Concert Review: The Delgado Brothers bring cool sounds to The Coach House

On May 6, 2021, I ventured back out into the world and caught my first concert in more than a year, making the trip to The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano to review a memorable show featuring Donavon Frankenreiter and Matt Costa.

The Delgado Brothers headlining at The Coach House
on Friday, June 11, 2021.

Last night (Friday, June 11, 2021), I found myself back at The Coach House to see enduring East L.A.-spawned troupe The Delgado Brothers; the talented quartet features brothers Bobby Delgado (bass), Steve Delgado (lead vocals, drums) and Joey Delgado (lead vocals, guitar) and David Kelley (keyboards). 

Joey Delgado enjoying every minute
of the band's return.

Throughout their winning 90-minute set the band showed no sign of rust as they revisited terrific original material from their rich discography and even premiered new material.

Guitarist Joey Delgado and drummer
Steve Delgado at The Coach House.

Blending blues, Latin soul, roots rock and and Americana, the band is gifted with two great lead vocalists who also happen to be masters in singing harmonies that essentially add another voice to their arsenal. One of my favorite selections of the night, "If Only I Could Sing," blended many of The Delgado Brothers' strengths; Steve's soulful vocals  may have been front and center but the outstanding work of Kelley's keyboards and sweet harmonies collectively elevated the song. 

Keyboardist David Kelley of the Delgado Brothers.

Some of the other standouts in their set also came off the group's most recent album, 2018's "Two Trains." The jazz-tinged "The River" and more acoustic mining "Ohana Tennessee" impressed with their song craft and musical chemistry of the players.

Bassist Bobby Delgado.

Bobby Delgado.

Joey Delgado is an amazing guitar player, and his skills were not wasted on the classic rock-flavored "Man Without a Plan," where his fretwork dazzled as the song built to its roaring close. The song's environmental message was especially poignant for our times (hey folks, can you please throw the masks in the trash, and not on the ground where many will end up in the ocean?!).

Steve Delgado behind the kit.

Other highlights of the set included the guitar-anchored blues gem "Fair Warning," the debut of the jazz-blues original "All Alone" and the night-ending dance rocker "Live For Today."

Family Style performing at The Coach House on June 11, 2021.

Opening the night was area favorites Family Style, a five-man band that delivered energetic covers of class rock, blues and funk favorites. Displaying a clear ability to perform a diverse number of styles, standouts included a take on Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride and Joy," a mostly-faithful version of the Jimi Hendrix Experience recording of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" and the David Bowie classic "Let's Dance."

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz