Believe it or not: a concert review! Donavon Frankenreiter, Matt Costa, and Iris and The Shade at The Coach House

Donavon Frankenreiter and his terrific band at
The Coach House on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Before arriving at The Coach House last night, Thursday, May 6, 2021, it had been 420 days since I was last at the concert venue - or any concert house for that matter! Way back on March 12, 2020, I caught legendary bluesman Buddy Guy at the San Juan Capistrano, CA venue (you can read a review of that concert event HERE). That was my last taste of live music before the coronavirus pandemic put the brakes on live entertainment and just about everything else for more than a year in Southern California.

When ace photographer-good friend Bob Steshetz alerted me that we were good to go to cover the first night of singer-songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter's four-night highly-anticipated run at The Coach House, needless to say he didn't have to ask me twice. While the Coach House has to currently limit the capacity to approximately 250 concertgoers a night, it was wonderful to say "Hi" to owner Gary Folgner (who has owned and operated the venue since its opening back in 1980) and many of long-time employees who work there. Dating back to its first decade of operation, I have witnessed some of the best concerts of my life at The Coach House. Performances featuring guitar hero Alvin Lee (of Ten Years After fame), The Smithereens, The Call, Fountains of Wayne, Peter Frampton, Americana great Michael Ubaldini, singer-songwriter-guitarist Walter Trout, Rosanne Cash, dada, Aimee Mann, Bruce Cockburn, The Grays, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Zombies and Leon Russell, and aforementioned Buddy Guy immediately come to mind. 

Donavon Frankenreiter at The Coach House.

Just getting to catch an actual concert after 14 months was exciting enough, but the fact that the music making was so strong made the night all the more special. Having been raised in Mission Viejo, surfer-turned singer-songwriter Frankenreiter knew he had the hometown crowd behind him when he took the stage with his two-man band (bassist-harmonica master Matt Gundy and drummer Jara Harris). Blending rock, pop, blues, folk, jam rock and even jazz, Frankenreiter and company's sonic approach soared throughout a 90-minute set.

From left, Donavon Frankenreiter, Matt Gundy and
Jara Harris at The Coach House on May 6, 2021.

Many of Frankenreiter's most beloved originals filled the set; early highlights included the lovely jazz sortie "On My Mind," the jazz-rock-funk fusion "Move By Yourself" (featuring Frankenreiter delivering up an extended guitar solo), the affecting folk rock cut "It Don't Matter To Me" (bolstered by Frankenreiter's guitar lines artfully mirroring his vocal melody and sweet blues harmonica play from Gundy) and the infectious rocker "You're High."

The momentum of the set continued to pick up speed, with the in-tune audience cheering on the trio. The playful "Big Wave," Southern rock-mining "Could Be One Of Those Days," surf rock jam "Heading Home" and funk-blues gem "That's Too Bad" were late-set standouts.

His energetic set ended with him inviting both of the night's opening acts on stage to join in for a spirited cover of The Band's 1968 classic "The Weight."

Iris and The Shade performing at The Coach House.

Orange County duo Iris and The Shade features, from left,
Alexandra Davis and Chase Perkowski.

Concertgoers attending the event were treated to not one, but two compelling openers. Kicking off the night was the rising young duo from Dana Point, CA, Iris and The Shade. The lead singer Alexandra Davis has a soprano that conjures up the mystery and reflective grace of Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval while the twosome's sound blends Laurel Canyon folk, surf music and dream pop. Among the memorable songs that served as my introduction to the duo (Davis and singer-guitarist Chase Perkowski) was the evocative opener "Carry Me Home" and lovely duet "Moonlight."

Matt Costa performing at The Coach House on May 6, 2021.

Celebrated singer-songwriter Matt Costa — who I criminally hadn't reviewed since 2007 (read my review of that concert HERE) — performed a solo performance showcasing his marvelous songcraft and absorbing performance style. Opening with the soulful "Call My Name," his acoustic guitar and poignant vocals came in the service of the song's refrain. 

Matt Costa impressed throughout a
45-minute set at The Coach House.

The Huntington Beach native's probing songs continued to play out wonderfully, as evidenced by the crowd's strong reaction. The hopeful "Make That Change" with its timely message to "You gotta make that change / To see a brighter day soon" seemed magically aimed at overcoming an extended period of lockdowns, masks and restrictions.

Matt Costa at The Coach House.

Iris and The Shade (left) joining Matt Costa during his
set at The Coach House on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

He brought up Iris and The Shade to add emotional heft to a short medley featuring old and new material before going it alone again for the soaring genres-blending "Slow," breezy folk track "Pacific Grove," eloquent "Savannah" and several other great originals. He ended his set with "The Road," a song that speaks to the freedom of wanting to leave home and experience the adventure of discovery.

That song likely summed up a special night with the audience tapping into Costa's lyrics, that read in part: "The road is calling, so I've got to go."

The night ended with, from left, Donavon Frankenreiter, Chase Perkowski, Alexandra
Davis, Matt Costa, Matt Gundy and Jara Harris joining forces for a version of 
The Band classic "The Weight."

Donavon Frankenreiter, Matt Costa and Iris and The Shade perform at The Coach House May 7, May 8 and May 9. Call 949-496-8930 or visit the venue's official website HERE for more details.

A super special thank you to Bob Steshetz for his wonderful photographs taken at the concert! Great to see that the "Adventures of Bob and Robert" picked up right where they left off in early 2020!

Review by Robert Kinsler