The Immediate Family brings top-tier rock to The Coach House

The Immediate Family, from left, includes Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkel, Danny
Kortchmar, Leland Sklar and Steve Postell.

Who: The Immediate Family

Where: The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA

When: Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022

Next: Visit the band's website HERE for upcoming concert information

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz

From left, Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkel and Danny Kortchhmar at The Coach
House on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.

There is something to be said for a rock band that plays music seemingly for no other reason than to have fun. Such was the case with The Immediate Family's joyful 70-minute performance at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano last night (Dec. 8, 2022). Performing before a capacity crowd at the legendary venue, the quintet thrilled while delivering on singer-guitarist Danny Kortchmar's spot-on description of the band: "We're a cover band that does all original material."

Danny Kortchmar, left, with Leland Solar.

A bona fide supergroup, The Immediate Family features the aforementioned Kortchmar, singer-guitarist Waddy Wachtel, singer-guitarist Steve Postell, bassist Leland Sklar, drummer Russ Kunkel. Frequent collaborators both in the recording studio and on the concert stage, the work of the band members can be heard on albums from the celebrated likes of James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards, Carole King, Graham Nash, Warren Zevon, Neil Young and more.

Steve Postell performing at The Coach House.

With their relaxed approach, personable style interacting with the crowd and each other as well as a great set filled with revisited classics, it was a formula that couldn't lose. The band's musicianship was first rate, and it was a true bonus that The Immediate Family features three great lead singers in their ranks.

Bassist Leland Solar performing on Dec. 8, 2022.

Opening with a rousing take on Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money," one of many great tracks from 1978's Excitable Boy (both Kortchmar and Kunkel were featured players on that disc), the band proved they have the innate ability to honor a classic track while giving it a signature stamp. That winning approach was repeated across the group's set, notably on a version of Sparks' "Toughest Girl In Town," (bolstered by some fantastic vocal harmonies), the 1983 Don Henley hit "Dirty Laundry" (with great guitar solos from both Wachtel and Kortchmar), the tuneful 1982 Jackson Browne hit "Somebody's Baby" (co-written by Kortchmar), and Henley's "All She Wants To Do Is Dance." 

Drummer Russ Kunkel at The Coach House.

Late set highlights were definitely worth the weight, including a rollicking take on the Wachtel power pop-fueled garage rocker "High Maintenance Girlfriend," the textured "A Thing of the Past" (utilizing the textures of all three guitars and the rhythm section) and night-ending "Werewolves of London." 

Check out more of photographer Bob Steshetz's amazing photographs from the concert below.

Waddy Wachtel at The Coach House.

Steve Postell performing at The Coach House.