Album review: THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY – S/T

Website [Release date 27.08.21]

The Immediate Family maybe a new band but their ranks are full of seasoned session players who have worked with the likes of James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Toto, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Stevie Nick and more. The Immediate Family is guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Waddy Wachtel, drummer Russ Kunkel (most of us will own at least one album he has appeared on I am sure!), bassist Leland Sklar and guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Steve Postell.

The Immediate Family has kept themselves busy during the pandemic, releasing the two EPs ‘Slippin and Slidin’ and ‘Can’t Stop Progress’, each one including newer originals along with covers including ‘Werewolves of London’ and ‘New York Minute’. As if that wasn’t enough, filmmaker Danny Tedesco is currently hard at work on The Immediate Family documentary, expected to be released in 2022.

The album storms out of the blocks with the up-tempo, blues rocking trio of ‘Can’t Stop Progress’, ‘Slippin’ and Slidin’ and ‘Everything That’s Broken’. By the time song four comes along, ‘Damage’, you’re glad of a change of tempo and a chance to catch your breath. Having three lead singers helps really make the harmonies shine on this one. If that wasn’t enough the guitar soloing is simply divine.

‘Not Made That Way’ is another wonderful number with the slide guitar underpinning the vocals. Again the backing harmonies are a highlight, shades of CSN.

Their version of the Waddy Wachtel/Warren Zevon cowrite ‘Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead’ is top notch. Even vocally it sounds uncannily like Warren Zevon at times.

The album’s two bonus tracks are live versions of Zevon’s ‘Johnny Strikes Up the Band’ and the Danny Kortchmar/Jackson Browne collaboration ‘Somebody’s Baby’. Both are done with style and the good thing for these guys is that they not only have a pool of their own original songs to draw upon, but also many classic songs that various band members had a hand in writing and composing.

The album oozes musical class as you’d expect given the pedigree of the musicians involved. Part blues, part rock, a little bit country and a whole lot of fun. Let’s hope the Immediate Family can get on the road soon and I am already looking forward to their next musical adventures. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)