Concert Review: The J. Geils Band Turns The Mohegan Sun Arena Into A "Houseparty"

The J. Geils Band is one of your typical blues-rock, barbands from Boston that hit it big in the 70’s and 80’s with the live albums “FullHouse,”  “Blow Your Face Out” and “Showtime.”The albums displayed how great their music was when performed live and how muchfun a J. Geils Band show was. Now into their 45^th year together, theJ. Geils Band embarked on their Houseparty 2012 Tour which brought them to theMohegan Sun arena last Sunday evening.

As the members of the band filed onto the stage, the showbegan with the introductory instrumental “Sno-Cone” as each band memberreceived a short one minute solo. Lead singer Peter Wolf, one of the moreiconic members of the J. Geils Band, did not appear on stage until thefollow-up song, “Wait” which dates back to the band’s first album. Wolf, accompaniedby the two female back-up singers, received a huge applause as he instantly transformedinto one of the great frontmen in rock n roll. His dance moves mirrored fellowBoston frontman Steven Tyler during the jams of “Night Time” and “SouthsideShuffle.” Also joining the J. Geils Band that evening was The Uptown Horns, beginningwith the “Peter Gunn Theme,” before making their presence heard on the song “Homework.”Harmonica player Magic Dick stepped to the front of the stage for his solos in “GiveIt To Me” and “I Do” which turned the concert in one big party as the crowdcouldn’t help themselves, but to dance along. J. Geils Band paid tribute to theearly days of rock n roll with “Pack Fair & Square” as Wolf invited a womanfrom the audience to get up on stage and dance along with him. The band playedon all their strengths, showing off their blues prowess on “One Last Kiss,”before heading into their “MTV video” phase with hits like “Freeze Frame,” “Centerfold”and “Love Stinks.” The J. Geils Band was running on all cylinders for theinstrumental “Whammer Jammer,” led by Magic Dick’s harmonica, before endingtheir set with a blazing version of “(Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Houseparty.”

The band’s five song encore began with another tribute tothe early days of rock n roll with a cover of The Supremes’ “Baby Where Did OutLove Go.” From there, the J. Geils Band dove back to their first album for arare performance of “First I Look At Your Purse.” Then Peter Wolf acted out hislong, but classic "wooba gooba" introduction to the fan favorite song,“Must Of Got Lost,” which found Peter Wolf strolling through the audiencesinging the chorus as the band jammed on stage. They continued with the deepcut, “Start All Over Again,” before closing out the party with a cover of thesong “Land of 1000 Dances.” As all twelve members of the J. Geils Band’s liveshow stood arm in arm and bowed “good night,” the two-and-a-half hour showcertainly gave all in attendance their money’s worth that evening.

Fellow Boston musician Jesse Dee began the night with a 40minute set of soul, R&B, and classic rock n roll originals to get the partystarted.

Setlist: Sno-Cone, Wait, Hard Drivin’ Man, Peter Gunn Theme,Homework, Night Time, Southside Shuffle, Cry One More Time, Sanctuary, PackFair & Square, Give It To Me, I Do, Just Can’t Wait, One Last Kiss,Surrender, On Borrowed Time, Freeze Frame, Detroit Breakdown, Centerfold, LoveStinks, Looking For A Love, Whammer Jammer, (Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Houseparty
Encore: Baby Where Did Our Love Go, First Time I Look AtYour Purse, Must Of Got Lost, Start All Over Again, Land Of 1000 Dances