Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Card King here right come. Hello, music fans, music collectors,
and all hobbyists. Welcome to The Car King Sports and
Variety Show. I am your host, the Catman, Brian Catequit
aka the car King. We are live on ABC's k
m E T fourteen ninety a m dot com. You're
number one spot right here for news and talk on
the West Coast. I thank everyone for tuning in this
(00:34):
morning on the program. Is the leading vocalist, the guitarist
of the Southern rock band The Robert John and direc
He is the driving force behind the band's success. Hi,
welcome to the program, Robert John Barrison, Robert, thanks to
being here.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Good morning, good morning, and you know, exciting times, exciting news. Robert.
The band is gearing up for performances on the West
hosts next week and the following week. So tell us
on this tour, the West Coast Tour.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, we're we're out on the road supporting Samantha Fish,
who actually just got nominated for another Grammy.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So we're excited to be out there with her.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
She's she's a great performer and it's nice to be
playing close to home. Sometimes we do a lot of touring.
We do a lot of travel, and it's nice to
be on the West coast for once.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I mean, you mentioned Samantha Fish, and you know, I
was reading about her career, A versatile guitarist who you know,
played alongside big wig performers like Buddy Guy, John Mayer
and you know, et cetera. So you know you have
some good company there, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it should be should be great.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
We've we've crossed paths with her throughout the world a
couple of times, and it'll be great to just hit
the road and be in some clubs and and night
after night.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And also this is following the release of your new album,
Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes. Give us a little bio on
Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes. How it was put together, how
long you guys been working on it, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, we recorded it last year in Savannah, Georgia, of
all places. It was produced by Dave Cobb, who's done
a little bit of everything that people listen to every day,
you know, from Chris Stapleton to Disones, Bell and just
tons of stuff recently.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
And yeah, we went out there.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
We did a record with him, and it was a
great time to just, you know, kind of take yourself
out of out of where you are for a second.
And we just released it in late August and we're
excited to share it with everybody and then for everyone
to hear it live on this upcoming tour.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Absolutely and I read about it getting some, you know,
great reviews, and I do have a small sample that
I want to air on the radio. Let's take a
listen to a single look on Heartbreaks a Last Goodbyes
right here O k M E T Radio. Let's let's
check it out.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
The shas the spot that's only last lie cras me
out down this se this foun spot sound outside s
(04:26):
conceive the precise I can stays supporting.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
The SI And you just heard Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes
(05:25):
the ninth studio album from Robert John and the Wreck,
and on the program is Robert John. I mean it
sounds fantastic, a great voice, Robert, like I mentioned before
the program, great you know listening. If you're listening on
the radio and it's getting some fantastic reviews, what can
you tell us about the title of this new release?
(05:47):
How did you come about?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, I mean that's the title track, Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes.
You know, it's just that's track specifically just kind of
felt like the heart and soul of the record, so
we kind of went with that.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And uh, you know, I mean we're we're everyone goes
throughout life.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
You know, and sometimes there's heartbreak and you just kind
of sometimes you just got to let go and and
move forward. So that's what that tracks about. And and
and uh, yeah, it's it's our ninth record. We're excited
to get it out there to the ears and people
and uh especially down here in southern California because's where
we're all from.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
And Robert for my listening audience, which is, uh, you
know a lot of people listening this morning. Where can
they go ahead and purchase this track? Give us that
information if you.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Have it, Yeah, I mean all of wherever you wherever
you listen to music, I mean Apple Music, Spotify, uh, YouTube,
You can get the physical records at at our website
Robert John andthreck dot com.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
That's Robert John, j o En and the recw R
e c K dot com.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
And yeah, we'll be we'll be out in Fontana, uh
this this coming week a week from today, I believe,
and out in Santa Ana, California, next Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
So we're excited.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And Robert give us a little, you know, a little
information about the band. You know mentioned the band members.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, yeah, we have Andrew Spatman on the drums.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
We have Warren Merle on the bass, Jacob Abernathy on
the keys, and Henry James on the guitar. And we
are a five piece band based out of Coasta, Basic, California.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And you know, I want to touch you know, I
want to touch bass a little bit about your early
beginnings in music. I understand that music was always in
your household, especially from your dad. Now, your dad was
big on Oak Ridge Boys and the Gaither Brothers, is
that correct?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Yeah? Yeah, the old old quartet gospel type stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Now is that how you So, how did you build
your chops? Like? Is this something that you knew you
wanted to do at an early age? No?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I mean I just grew up playing the piano and
learning you know, three chords on the guitar, and so
it was it was just music.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
You know, music was around.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
From a young age, but it wasn't until you know,
like mid high school, maybe even after high school, kind
of diving a little deeper into things and trying to
figure out what that looks like. And then, you know,
and then college hits and you're like, well, I don't
want to do this. I want to go out and
play music and go on tour and make no money.
