getting the shows done and seeing all of our friends and having a great time getting back home.

 

Randy Hulsey  47:43

And I was gonna ask you like, is it your you have a management team that's booking you guys? Or do you Okay, so you have the management team? They call they get the shows? Yeah. What is the mindset of a band when? When they say, Okay, we're going to do a run in the UK in the Netherlands? Why go there versus say, to the east coast for East Coast run? Like, like, what's the mindset around that for for a man?

 

Robert Jon  48:13

Yeah, well, we've been, we've been going out to Europe since 2015. doing tours out there at least once a year. And then I'd say maybe since 2018, we've been going out there more than once. So we've been we've, you know, been doing our due diligence out there and, and getting back there for the fans and adding the UK to it. The UK is different than than Europe. Sure. So we we toured out there in Europe for multiple years before we even consider going to the UK. So it's kind of in the same, you know, the same mindset where, you know, this is where we've, we've put all the eggs, and we're gonna keep hitting it even hard. And now the UK is just an added beautiful place to go. And the fans have been amazing. You know, and the East Coast is where we just started dipping our toes in and so we'll be we'll be back out on the East Coast in March. We just haven't told anybody yet.

 

Randy Hulsey  49:11

Yeah. What about you have any dates planned for down south? Maybe Texas?

 

Robert Jon  49:16

I think we do. Okay, but we'll have this year this year will be probably within probably within the next six months. We'll definitely be there.

 

Randy Hulsey  49:25

Alright, well, we'll keep an eye on on the web website for sure. And I was going to ask you, you know, is it more taxing on you guys? The band to to pack up and go tour Europe in the UK and the Netherlands versus staying stateside and being on the road for the same amount of time? Did you fill it more draining or taxing to go there versus just staying here doing the same length of a tour? Or is it kind of the same? Just a different place? Yeah.

 

Robert Jon  49:56

Yeah, it's just a different different country, different place. I mean,

 

Randy Hulsey  50:00

I didn't know if the jetlag got to you and the time difference and all that if it took a kind of a little bit or

 

Robert Jon  50:07

it does, but you just suck it up and move forward.

 

Randy Hulsey  50:12

Exactly, exactly. Well, I wanted to ask you real quick what, what artists, what artists past or present, inspire or inspired your style or your writing? Or maybe none of them inspired it, but who were you listening to? As a kid? Who are you listening to now? Like, what do you what do you like these days? And if that applies to you, like if there's artists that inspire you and your writing, then you can answer that question how you won't, I just didn't know if there were artists then and now that kind of, kind of, in the form of yours kind of shaped you. Yeah,

 

Robert Jon  50:53

I mean, I think the the formidable era was just a bunch of classic rock. Okay. And I was listening to Aerosmith and Boston, and then the who and, you know, those kinds of bands, so I was enjoying what what that was, and then after that was songwriters, you know, from Ray LaMontagne to Damien Rice to famously and, and just listening to how songs were constructed. So I think, you know, growing up it was it was listening to the rock side of things and listening to the song side of things. And that's just kind of just kind of what shaped it. I mean, I to this day, I mean, I feel like every time I put a Black Crowes record on I, I, I wish there was a song I wrote that sounded like one of those. Yeah. And then certainly with Nathaniel Ratliff, I think everything he does is awesome. You know, I'm not trying to write a song that he would write. But sure, it definitely makes me want to sit down and write something, right. Yeah, I mean, I, I'm always listening to different things. And I probably listen to less music than anybody else in the band.

 

Randy Hulsey  51:58

I feel. You think that's good.

 

Robert Jon  52:01

I'll let you know in about 10 years.

 

Randy Hulsey  52:05

It's different for everybody. I I've always had this tongue in cheek joke. That and it was really true and 1989 I literally, I don't know what I got married in 89. But it was like I literally turn the radio often 89 and missed the whole grunge error missed the whole nine You think I don't know what the hell I was doing. But I say it tongue in cheek and as a as a funny more than anything. But literally for decades. I just I didn't know what was out there. I just didn't listen to the radio. And as I started playing out live shows with Chris. I said, Man, I need to learn some country stuff, I need to learn some classic rock stuff we're doing all covers, right. And some originals. But you know, it's like, you got to catch up with the times because not people love the old stuff by America, and you know, all of that stuff. But yet, they want to hear some newer stuff, too. If you haven't listened to the radio in decades, you don't even know what's new. So that was kind of a hindrance for me. So I literally had to force myself to just not really turn on the radio, but to get on Spotify and say, man who's who's even frickin popular these days. Right? So, you know, it was a it was a challenge. i Yeah, and I'm still learning it myself. And I think because I've immersed myself in the podcast, I've spoken to a ton of wonderful musicians, including yourself and listen to things that I probably would have never heard of, had I not started the podcast, I'd probably still be living in that bubble. Like that comfort, they kind of like, you know, kind of like what you're saying, like I don't, I really don't listen to music that much, right. And so So I forced myself I have to force myself to, to listen and to be a good listener. So I didn't know if there was anything, you know, we talked about what was inspiring you these days, but that's kind of my tongue in cheek story, that it's easy to turn it off. But you know, when you're especially a cover musician, you better know what's going on around here, people are gonna, you know, you're gonna lose some people that way. Whereas you're an original artist. And those are things that you don't have to worry about. You have your own set of things to worry

 

Robert Jon  54:27

about. You want to stay relevant. You know, you want to, you know, maybe be speaking on the times, you know, you don't want to always be talking about the past but um, yeah, and I mean, I, all the guys show me stuff all the time. So yeah, I'm surrounded by people who are up to date and

 

Randy Hulsey  54:46

absolutely, if you're not doing it, and as long as somebody's feeding you the information you call it good, right. Where can the listeners find you and the boys on social media? Yeah.

 

Robert Jon  54:57

Robert John, the wreck on Instagram On Facebook, that's where we update all the time, especially on tour where we're always posting what's going on and what we're doing and what's happening next. And even sometimes what we what we did in the past.

 

Randy Hulsey  55:12

Yep. Well, listen, Robert, it's it's been. It's been great chatting with you, man. I appreciate your time. I appreciate your willingness to to jump on with me. I appreciate Warren getting this set up. I wish you guys safe travels next month. Thank you across the pond there and much success on the tour. I hope the you know the success continues for you guys. As always, I ask the listeners to like, share and subscribe to the podcast. Also make sure to follow Robert and the boys on all their social media outlets, including the website, Robert John and the wreck.com. You can find my Show on Facebook at backstage pass radio podcast on Instagram at backstage pass radio, Twitter at backstage pass PC and on the website at backstage pass. radio.com You guys remember to take care of each other and yourself. And we'll see you right back here on the next episode of backstage pass radio.

 

Adam Gordon  56:16

Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you enjoyed today's episode of backstage pass radio. Make sure to follow Randy on Facebook and Instagram at Randy Halsey music and on Twitter at our Halsey music. Also make sure to like, subscribe and turn on alerts for upcoming podcasts. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to share the link with a friend and tell them backstage pass radio is the best show on the web for everything music. We'll see you next time right here on backstage pass radio