Kiefer Sutherland thrills capacity crowd at The Coach House

Kiefer Sutherland leading his band through an impressive 90-minute headlining set
of country and roots rock at The Coach House in Orange County, CA on April 26, 2018.

Kiefer Sutherland's performance at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA in May 2017 was one of my favorite concert performances of last year (read my review of that show here) so it should come as no surprise the artist's first-ever performance at The Coach House in Orange County, CA (delivered on Thursday night, April 26, 2018) marked another excuse to celebrate one of country music's true rising stars.

Kiefer Sutherland performing
on April 26, 2018.

Sure, the star of Designated Survivor has been an acclaimed actor for more than 30 years, but the release of his full-length debut album Down in a Hole in August 2016 was truly a surprise. Filled with detailed and confessional original material blending traditional and alt-country styles, the album's stellar songs gain even more depth via Sutherland's compelling concert appearances. That definitely proved to be the case over the length of a fast-moving, 90-minute performance as part of his 2018 Reckless Tour that was staged in San Juan Capistrano last night.

Country rocker Kiefer Sutherland.

While the Coach House set list featured included many of the same songs featured last year, there was an added confidence, depth and power this time around. In addition to Sutherland's obvious star power and bona fide talents as both singer and songwriter, credit the strength of a top-tier band featuring guitar great Michael Gurley (of DADA and Butterfly Jones fame), drummer Jess Calcaterra, guitarist Austin Valleijo and bassist Joseph DeLeo with further bolstering the night.

There was a strong rhythm to the night, with Sutherland and company coming out rocking with the song "Run to Him," Sutherland working a tambourine as he took the stage. Strong guitar work from both Gurley and Valleijo injected further firepower in the opener.  

The night featured uptempo countrified rockers, poignant ballads, and winning covers that consistently worked. There were also the concise but revealing asides where Sutherland would discuss the genesis of his own tracks and affection he had for the covers and the artists that created them in the first place.

There were many high marks of the night. The early part of the show featured the confessional blues-country tune "Reckless & Me" with Gurley's ethereal slide guitar work adorning Sutherland's heartfelt vocals; the emotional rocker "Going Home" with its big finish leading into the tender ballad "I'll Do Anything" came next.

A rousing rollicking cover of Patty Loveless' "Blame It On Your Heart" was pure fun; a cover of the late Merle Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down" was faithful in both its power and in traditional country stylings.

Kiefer Sutherland on April 26.

Late set highlight were just as powerful with the country-folk nugget "Faded Pair of Blue Jeans," haunting "Calling Out Your Name" (the ambitious arrangement spanned from a quiet opening to a sweeping Neil Young-styled blast to finish), Americana rocker "Down in a Hole" (complete with a duel between Gurley and Valleijo) and terrific honky tonk-worthy cover of Lone Justice's "Ways to be Wicked" adding to the momentum.

The show ended with palpable power. After performing the apt acoustic tribute to professional truck drivers ("Open Road"), Sutherland and his band were off to the races. They unleashed the mighty country rocker "Rebel Wind," a fitting freewheeling tribute to the late Tom Petty ("Honey Bee") and finally finished off the inspired night with a new original Latin rock track, "Agave."

To be sure, the same artistic talents Sutherland has displayed on screen are evident in his strengths as a singer, songwriter and sonic storyteller.

Visit Kiefer Sutherland's official music site here.

Rick Brantley performing at the
Coach House on April 26, 2018.

Opening the show was Macon, Georgia-spawned singer-songwriter Rick Brantley, whose Southern charm helped get the crowd to sing along on some of his fun-styled material but thankfully never masked the power of his probing acoustic numbers. Highlights of his 45-minute set included the sparse Bruce Springsteen-tinged "40 Days, 40 Nights," eloquent study of suffering, the affecting "Hurt People." His soulful cover of the Otis Redding classic "Try a Little Tenderness" was a justified crowd pleasing moment with everyone riveted by Brantley's inspired vocals and strong rhythms on his acoustic guitar.



Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz


Kiefer Sutherland Concert at the Coach House Setlist
Run to Him / Something You Love / Reckless & Me / Going Home / I'll Do Anything / Blame It On Your Heart (Patty Loveless cover) / The Bottle Let Me Down (Merle Haggard cover) / Faded Pair of Blue Jeans / Saskatchewan / Calling Out Your Name / All She Wrote / Down in a Hole / Can't Stay Away / Ways to be Wicked (Lone Justice cover) / Rebel Wind / Honey Bee (Tom Petty cover) / Agave

Kiefer Sutherland blends authentic Americana and roots rock in spades at Belly Up

Kiefer Sutherland with guitarist Austin Vallejo, right, at the
Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

As impressed as I was by Kiefer Sutherland's debut album Down in a Hole when it was released in August 2016, I had no idea how convincing the famed singer-songwriter (and acclaimed actor) would be headlining a full-length concert.

