Robert Henry Wasman was born in Florida but raised in Oregon, learning the guitar by playing with his high school heavy metal band, Bigger Trigger. But his “old soul” has always been fond of classic country music, citing “the greats” like Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr. and Randy Travis as influences for his traditional meets outlaw country sound.
As leader of his own Robert Henry Band, he’s spent the last three years making the rounds of Portland-area bars and clubs, culminating in a win at the 2018 battle of the bands at the Ponderosa Lounge. He followed that up with a trip to Nashville this month to record his debut EP. And while these songs are still under wraps until summer, he also recently spent some time at Blue Heron Studio with engineer Gene Forte, and we’re proud to present “Give Me A Guitar” as part of the Our City, Our Sounds: A #PDXmusic Song A Month series.
“Give Me A Guitar” is one of the first original songs Henry has recorded, one “inspired by long nights of after-hours conversation and beer in a good friend’s auto shop.” When the 26-year-old sings, “Lord, take me back to the old times,” he means it. A history buff with a love of storytelling, you can hear him yearning for simpler times on the driving tune.
Featuring Kenny Heinz on lead guitar, Bob Littleton on steel guitar, Jake Mauro on drums and John Short on bass, delve into Henry’s old sound below.