So at that time, you know, I kind of just
(08:26):
dropped everything from the college side and just hit the
road and played coffee shops and do whatever I could
just to be able to play music. So enjoying still being.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Able to do that.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
So Robert John and the Wreck now the group began
in twenty eleven. Yes, So how would you say, like,
I'm assuming because I'm not in the you know, music business.
I'm not an entertainer, But there must have been a
lot of competition competition out there in your neck of
the woods when you first got started. You know, how
did you take that into consideration, Like what did you like,
(08:58):
how would you guys stand out as far as your
competition is concerned.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, you know, I mean, we we didn't think about
it as competition as much as camaraderie. We we we
just would try to, you know, meet the other bands
and in the scene and play together and and become
friends and and learn from each other. We always try
to just add as much excitement and and power and
uh it's an easy word, but but fun to the shows,
(09:26):
make them exciting and uh, you know, hit hard, and
that's what we try to do in the early stages
and we still try to do now.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Now.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
We just try to, you know, make sure we play
a little better than we used to instead of just
a sloppy little rock and roll band. But uh, yeah,
you know, it's it's it's uh, we're all in it together.
Everyone that's playing music on the road is doing it
together for the most part. So we we just try
to be good people, make friends and and learn from
(09:56):
each other along the road.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
It's like, like we mentioned two thousand of having the
band began, and you must have seen a lot of changes,
you know, the last ten fifteen years in the music industry.
What would you say is the biggest change that you've witnessed.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I mean, I think that one of the biggest changes
was is just you know, from the beginning of just
trying to get out there and playing shows and playing
everywhere we could and every night we could, and that's
the only thing we thought about is how do we
get that next show? And now there's a lot of
you know, what's the next post that we're doing or
are we are we up to date on the internet
(10:30):
side of things, you know, which was not a it
wasn't a thought back then. You know, we were just
trying to get out there and play, which we are
still trying to do.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
But you know, as you keep.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Growing, there's just certain certain avenues that you keep thinking about.
You know, what's the what are we posting on here?
How do we how are people learning about this thing?
You know, we still try to put up flyers, we
still do all the old school stuff as well as
you know, making sure people across the internet know what's
going on as well.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So it's just a it's a moving moving.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Target and you know, Robert, you know, I'm just thinking
about this. You know, probably one of the hardest things
to do in your profession is to find that catch,
you know, to find that hook when you're writing a song.
Would you agree with that? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Yeah, I mean when you're in the writing room and
and and you sing something that that you that you
know could be good, you just you save that and
work off that because that that kind of stuff doesn't
happen every time. And then that's a special moment when
you when you hit something that that you can remember.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
And you you've performed alongside many legendary artists. Give us
some of the you know, some of the performers you
played alongside with.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Oh, man, I wish I had the list in front
of me that really.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Stand out, some that really stand out, that are memorable.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, I mean we've we've we've played on on the
same stage as Joe Bonamasa, who's a huge, uh you know,
blues legend in and of itself. You know, we've shared
the stage with Man the rival Sons, who are a
so cal legends every I mean from you know, Buddy.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Guy and.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Peter Frampton who stared the stage with and and man.
The list, the list goes on, and I'm sure I'm
forgetting plenty of people.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, you know, like it's it's amazing. I mean, you
know this this doesn't you know, I don't know if
this this talent comes naturally. But like what is the
creative process? Like, I mean, you guys sit down, you
put your heads together and try to you know, you
jam until something originates. Is that how it works.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yeah, yeah, I mean a lot of the time we're
just it's just the five of us in a room
and we're throwing throwing stuff out there. You know, maybe
all of us have different ideas that we've come up
with at home, and we get in the room and
just see something sparks. I mean, when you're throw in
multiple ears into a room, you know, someone else could
hear something that you never heard. You know, you could
you could play two notes and then someone's like, oh
(13:03):
that reminds me of this. That'd be cool.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
So it's a it's really cohesive and really together as
a band kind of trying to create that together.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
And we're talking with Robert John from Robert John and
Derec And as we mentioned, the upcoming West Coast tour
is approaching. I just want to mention some of these
spots that you guys are performing at next week November thirteenth,
The Sound del Mar, California, November fourteenth, World Records, Bakersfield, California,
(13:33):
November fifteenth, Stage Red Fontana, November sixteenth. You can catch
Robert John and Direct Santa Ana, California at the Observatory
November eighteenth, Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, and then you're playing
at the Fillmore in San Francisco. I mean that's a
classic spot November nineteenth.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Yeah, yeah, we're really excited about that. Just we saw
the dates and we were like wait, wait, wait a second.
So yeah, be pretty incredible.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Right, And you guys, from what I'm reading, the band
is currently riding Awave in a momentum. Your fresh. You're
fresh off the major European summer tour you just had, right.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Yeah, yeah, we're you know, kind of gearing into the
holidays now. So we got this West Coast run and
then we're home for the holidays and then we started
all again. We head back to the East Coast of
February and back out to Europe in April. So yeah,
it doesn't stop. The fan keeps moving.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
My god, it So how is the European summer tour?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
That's great. It's great to be out in Europe. The
UK and mainland Europe have treated us really well and
it's great out there.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Can't beat it, and you guys are accepted out there.
They really they really groove to the music you're performing.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Yeah yeah, yeah, we kind of we kind of put
a lot of eggs in that basket a long time ago,
and we've been touring out there since about twenty fourteen,
you know, starting slow and moving on up out there
twenty fourteen.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Just give us a sense about your very first album,
because you know, I want my listening audience to really
know about the band. So, your first major album was
titled what.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
The first major album was titled Glory Bound. We had
an album out before that that we don't consider the
major one. But Glory Bound came out in twenty fifteen,
and we we came out with a record in twenty
eleven called Fire Started, so that that didn't really answer
your question, did it. The first time we came out
(15:33):
with major record is Fire Started.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Fire Started. So that was your first major your first
major release, and after that was was what.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Glory Bound. I don't have a list, Sorry, my son's
yelling at me. Oh okay, okay, one sec buddy. Glory Bound. Yeah,
that was the one that we pushed hard.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
We got we got you know, people listen to people
heard it and it kind of got us in the
door out in Europe as well as certain parts of
the States.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
All Right, So the the website is Robert Johnandirect dot com.
And before I let you go, Robert, any anything you
want to add.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
We just started.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
We were excited to see everybody at the shows. We're
finally on the West coast, hasn't happened in a while,
so we're just excited to see old friends, new friends,
and just come on to the shows. We'd love to
meet everybody and feel the energy.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
In that room.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Thank you so much, Robert, I really appreciate a few
minutes of your time.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Take care of yourself. Jeez, bye bye, Robert John Burrison
of Robert John and Direct. And let's mention the website
Robert Johnandirect dot com. We got the upcoming band's tour
on the West Coast approaching November. I want to just
mention these dates. November thirteenth. It begins to sound del Mar, California,
(17:00):
and I have a few minutes left, so I want
to mention some of these dates and tours of the
band's upcoming shows November fourteenth, as I mentioned, World Records, Bakersfield, California,
November fifteenth, Stage Red, you can catch Robert John and
Direct Stage Red, Fontana, California. Robert John and Direct will
be also performing November sixteenth, as I mentioned on the Observatory,
(17:21):
Santa Anna, California. November eighteenth, Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, California,
November eighteenth, you can catch Robert John and Derec and
of course the film Moore as I've just mentioned, San Francisco, California,
November nineteenth. They'll be performing there. November twentieth, Felton Music Hall, Felton, California.
(17:42):
November twenty second, The Crocodile in Seattle, Washington. Robert John
and Direct will be in Seattle, Washington November twenty second.
November twenty third Aladdin Theater, Portland, Oregon. You can catch
Robert John and Direct November twenty fourth, ben or again
at the Tower Theater then twenty twenty six. Busy schedule,
(18:05):
it it seems just looking at the tour schedule. January
eighth at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, Arizona. January ninth,
twenty twenty six the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
And I hope everyone listening will write these dates down
and catch this band performing live, because I tell you
(18:26):
they sound fantastic. They sound great, very energetic, January tenth,
twenty twenty six, one ninety one two in Tucson, Arizona.
