O2 Oxford Academy is a venue worth visiting for live music, given its accessible, friendly staff and atmosphere, with good views of the stage, as well as screens at the back if you wanted to stay by the bar/sound desk and not be up too close. Tonight I wanted to see Robert Jon & The Wreck again, who I had last seen and heard in Portsmouth with Brave Rival as their energetic support.

This time their support were the successful, accomplished band These Wicked Rivers. Showcasing their 2026 Album 'Fire and Folklore', you’d easily be forgiven for thinking that this UK band are from the USA! Such is their fluency in their American Southern Rock and Blues Rock style. Formed in 2014, their 2024 album 'Force of Nature' reached number 3 on the UK Rock Chart, while their aforementioned latest is set to a rising trajectory towards success.

With John Harwell on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, I was wrapped around watching Arran Day's fine, intense lead guitar, grooves and moves, who was every inch the Rock guitarist with the licks, as well as especially late on in their set, on his double-headed guitar. Indeed, Day’s showmanship complemented Harwell’s more intense lead guitar work and vocals, while Dan Southall drummed with similar intensity, complemented by the unfussy, under elaborate tonality of Rich Wilson's keyboards.

Their set proceeded seamlessly, each number segueing easily into the next, albeit sparse on numbers, but were all performed with extended guitar play. Tonight's positive entertainment tone was set by their opener and crowd pleaser, 'Blame It On The Whiskey', followed by 'Black Gold', 'Ain’t No Smoke', 'Love to Love', 'Brother Oh Brother', 'Horse to Water' and 'Don’t Pray for Me'. Indeed, all delighted, oozing Melodic Rock as well as that transatlantic, smoother, sunnier Rock style. Enjoyable and translatable across Europe and beyond, These Wicked Rivers continue with their Fire and Folklore UK tour up and till mid-December.

A perfect pairing of bands, next up were headliner's, Robert Jon & The Wreck, with this O2 Oxford Academy date being the last one on their latest UK tour. Indeed, they made sure that the audience knew this, the band later on demanding that they out sing their previous five UK audiences on 2020's deservedly popular 'Oh Miss Carolina', with its almost anthemic chorus. The venue’s sound was also crisp and clean, thus giving this quintet a great opportunity to shine with their entire set.

An amalgam of their now substantive discography, 'Blame It On The Whiskey', with its searing lyrics and smooth US Southern coast Rock sound set the pace, before unfolding into a full on Rock, Blues Rock set. Harmonic slick lead guitar grooves intertwined with the strong, hearty and soul infused vocals of the dominant Robert Jon Burrison on lead vocals and guitar, complemented by Henry James Schneekluth on guitar and backing vocals, powerhouse performer Warren Murrel on bass guitar, the super keys of Jake Abernathie, plus Andrew Espantman's tight drumbeats.

The title track of their 2025 album 'Heartbreak &  Last Goodbye' featured alongside 'Dark Angel' and 'Long Gone'. I also loved 'Don’t Let Me Go' from their 2020 Album 'Last Night On The Highway', with its Rock filled, full on anthemic Hard core Rock, meets ramped up, guitar Rock, sonic vulnerability. Performed with accomplished positive ease, style and upbeat soulful positivity, 'Ballad Of A Broken Hearted Man', demonstrated where this band so super score, as their combo of dynamism live on stage, met an honest, framed, masculine sound and lyricality, about life, love and loss.

Robert Jon & The Wreck this was a great gig! Through to the end of this year and early 2027, go and enjoy next your extended European tour, followed by USA and Mexico. Until the next time!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester