Album Review – Robert Henry & the Repeaters – “Down The Road”

Country (#500), Honky Tonk (#510.2) and Outlaw (#580) on the Country DDS. AI = “clean”

It seems like everyone in country music these days is trying to make some sort of bold statement. Some have caught religion. Others have caught a heavy dose of politics. Still others are adopting pseudonyms and changing up their style, or pursuing other influences outside of country, or they’re jumping on the ’90s country craze. Some of your favorite artists and bands are almost unrecognizable from what the were from even just a few years ago, and you find yourself favoring their old records when they just played the music for what seemed to be the music itself.

If a twangy, true country experience with songs that don’t make you feel stupid is what you’re sniffing around for, turn to blue collar band Robert Henry & the Repeaters out of Portland, OR. Delightfully unpretentious, and insulated from all the trend chasing back east, they’re just writing, recording, and releasing country songs and records that emulate their heroes, and come with immediate appeal. First highlighted by Saving Country Music around their 2023 album The Way It Usually Goes, the new album Down The Road doubles down on that approach to country music that’s easy to love.

Down The Road reminds you of an early Mike and the Moonpies album, but if they were fronted by Ellis Bullard with the way Robert Henry’s barrel-chested voice bursts out from his original songs. The songwriting is smart and at times even has something to say, like on the opening song “Blueberries” about the unsettled and divisiveness of American society from sea to shining sea. But you also get songs like “Always Broken” that’s just a good ol’ country heartbreak song, but one that puts a new spin on a timeless theme.

Music for music’s sake is what you find on Down The Road. The title track is just a cool road song name checking country artists from the past and present that clearly have influenced this band. You also get a good dose of heartbreak with songs like the slow tempo ode to a one-night stand, “Do It Easy,” to the more up-tempo “Wrong Side of Stupid.” “Talking to a Dreamer” is a downright heater. And the entire time, the guitar work by Justyn Lewis, and pedal steel of Trent Wakefield are spot on, smartly chasing verses with the perfect licks, and really understanding the mood each song calls for.

This album does have some of that independent, self-produced “charm” to it, so to speak. But from the lyrics by Robert Henry with some contributions from drummer Jacob Mauro, to the arrangements of the songs, there’s nothing local-feeling about this project. Bass player Matthew Douglas Haugen and fiddler Jenny Estrin also contribute to the album. Along with the original songs, The Repeaters also cover the old Buck Owens tune “Before You Go,” and “Laid Back Country Picker” made famous by Waylon Jennings.

The album also concludes with a cool succession of tracks—the first being a conversation between Robert Henry and songwriter Ron Chant, following by Robert and the Repeaters performing the song “Hardly Ever Snows in San Diego.” Ron Chant was an old Marine Corps veteran living in Washougal, Washington who became well-respected regionally for wiring songs. Robert Henry was one of a few local country musician who recorded his songs and got them played on the radio—one of Ron’s lifelong dreams. Ron Chant passed away earlier this summer.

About the only things to complain about with this album might be procedural. Though “Blueberries” is a good song and “Do It Easy” might be one of the best from the album, starting off so stripped down and slow might not suck the audience in as it would have starting off with some other tracks. So stick with Down The Road even if you start off feeling bored. Also, though short albums are kind of a blessing in this era of 20-plus-track monstrosities, it does feel like the album is missing one more song, especially with the talking interlude introducing “Hardly Ever Snows in San Diego.”

But what Down The Road is also missing is all the unnecessary baggage that seems to come with so many artists, bands, or listening experiences these days. This is one of those albums you just crank up and sink into, and let the sheer joy of good country music take over.

8.1/10