You can catch Robert John and Direct there. February twenty if,
twenty twenty six, My birthday, Bonita Springs, Florida, Centers for
the Arts of Bonita Springs. You can catch Robert John
(18:48):
and Direct performing there. February twenty first at Heartwood Soundstage, Gainesville, Florida.
They'll be performing there. February twenty second, twenty twenty, they'll
be performing at the Doctor Phillips Center for the Performing
Arts in Florida, Orlando. And then February twenty three through
the twenty seventh the Rock Legends Cruise. That should be fun.
(19:13):
Then Fort Lauderdale, Florida Rock Legends Cruise twenty twenty sixth.
From February twenty third to February twenty seventh, they'll be
performing there. Ponta Vedra Concert Hall, Poonta Vedra Beach, Florida,
February twenty seventh, twenty twenty sixth.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Then it goes into March. They'll be they have a
busy schedule. Cravis Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, March first,
twenty twenty sixth they'll be performing there March third, twenty
twenty sixth Charleston Poorhouse, Charleston, South Carolina, South Carolina, Charleston,
South Carolina, Charleston Poorhouse March third, and then March fourth,
(19:52):
twenty twenty sixth. I hope everyone's writing this down to
catch Robert John and Direct their energetic live performances their
tour approaching. March fourth, twenty twenty six. They'll be performing
at the forty Watch Club Athens, Georgia, March fifth, twenty
twenty six. Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte, North Carolina, March seventh, twenty
(20:14):
twenty six. Diana warth Haam Theater, Ashfield, North Carolina, March eight,
twenty twenty six. To Franklin Theater in Franklin, Tennessee. So
you can see they're obviously traveling the country. Franklin Theater
in Franklin, Tennessee, March eight, twenty twenty six. March tenth,
twenty twenty six at the Mercury Ballroom, Louisville, Kentucky. Robert
(20:37):
John and Direct will be there. March eleventh, twenty twenty six.
Off to Chicago, Illinois. At the chop Shop. You can
catch Robert John and Direct there the Sovereign in Saint Louis, Missouri,
March twelfth, twenty twenty six. According to their hectic busy schedule.
Here you can catch Robert John and Direct the Sovereign
(21:00):
Saint Louis, Missouri, March twelfth, twenty twenty six. You can
catch them in Kansas City, Missouri Knuckleheads at Knucklehead's Venue
March thirteenth, twenty twenty six. So all my listeners around
the country, all my listeners, I hope you're jotting this
down to catch live performances by Robert John and Derek.
I hope everyone's writing this down and you got to
(21:22):
see them live in concert. You can check out their videos.
They sound fantastic and I great reviews on their newest release,
which we just played here earlier March fourteenth at Beer
City Music Hall, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They'll be performing there
March fourteenth, twenty twenty six. April tenth to the twelfth,
This should be very interesting. At Joe Bonamasa's sound Wave
(21:46):
Beach Weekend twenty twenty six, April tenth through the twelfth,
Mirramar Beach, Florida, you can catch Robert John and the
wreck there those three days to eleventh twelfth, April tenth, eleven,
twelfth Miramar Beach at John Bonamasa's sound Wave Beach weekend
(22:07):
twenty twenty six and you can catch them. And then
they're off to the United Kingdom in April April fourteenth,
twenty twenty six at Herne Bay, United Kingdom. Wow, they're
doing England April fifteenth the Newcastle upon Tyne in the
United Kingdom the Wilm Brewery Tap. So this is a
(22:29):
very hectic schedule from Robert John and Direct, which is
they're coming off their European tour which we just mentioned.
And again for everyone listening, the website is Robert Johnandirect
dot com where you can check out their merchandise. You
can check out their newest release which is titled which
(22:51):
we just played earlier, Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes. And for
those just tuning into the program, we aired a little
sample of heart Breaks and Last Goodbyes a few minutes ago,
so if you missed. If you missed it, you can
always go back to the podcast episode of this show
and check out that track. Uh fantastic voice and it
(23:13):
sounds tremendous on radio. So the newest release again Heartbreaks
and last goodbyes by Robert John and Direct. The website
is Robert Johnandirect dot com and you can uh check
out their tour and you can shop online at their
website and all that jazz. So I appreciate the time
and to everyone will take. We'll see you next week.