Sutherland's appearance at a packed Belly Up in Solana Beach on Tuesday night (May 2, 2017) was truly an eye-opener. This writer is not exaggerating when acknowledging the 90-minute performance exceeded many prime time performances I've caught at past Stagecoach Festival dates over the years. Backed by a fantastic four-member band at the Belly Up, Sutherland brought a mix of compelling originals (many written with collaborator and long-time friend Jude Cole) and select covers to the showcase.

The same depth Sutherland displays in his portrayal of President Tom Kirkman on the ABC-TV political drama Designated Survivor and in the 2015 western Forsaken (a compelling film co-starring his father Donald Sutherland) is something inherit in his musical DNA too. 

Kiefer Sutherland and his excellent four-member band.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Taking the stage and opening with the original country rocker "Can't Stay Away," Sutherland used his distinctive baritone to bring power to the lyrics. He is already skilled at knowing when to step back and let his band bring additional focus to a song as evidenced when Michael Gurley (of dada and Butterfly Jones fame) unleashed a flashy solo using a slide in the opening moments of his concert.  

Sutherland and company then slowed things down, but that didn't mean the music making was any less potent.  "I'll Do Anything" is a beautiful song with a reflective mood and graceful melody that displayed Sutherland's sophisticated-but-straightforward knack for songwriting. 

Throughout the show, Sutherland was able to acknowledge the wide-ranging forces (both good and bad) that have shaped his life, and ultimately, the songs he sings. "Truth in Your Eyes" proved to be a tender country-styled tribute to "someone who passed away way too early," while other nuggets mined real life troubles that have resulted from having a few too many drinks; the sparse acoustic gem "Not Enough Whiskey" was particularly forceful with Sutherland's voice delivering the confessional lines in a low register (toward the end of the song he cleverly whispered the line "Goodnight") while he strummed his Gibson acoustic guitar and guitarist Austin Vallejo added gentle shades on a harmonica.

Kiefer Sutherland at the Belly Up.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

"Shirley Jean" has a depth that recalls the best of latter-day John Mellencamp, the story of a man who has long been on death row. On the eve of his execution, the prisoner pens a letter to the only girl he ever knew. In the song, the condemned man recalls how Shirley Jean still makes him feel. Sutherland's reading of the elegy was tangible and moving. 

Sutherland displayed an artistic sense of mixing up quiet introspective country folk and more uptempo rock material, as well as knowing when to throw in well-known covers to help listeners just discovering his music to see the natural ties that exist between his songbook and those legendary artists who inspired him. 

Among the reworkings of classics Sutherland delivered on Tuesday was an uptempo take on Merle Haggard's "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down," an expressive roots rock rendering of the Lone Justice 1985 single "Ways to be Wicked" and a fiery rock-styled assault version of Tom Petty's '90s track "Honey Bee."

Kiefer Sutherland on May 2, 2017.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

An impressive four-song encore included one of the stand-out originals of the night, a song titled "Gonna Die," written about a young veteran that Sutherland assisted get some help at a VA Hospital. The song allowed another welcome opportunity for the gifted Gurley to dazzle with his otherworldly fret work. Also notable was "Rebel Wind," co-written by Sutherland and Vallejo, a work that showcased Sutherland's burgeoning ability to incorporate folk rock into his country-western/Americana/heartland rock mix.

The rewarding show didn't end until Sutherland celebrated his Canadian roots with a reworking of Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown," and a night-ending tribute to his father introducing him to the music of Bob Dylan via a weighty performance of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

While the 50-year-old Sutherland is a relative newcomer to making music commercially, it is clear his artistic muse knows few boundaries. His well-publicized time in jail, the loss of friends close to him and a good choice in musical influences add up to it being clear he is the rare Hollywood star able to help cast a light on bringing country music back to a more authentic place. 

Of his many demons touchingly addressed in song throughout the concert, Sutherland admitted to being a "slow learner" and a "work in progress."

But when it comes to the art of songcraft and delivering an unforgettable concert, I would say Sutherland has it mastered.

Rick Brantley at the Belly Up.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Opener Rick Brantley featured his bona fide country folk sound during a fast-moving 30-minute opening set. Standouts included Springsteen-styled "40 Days, 40 Nights" and the probing "Hurt People." The Macon, Georgia native also earned cheers for his tribute to "modern-day cowboys" (police officers) with his melodic song "Tumbleweeds."

A great night start to finish.

Visit Kiefer Sutherland's official site for information on upcoming tour dates.

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photos by Bob Steshetz

Kiefer Sutherland at the Belly Up.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Kiefer Sutherland set list at the Belly Up on May 2, 2017
1. Can't Stay Away
2. I'll Do Anything
3. Truth In Your Eyes
4. Not Enough Whiskey
5. Going Home
6. Shirley Jean
7. Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down (Merle Haggard cover)
8. Ways to be Wicked (Tom Petty, Mike Campbell song)
9. Saskatchewan
10. Calling Out Your Name
11. My Best Friend
12. Honey Bee (Tom Petty)
13. Goodbye
14. All She Wrote
15. Down in a Hole

Encore
16. Gonna Die
17. Rebel Wind
18. Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot)
19. Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)