The Immediate Family
By Mike O’Cull
Sideman supergroup The Immediate Family finally steps into the spotlight with their own music on the band’s debut self-titled platter The Immediate Family. Set to drop August 27th, 2021 thanks to Quarto Valley Records, the set shows the world what this collective of lights-out musicians can do when not backing up one of their famous bosses. You’ve heard them play live and in the studio behind Hall of Fame artists like James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Stevie Nicks and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young but they’ve never been their own self-contained act until now.
The lineup of guitarists Danny Kortchmar, Steve Postell, and Waddy Wachtel, drummer Russ Kunkel, and bassist Leland Sklar are some of the finest musicians and songwriters out there and hearing them range freely on their own self-produced effort is the stuff of rock and roll dreams.
The band tracked The Immediate Family over the course of only three days at Jackson Browne’s studio in Los Angeles, quickly locking down the good stuff like the legendary pros they are. It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that Kortchmar, Wachtel, Kunkel, and Sklar defined the sound of their generation of West Coast rockers, so to expect anything but their usual casual greatness is a fool’s errand. This crew has spent decades not only playing together but collaborating on major hit songs like Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” (Wachtel) and Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry” (Kortchmar) so it’s virtually guaranteed that anything they throw down for themselves is going to be loaded with hot sauce.
The 12 new songs on The Immediate Family absolutely live up to that promise. The bonus live versions of Zevon’s “Johnny Strikes Up the Band” and the Jackson Browne/Danny Kortchmar-penned hit “Somebody’s Baby” only serve to make this set even stronger and more enjoyable.
The Immediate Family starts things off with the heavy chug of “Can’t Stop Progress,” which savvy fans may have heard as part of an EP of the same name earlier this year. It’s a great, physical tune about accepting some of the inevitabilities of modern life and the band leans all the way into it. Having these three guitar players together in one band is an embarrassment of riches and the way they grind the groove together is how the trick is done. Kunkle also shows all the way up, adding the snap and kick that put the track in gear. As expected, the vocals are equally on point.
“Slippin’ and Slidin’”gets into some heavy blues/rock territory with a resonator heart and a strong chorus. Sklar drives the song’s big pocket with a perfect bass tone and feel that pushes the guitar section to some pretty cool places. The track is an obvious nod to the roots of rock music and delivers a delicious, straight-ahead vibe. “Damage” is minor, mellow, and sad. It’s also packed full of so much epic songwriting know-how that one spin is all it takes for it to set up shop in your head. It’s brilliant pop/rock in every way.
“Divorced” is a funky Kortchmar/Wachtel cut about its titular experience and the realities of what comes after. Waddy’s slide licks add just the right touch to this semi-angry, modern blues/rock banger. A lot of people listening are probably in a very similar situation and this makes this tale of woe relatable and real. The band also does a sublime job on the Wachtel/Warren Zevon co-write “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead.” It comes off as an homage to the magic Warren and Waddy used to conjure up so readily and will make you miss Zevon even more than you already do.
Speaking of Zevon, the live version of his “Johnny Strikes Up The Band” rocks across the years and shows just how great these guys sound onstage. The live recording of “Somebody’s Baby” will hit you right in the 9th grade section of your heart and bring back the sweetness and emotion of those more innocent days. Including it here was a genius idea.
The Immediate Family is as good as it’s possible to be at this kind of songwriter-focused rock and roll and this new release blows past all expectations. They still have it and you need to get it. What are you waiting for?
Watch “Fair Warning”
The Immediate Family pre-order link
Many of these same guys were in “The Section” ask in the 1970’s. Couple great albums, no vocals, all instrumentals.
The Section-Forward Motion.
Must listen
Great record