(23:34):
Happy collecting to all
Card King here right come. Hello, music fans, music collectors,
and all hobbyists. Welcome to The Car King Sports and
Variety Show. I am your host, the Catman, Brian Catequit
aka the car King. We are live on ABC's k
m E T fourteen ninety a m dot com. You're
number one spot right here for news and talk on
the West Coast. I thank everyone for tuning in this
(00:34):
morning on the program. Is the leading vocalist, the guitarist
of the Southern rock band The Robert John and direc
He is the driving force behind the band's success. Hi,
welcome to the program, Robert John Barrison, Robert, thanks to
being here.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Good morning, good morning, and you know, exciting times, exciting news. Robert.
The band is gearing up for performances on the West
hosts next week and the following week. So tell us
on this tour, the West Coast Tour.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, we're we're out on the road supporting Samantha Fish,
who actually just got nominated for another Grammy.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So we're excited to be out there with her.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
She's she's a great performer and it's nice to be
playing close to home. Sometimes we do a lot of touring.
We do a lot of travel, and it's nice to
be on the West coast for once.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I mean, you mentioned Samantha Fish, and you know, I
was reading about her career, A versatile guitarist who you know,
played alongside big wig performers like Buddy Guy, John Mayer
and you know, et cetera. So you know you have
some good company there, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it should be should be great.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
We've we've crossed paths with her throughout the world a
couple of times, and it'll be great to just hit
the road and be in some clubs and and night
after night.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And also this is following the release of your new album,
Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes. Give us a little bio on
Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes. How it was put together, how
long you guys been working on it, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, we recorded it last year in Savannah, Georgia, of
all places. It was produced by Dave Cobb, who's done
a little bit of everything that people listen to every day,
you know, from Chris Stapleton to Disones, Bell and just
tons of stuff recently.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
And yeah, we went out there.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
We did a record with him, and it was a
great time to just, you know, kind of take yourself
out of out of where you are for a second.
And we just released it in late August and we're
excited to share it with everybody and then for everyone
to hear it live on this upcoming tour.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Absolutely and I read about it getting some, you know,
great reviews, and I do have a small sample that
I want to air on the radio. Let's take a
listen to a single look on Heartbreaks a Last Goodbyes
right here O k M E T Radio. Let's let's
check it out.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
The shas the spot that's only last lie cras me
out down this se this foun spot sound outside s
(04:26):
conceive the precise I can stays supporting.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
The SI And you just heard Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes
(05:25):
the ninth studio album from Robert John and the Wreck,
and on the program is Robert John. I mean it
sounds fantastic, a great voice, Robert, like I mentioned before
the program, great you know listening. If you're listening on
the radio and it's getting some fantastic reviews, what can
you tell us about the title of this new release?
(05:47):
How did you come about?
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, I mean that's the title track, Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes.
You know, it's just that's track specifically just kind of
felt like the heart and soul of the record, so
we kind of went with that.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And uh, you know, I mean we're we're everyone goes
throughout life.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
You know, and sometimes there's heartbreak and you just kind
of sometimes you just got to let go and and
move forward. So that's what that tracks about. And and
and uh, yeah, it's it's our ninth record. We're excited
to get it out there to the ears and people
and uh especially down here in southern California because's where
we're all from.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
And Robert for my listening audience, which is, uh, you
know a lot of people listening this morning. Where can
they go ahead and purchase this track? Give us that
information if you.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Have it, Yeah, I mean all of wherever you wherever
you listen to music, I mean Apple Music, Spotify, uh, YouTube,
You can get the physical records at at our website
Robert John andthreck dot com.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
That's Robert John, j o En and the recw R
e c K dot com.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
And yeah, we'll be we'll be out in Fontana, uh
this this coming week a week from today, I believe,
and out in Santa Ana, California, next Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
So we're excited.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And Robert give us a little, you know, a little
information about the band. You know mentioned the band members.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, yeah, we have Andrew Spatman on the drums.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
We have Warren Merle on the bass, Jacob Abernathy on
the keys, and Henry James on the guitar. And we
are a five piece band based out of Coasta, Basic, California.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And you know, I want to touch you know, I
want to touch bass a little bit about your early
beginnings in music. I understand that music was always in
your household, especially from your dad. Now, your dad was
big on Oak Ridge Boys and the Gaither Brothers, is
that correct?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Yeah? Yeah, the old old quartet gospel type stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Now is that how you So, how did you build
your chops? Like? Is this something that you knew you
wanted to do at an early age? No?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
I mean I just grew up playing the piano and
learning you know, three chords on the guitar, and so
it was it was just music.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
You know, music was around.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
From a young age, but it wasn't until you know,
like mid high school, maybe even after high school, kind
of diving a little deeper into things and trying to
figure out what that looks like. And then, you know,
and then college hits and you're like, well, I don't
want to do this. I want to go out and
play music and go on tour and make no money.
