Instant Gratification

The enticing vibes of good live music lured me to Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace. There I saw Instant Replay rocking out to the ’70s and ’80s with nods to other eras and genres. My first impression was that these guys must have known each other for years.

Their rich, full sound enlivened the cold Anaheim night. Lead guitarist Jim Mutschler played his solos with crisp precision. Dweighn Secrist's driven basslines pulsed Van Halen's "Panama" and Billy Idol's "White Wedding." Brian Brehm was a showman with his stick-tossing antics and expert drumming.

The foursome from Southern California took turns on vocals. With his kind appearance, keyboardist-guitarist Geoff Woodhouse seemed unassuming when revealing his amazing metal-singing skills, covering the likes of Judas Priest and Twisted Sister. Mutschler then threw a curveball, crooning Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin’."

They were big on audience participation. During the surfer classic "Wipe Out," Woodhouse presented a tenor drum and had volunteers attempt the iconic drum solo. I took part and did okay; the woman next to me asked if I was a Taiko drummer. Brehm then played the solo double-time. Another volunteer was asked to play the cowbell at a specified tempo. It turned out to be the intro to Loverboy's "Working For the Weekend." Clever.

The all-ages audience had a blast. Many danced and sang along while others stood mesmerized. A three-year-old boy had a scene-stealing moment, imitating Secrist's rocker stance.

• Concert: Instant Replay
• Show date: January 29
• Venue: Tomorrowland Terrace, Disneyland
• Seats: Standing, front and center