my perspective: have not seen JGB since around 1979. they were always my 2nd favorite live band, after the Stones.
after reading reviews of how JGB blew Aerosmith off the stage at Fenway and coupled with a 500 mile round trip drive to see the DTE show, my expectations were very high. probably too high. i am happy to report that JGB exceeded all of my expectations! hard to believe they could play that tight after all the years of not touring.
low points: J. Geils is not the guitarist he once was. the second guitarist played lots of the licks and did a magnificent job on Start All Over Again. JG played his patented chicken pickin' on Hard Drivin Man, and did some other soloing, but was for the most part content to let the new guy handle most of the up front parts. Magic Dick's mic blew about 1 minute into Whammer Jammer.
backup musicians: i was a little concerned going in that the Uptown Horns and the backup singers would dominate too much (as they do with The Stones, sometimes). this was not the case. since JGB was/is not as guitar-driven as the Stones, they did not alter the core sound but enhanced it without being over-bearing. i do not know if i would feel the same if they were a regular touring band. probably would.
Opening Act: The Rockets. 7:45-8:19pm
they were damn good! at first, i was a little put off by the lead singer because he looked A LOT like Benny Hill. don't get me wrong, i loved the Benny Hill Show. after a couple of tunes, i was able to get over it. i don't know the names of the musicians or of most of their songs, but here's what i think were the names of the tunes in the set list:
Desire
Takin It Back
It Was Alright
Lucille
at this point, the singer introduced a song from their new album, dedicated to "all you drunkards"
I Got That Whiskey Head. (the guitar lick was nicked from Smokestack Lightning.)
CC Rider/Jenny Jenny
Turn Up the Radio
(band introductions)
Oh Well - a really GREAT take. in fact, the whole set was smokin'. if they come to town, i would gladly see them again. the band was tight, hot, the bass player was really cool looking. he wore a cowboy hat with an exaggerated shape. Jimmy McCarty was excellent on guitar. Looked somewhat like George Harrison. this band should open for the Stones. period.
8:48pm a local high school band came on stage and did Centerfold. sounded sleazy.
8:56pm, JGB takes the stage
First I Look at the Purse - on fire from the get go. the old bounce is still there.
Hard Drivin' Man - ooh yeah, just as good as the old days! maybe even a little better. unbelievable.
Pack Fair and Square - did they really kick it up another notch? this was probably the best opening 3-pack i ever heard from any band!
Uptown Horns take the stage.
Night Time - not one of my fav songs, but they played it well.
Cruisin' for a Love - they still got the blusey swagger. excellent job!
Freeze Frame - another great one!
Detroit Breakdown - ditto. Motor City crowd lovin' it.
at this point, Wolfa Goofa called an audible. dunno if they dropped a tune, or added one.
Surrender - never heard this one live before. Goofa hams it up with the chick backup singers. loved it!
Serves You Right to Suffer - never liked this one. still don't.
Give it to Me - great take. they jammed out the end until it sounded kind of like Ain't What You Do.
Musta Got Lost - just as good as ever! Wolf updated the rap, mentioning cell phones and dildos. he went out into the crowd on this one.
Love Stinks - crowd really gets into it. great take.
Lookin' For a Love - this was always my favorite live JGB tune. still is. they did it to perfection, as they have every time i saw them.
Whammer Jammer - Dicky's mic went out, so it was a let down.
Peachtree Street(??) - don't remember this one. it was a slow tune with Wolf and Dick at the mic singing together. quiet tune. it was good.
House Party - rip-roaring, red hot, kick-ass, better than ever!!!!
encores:
Uptown Horns do about 1 minute of Peter Gun.
Southside Shuffle - excellent!
Centerfold - never heard them do their big hit live before. did not think i would like it. boy, was i wrong! this band is STILL ON FIRE.
Where Did Our Love Go - nice version, as always.
Start All Over Again - the new guitar player was perfect.
Land of 1000 Dances - band still full of energy!!
i think the show was supposed to end here, because the house lights came on and the pre-recorded music started up. then much to my surprise, i saw a band do something that i have not seen since The Stones at Soldier Field in 1978...
an unplanned encore...
Just Can't Wait - how many times can i say it?... the band is STILL red hot.
Love-Itis - i was really hoping to hear them do this song and was thrilled to hear it. Might have been one of the best songs of the night.
11:00pm - house lights come back on and the show is really over.
i walked away from the show with 2 thoughts on my mind:
1) this band should be touring. i am just plain dumb-struck that they can perform like that. nobody phoned it in, minimal posing, no props, just the tightest and best boogie-woogie r&b rock & roll house party this side of 1979.
2) the Stones made a BIG mistake... Danny Klein should have replaced Bill Wyman.
and finally... Mick, if you are reading this... You DO NOT want this band opening for you!
review from Detroit News:
[
detnews.com]
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2010-08-23 04:24 by josepi.