So at that time, you know, I kind of just
(08:26):
dropped everything from the college side and just hit the
road and played coffee shops and do whatever I could
just to be able to play music. So enjoying still being.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Able to do that.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
So Robert John and the Wreck now the group began
in twenty eleven. Yes, So how would you say, like,
I'm assuming because I'm not in the you know, music business.
I'm not an entertainer, But there must have been a
lot of competition competition out there in your neck of
the woods when you first got started. You know, how
did you take that into consideration, Like what did you like,
(08:58):
how would you guys stand out as far as your
competition is concerned.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, you know, I mean, we we didn't think about
it as competition as much as camaraderie. We we we
just would try to, you know, meet the other bands
and in the scene and play together and and become
friends and and learn from each other. We always try
to just add as much excitement and and power and
uh it's an easy word, but but fun to the shows,
(09:26):
make them exciting and uh, you know, hit hard, and
that's what we try to do in the early stages
and we still try to do now.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Now.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
We just try to, you know, make sure we play
a little better than we used to instead of just
a sloppy little rock and roll band. But uh, yeah,
you know, it's it's it's uh, we're all in it together.
Everyone that's playing music on the road is doing it
together for the most part. So we we just try
to be good people, make friends and and learn from
(09:56):
each other along the road.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
It's like, like we mentioned two thousand of having the
band began, and you must have seen a lot of changes,
you know, the last ten fifteen years in the music industry.
What would you say is the biggest change that you've witnessed.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I mean, I think that one of the biggest changes
was is just you know, from the beginning of just
trying to get out there and playing shows and playing
everywhere we could and every night we could, and that's
the only thing we thought about is how do we
get that next show? And now there's a lot of
you know, what's the next post that we're doing or
are we are we up to date on the internet
(10:30):
side of things, you know, which was not a it
wasn't a thought back then. You know, we were just
trying to get out there and play, which we are
still trying to do.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
But you know, as you keep.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Growing, there's just certain certain avenues that you keep thinking about.
You know, what's the what are we posting on here?
How do we how are people learning about this thing?
You know, we still try to put up flyers, we
still do all the old school stuff as well as
you know, making sure people across the internet know what's
going on as well.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So it's just a it's a moving moving.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Target and you know, Robert, you know, I'm just thinking
about this. You know, probably one of the hardest things
to do in your profession is to find that catch,
you know, to find that hook when you're writing a song.
Would you agree with that? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Yeah, I mean when you're in the writing room and
and and you sing something that that you that you
know could be good, you just you save that and
work off that because that that kind of stuff doesn't
happen every time. And then that's a special moment when
you when you hit something that that you can remember.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
And you you've performed alongside many legendary artists. Give us
some of the you know, some of the performers you
played alongside with.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Oh, man, I wish I had the list in front
of me that really.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Stand out, some that really stand out, that are memorable.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, I mean we've we've we've played on on the
same stage as Joe Bonamasa, who's a huge, uh you know,
blues legend in and of itself. You know, we've shared
the stage with Man the rival Sons, who are a
so cal legends every I mean from you know, Buddy.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Guy and.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Peter Frampton who stared the stage with and and man.
The list, the list goes on, and I'm sure I'm
forgetting plenty of people.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, you know, like it's it's amazing. I mean, you
know this this doesn't you know, I don't know if
this this talent comes naturally. But like what is the
creative process? Like, I mean, you guys sit down, you
put your heads together and try to you know, you
jam until something originates. Is that how it works.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Yeah, yeah, I mean a lot of the time we're
just it's just the five of us in a room
and we're throwing throwing stuff out there. You know, maybe
all of us have different ideas that we've come up
with at home, and we get in the room and
just see something sparks. I mean, when you're throw in
multiple ears into a room, you know, someone else could
hear something that you never heard. You know, you could
you could play two notes and then someone's like, oh
(13:03):
that reminds me of this. That'd be cool.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
So it's a it's really cohesive and really together as
a band kind of trying to create that together.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
And we're talking with Robert John from Robert John and
Derec And as we mentioned, the upcoming West Coast tour
is approaching. I just want to mention some of these
spots that you guys are performing at next week November thirteenth,
The Sound del Mar, California, November fourteenth, World Records, Bakersfield, California,
(13:33):
November fifteenth, Stage Red Fontana, November sixteenth. You can catch
Robert John and Direct Santa Ana, California at the Observatory
November eighteenth, Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, and then you're playing
at the Fillmore in San Francisco. I mean that's a
classic spot November nineteenth.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Yeah, yeah, we're really excited about that. Just we saw
the dates and we were like wait, wait, wait a second.
