The J. Geils Band played bluesy and beery rock with lots of soul-shouting and with the studied edge of encyclopedic music fans.
It could thread in a little reggae, like on “Give It To Me,” or crank up the garage-y punch on songs like “House Party,” and on “Must Of Got Lost” it threw in a touch of Southern soul and roadhouse revivalism that echoed the Stones and the Boss. It knew its Motown and could do a pretty good job paying tribute to it. And that was all before the mega-big hits “Centerfold” and “Love Stinks.”
Peter Wolf was the band’s shimmying frontman, capable of working a crowd into a frenzy. He came by his wide-ranging style honestly, having been an FM radio disc jockey in the ’60s.
Wolf just released his eighth solo record, “A Cure For Loneliness,” which finds him rolling out some Dr. Hook-ish roadhouse country on songs like “It Was Always So Easy (to Find an Unhappy Woman).” Wolf has a seen-it-all stateliness now. He sounds a little less likely to ignite a dance party, but his voice has a nice mellow maturity to it. He’s doubtless got some good stories and a half century of showmanship to share.
Peter Wolf performs at Infinity Hall, 2 Front St., Hartford, Friday, April 29, 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $47 to $67. Information: 866-666-6306 and infinityhall.com. (Wolf will also play Infinity Hall Norfolk on Thursday, May 5.)
