Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel headline terrific night of music making at The Coach House

Duane Betts on April 5, 2023

Who: Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, Charlie Overbey, Lousy Little Gods

Where: The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano

When: Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Next: Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel perform at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona tonight, April 6; the troupe performs at Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, Utah on April 7

Information: duanebetts.com

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz

From left, keyboardist Carey Frank, guitarist Johnny Stachela, drummer Vince
Fossett Jr., singer-guitarist Duane Betts and bassist Pedro J Arevalo.

The Coach House was definitely the place to be on Wednesday night. Singer-songwriter/guitar master Duane Betts and his top-tier touring band known as Palmetto Motel delivered a breathtaking 105-minute set showcasing the quintet's myriad of bona fide talents.

Duane Betts at The Coach House.

Guitarist Johnny Stachela performing at The Coach House.

While Betts and Palmetto Motel  — guitarist Johnny Stachela, bassist Pedro J Arevalo, drummer Vince Fossett Jr. and keyboardist Carey Frank — have the virtuoso chops of a jam band while also displaying the spirit of a groundbreaking modern rock outfit in terms of their ability to fuse blues, jazz, funk, Americana and Southern rock into their sonic brew. 

Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel thrilling The Coach House.

The son of Dickey Betts (of Allman Brothers Band fame), Duane Betts has been learning and performing alongside the masters for most of his life, and his own artistic spirit shines through whether he is performing takes on Allman Brothers Band classics or his own originals. Over the course of 13 selections played in San Juan Capistrano on April 5 the enthusiastic audience was treated to a top-tier quintet seemingly at the height of their powers.

Keyboardist Carey Frank of Palmetto Motel.

Drummer Vince Fossett Jr. at The Coach House.

Each of the selections offered the troupe to blend Betts' signature Southern rock stylings with other genres; the bonus was how each song was bolstered by great arrangements, dynamic rhythm work and the tandem guitar talents of Betts and Stachela). 

Bassist Pedro J Arevalo performing on April 5, 2023.

Among my favorite songs was the enticing opener, "Downtown Runaround," a ferocious reading of the Peter Green-penned "Oh Well" (enhanced by Betts' flashy guitar work), the 10-minute "Autumn" (with tandem work from Betts and Stachela), and the beautiful "Colors Fade," the latter a song set to be included on Betts' next album. "Colors Fade" featured sumptuous keyboards and a really nice slide guitar solo from Stachela. Watch the shining video for the performance of "Oh Well" HERE.

For fans of the music of the Allman Brothers, an affecting version of "Blue Sky" and a 20-minute take on the jazzy "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (the latter capped by a killer 4-minute drum solo) really thrilled.

Dynamic drummer Vince Fossett Jr.

To close out their fast-moving set, Betts and company tore through the stylish rocker "Taking Time" before returning for an encore to play the aptly-titled speedy nugget "Honky Tonk Heroes."

Charlie Overbey at The Coach House.

Although singer-songwriter Charlie Overbey came to the stage armed with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and arsenal of original songs, he immediately impressed with his potent songs, forceful delivery and excellent storytelling skills.

Over the course of 35 minutes he delivered on his initial promise to the crowd: "I'm going to play you some songs and tell you some stories." Whether singing about a young soldier returning from war, beloved family members or legendary icon John Prine, the authenticity of his material was palpable.

He even delivered an acoustic and genuinely inspired reworking of Neil Diamond's 1971 classic "I Am... I Said." 

Opening the night was Huntington Beach, CA-based trio Lousy Little Gods (pictured directly above). The group's rootsy rock sound won over the audience thanks to winning originals such as the funk-tinged "Rain" and countrified original "Sometimes You Bounce."