So yeah, be pretty incredible.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Right, And you guys, from what I'm reading, the band
is currently riding Awave in a momentum. Your fresh. You're
fresh off the major European summer tour you just had, right.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Yeah, yeah, we're you know, kind of gearing into the
holidays now. So we got this West Coast run and
then we're home for the holidays and then we started
all again. We head back to the East Coast of
February and back out to Europe in April. So yeah,
it doesn't stop. The fan keeps moving.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
My god, it So how is the European summer tour?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
That's great. It's great to be out in Europe. The
UK and mainland Europe have treated us really well and
it's great out there.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Can't beat it, and you guys are accepted out there.
They really they really groove to the music you're performing.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Yeah yeah, yeah, we kind of we kind of put
a lot of eggs in that basket a long time ago,
and we've been touring out there since about twenty fourteen,
you know, starting slow and moving on up out there
twenty fourteen.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Just give us a sense about your very first album,
because you know, I want my listening audience to really
know about the band. So, your first major album was
titled what.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
The first major album was titled Glory Bound. We had
an album out before that that we don't consider the
major one. But Glory Bound came out in twenty fifteen,
and we we came out with a record in twenty
eleven called Fire Started, so that that didn't really answer
your question, did it. The first time we came out
(15:33):
with major record is Fire Started.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Fire Started. So that was your first major your first
major release, and after that was was what.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Glory Bound. I don't have a list, Sorry, my son's
yelling at me. Oh okay, okay, one sec buddy. Glory Bound. Yeah,
that was the one that we pushed hard.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
We got we got you know, people listen to people
heard it and it kind of got us in the
door out in Europe as well as certain parts of
the States.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
All Right, So the the website is Robert Johnandirect dot com.
And before I let you go, Robert, any anything you
want to add.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
We just started.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
We were excited to see everybody at the shows. We're
finally on the West coast, hasn't happened in a while,
so we're just excited to see old friends, new friends,
and just come on to the shows. We'd love to
meet everybody and feel the energy.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
In that room.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Thank you so much, Robert, I really appreciate a few
minutes of your time.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Take care of yourself. Jeez, bye bye, Robert John Burrison
of Robert John and Direct. And let's mention the website
Robert Johnandirect dot com. We got the upcoming band's tour
on the West Coast approaching November. I want to just
mention these dates. November thirteenth. It begins to sound del Mar, California,
(17:00):
and I have a few minutes left, so I want
to mention some of these dates and tours of the
band's upcoming shows November fourteenth, as I mentioned, World Records, Bakersfield, California,
November fifteenth, Stage Red, you can catch Robert John and
Direct Stage Red, Fontana, California. Robert John and Direct will
be also performing November sixteenth, as I mentioned on the Observatory,
(17:21):
Santa Anna, California. November eighteenth, Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, California,
November eighteenth, you can catch Robert John and Derec and
of course the film Moore as I've just mentioned, San Francisco, California,
November nineteenth. They'll be performing there. November twentieth, Felton Music Hall, Felton, California.
(17:42):
November twenty second, The Crocodile in Seattle, Washington. Robert John
and Direct will be in Seattle, Washington November twenty second.
November twenty third Aladdin Theater, Portland, Oregon. You can catch
Robert John and Direct November twenty fourth, ben or again
at the Tower Theater then twenty twenty six. Busy schedule,
(18:05):
it it seems just looking at the tour schedule. January
eighth at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, Arizona. January ninth,
twenty twenty six the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
And I hope everyone listening will write these dates down
and catch this band performing live, because I tell you
(18:26):
they sound fantastic. They sound great, very energetic, January tenth,
twenty twenty six, one ninety one two in Tucson, Arizona.
You can catch Robert John and Direct there. February twenty if,
twenty twenty six, My birthday, Bonita Springs, Florida, Centers for
the Arts of Bonita Springs. You can catch Robert John
(18:48):
and Direct performing there. February twenty first at Heartwood Soundstage, Gainesville, Florida.
They'll be performing there. February twenty second, twenty twenty, they'll
be performing at the Doctor Phillips Center for the Performing
Arts in Florida, Orlando. And then February twenty three through
the twenty seventh the Rock Legends Cruise. That should be fun.
(19:13):
Then Fort Lauderdale, Florida Rock Legends Cruise twenty twenty sixth.
From February twenty third to February twenty seventh, they'll be
performing there. Ponta Vedra Concert Hall, Poonta Vedra Beach, Florida,
February twenty seventh, twenty twenty sixth.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Then it goes into March. They'll be they have a
busy schedule. Cravis Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, March first,
twenty twenty sixth they'll be performing there March third, twenty
twenty sixth Charleston Poorhouse, Charleston, South Carolina, South Carolina, Charleston,
South Carolina, Charleston Poorhouse March third, and then March fourth,
(19:52):
twenty twenty sixth. I hope everyone's writing this down to
catch Robert John and Direct their energetic live performances their
tour approaching. March fourth, twenty twenty six. They'll be performing
at the forty Watch Club Athens, Georgia, March fifth, twenty
twenty six. Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte, North Carolina, March seventh, twenty
(20:14):
twenty six. Diana warth Haam Theater, Ashfield, North Carolina, March eight,
twenty twenty six. To Franklin Theater in Franklin, Tennessee. So
you can see they're obviously traveling the country. Franklin Theater
in Franklin, Tennessee, March eight, twenty twenty six. March tenth,
twenty twenty six at the Mercury Ballroom, Louisville, Kentucky. Robert
(20:37):
John and Direct will be there. March eleventh, twenty twenty six.
Off to Chicago, Illinois. At the chop Shop. You can
catch Robert John and Direct there the Sovereign in Saint Louis, Missouri,
March twelfth, twenty twenty six. According to their hectic busy schedule.
Here you can catch Robert John and Direct the Sovereign
(21:00):
Saint Louis, Missouri, March twelfth, twenty twenty six. You can
catch them in Kansas City, Missouri Knuckleheads at Knucklehead's Venue
March thirteenth, twenty twenty six. So all my listeners around
the country, all my listeners, I hope you're jotting this
down to catch live performances by Robert John and Derek.
I hope everyone's writing this down and you got to
(21:22):
see them live in concert. You can check out their videos.
They sound fantastic and I great reviews on their newest release,
which we just played here earlier March fourteenth at Beer
City Music Hall, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They'll be performing there
March fourteenth, twenty twenty six. April tenth to the twelfth,
This should be very interesting. At Joe Bonamasa's sound Wave
(21:46):
Beach Weekend twenty twenty six, April tenth through the twelfth,
Mirramar Beach, Florida, you can catch Robert John and the
wreck there those three days to eleventh twelfth, April tenth, eleven,
twelfth Miramar Beach at John Bonamasa's sound Wave Beach weekend
(22:07):
twenty twenty six and you can catch them. And then
they're off to the United Kingdom in April April fourteenth,
twenty twenty six at Herne Bay, United Kingdom. Wow, they're
doing England April fifteenth the Newcastle upon Tyne in the
United Kingdom the Wilm Brewery Tap. So this is a
(22:29):
very hectic schedule from Robert John and Direct, which is
they're coming off their European tour which we just mentioned.
And again for everyone listening, the website is Robert Johnandirect
dot com where you can check out their merchandise. You
can check out their newest release which is titled which
(22:51):
we just played earlier, Heartbreaks and Last Goodbyes. And for
those just tuning into the program, we aired a little
sample of heart Breaks and Last Goodbyes a few minutes ago,
so if you missed. If you missed it, you can
always go back to the podcast episode of this show
and check out that track. Uh fantastic voice and it
(23:13):
sounds tremendous on radio. So the newest release again Heartbreaks
and last goodbyes by Robert John and Direct. The website
is Robert Johnandirect dot com and you can uh check
out their tour and you can shop online at their
website and all that jazz. So I appreciate the time
and to everyone will take. We'll see you next week.
(23:34):
Happy collecting to all
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