Here’s an update on that Full House reissue
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
It looks like it's canceled, at least for the moment.
View CommentsTake that reissue of the J. Geils Band's "Live -- Full House" off your shopping list. Peter Wolf tells The Insider that the group has scotched Rhino Records' plans to put out the two-CD set, which was slated to feature both of the April 21-22, 1972 shows at Detroit's Cinderella Ballroom from which the original 1972 album was culled. Wolf says that the new release "wasn't authorized by us. What we did was pick the best stuff of the two evenings...They were calling it 'Full House,' and we responded by saying, 'Wait a second. First of all, it would be nice if you'd contact us for consideration, artistically. Second of all, it's not 'Full House.' This is not even the original album; it was just from those evenings. To call it 'Full House' is extremely misleading. And to not even ask for our participation and move forward without our participation is just very artistically insulting. So it's been nixed." Neither Wolf nor Rhino would indicate if negotiations are continuing to release the package.
Back To Get Ya
Written by: Kevin Brennan
Welcome to summer in the city, where the days are long and the nights are sultry. If your soul is warmed by the familiarity of hot breezes through open windows carrying the sounds of music and chatter on the street, and your mind is enticed by a steamy barroom tapestry of smoke, drink, romance and emotion, then there is a new soundtrack for your overnights.
It is called Midnight Souvenirs, the latest release from Peter Wolf, a soon-to-be-classic which is filled with love, hope, despair and a large dose of adult perspective.
The seventh solo album from Wolf since he left the mighty J. Geils Band in 1983, Midnight Souvenirs displays a depth in songwriting, performance and production that most artists wish for and often never achieve.
The opening track, “Tragedy,” is so good, they could have stopped there. A great melody complemented by Wolf’s cool yet heartfelt delivery, you’ll be singing along by the second listen. A gold star is attached to this one for bringing in the lovely and talented Shelby Lynne to lay down an achingly beautiful guest vocal.
The variety of stylings present throughout is impressive and very appropriate to Wolf’s musical personality. From the dance-floor heat of “Watch Her Move,” a surefire smash in days gone by, to the passively stark acceptance of love gone repeatedly sour in “Then It Leaves Us All Behind,” Wolf is always believable and in command of his wealth of influences.
Filling the space in between are smooth and swaying pieces of adult pop (“Always Asking for You,” “I Don’t Wanna Know,” “Don’t Try To Change Her”), songs of hope and rebirth (“There’s Still Time,” “The Green Fields of Summer”), and a few visits to familiar places including “Thick As Thieves," resurrected and reworked from Wolf's second solo record, 1987's Come As You Are.
Saving the best for last, Wolf teams up with living legend Merle Haggard for a last-call tale of life unfulfilled in “It’s Too Late for Me.” What seems like an unlikely blend is genuine in spirit and memorable in performance.
Here’s hoping that after six outstanding yet under-appreciated solo efforts, it’s not too late for Peter Wolf. Midnight Souvenirs is an absolute gem deserving of great attention.
View CommentsI don’t like Mondays…except for this one!
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
You know what? You're right. Mondays do suck, except when you get some really good news from J. Geils Band and Rhino Handmade.
An expanded reissue of "Live" Full House? Featuring 23 previously unreleased performances? Double disc?
Hell yeah!
Click here to pre-order your copy now. UPDATE: Arrrrrgh. It looks like this title has been delayed/postponed for the moment. I'll update here with more details when I hear something...
Cage Match: J. Geils Band vs. Don Henley
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
You love her
But she loves him
And he loves somebody else
You just can't win...
And so it happens that you discover the above complicated mathematical equation of love that plagues all of us eventually. Coming from J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf, you couldn't help but think that it was very possible that Mr. Wolf probably did something additional not disclosed in the lyrics to arrive at his expressed viewpoint about love. Think about it: Would you let your daughter go home with Peter Wolf without a chap-e-rone?
View CommentsBlow Your Face Out!
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
What if Peter Wolf and the J. Geils Band were to decide to come to Detroit and play a couple of random rare shows on a weekend? That would be awesome, right?
My friends, it certainly was.
I finally got to cross another band off of my list of "concert regrets" - bands that I should have gone to see, and didn't. I missed their late-90s reunion tour for financial reasons, and always had huge buckets of regret after that, the more that I got into J. Geils Band.
Having just seen Wolf last summer with Kid Rock, I knew that it was going to be great - it really is astounding how good Peter Wolf looks for his age (he is 63,) with the amount of energy that he still throws down on stage, and his voice still sounds JUST as good as it did in the heyday. The man might have found the fountain of youth, and I want directions to get there!
J. Geils Band played for two hours and fifteen minutes with a triple set of encores on the second night of their two night stand in the Motor City. Both shows sold out in minutes, and thanks to a very good friend, I was there to see it with my buddy Dan Kelley from Classic Rock FM and Okemos Brewing Company.
My camera phone managed to not suck just long enough for me to grab this very cool picture of the marquee outside the club.
P.S. - Fillmore? Nah, not according to Peter Wolf, who called it the State Theatre throughout the evening - as it should be!
Unexpected favorite of the night: "Just Can't Wait"
Song that I really loved: "Serves You Right To Suffer" - Serves you right to be ALONE! (I think I loved this one just as much as the first time that I heard Buddy Guy play "Damn Right, I've Got The Blues" live.)
Songs that really sounded unexpectedly good: "Freeze Frame" and "Centerfold" - just good cheesy 80s fun!
Undeniable jam of the night: "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party"
Song that I was surprised to hear in the setlist: "Sanctuary"
Number of times that Peter Wolf and Seth Justman hugged during the show: None.
Soundtrack driving in: A mix from D.X. Ferris (more on that later,) and live stuff from Indigo Girls (more on that later too,) and Kathleen Edwards.
Soundtrack driving home: Crowded House, Cowboy Junkies (Trinity Revisited,) and the live bonus disc from Sugar's Besides.
Number of record stores visits during trip: One (1) - Encore Recordings in Ann Arbor.
Updated: Thanks to FunkyJudge.Net, here is the setlist from last night's show, and also some video from both nights, including a guest appearance from Kid Rock on the first night.
One final bit: Here's an interview via Billboard with Peter Wolf about the reunion shows, and also Wolf's forthcoming solo album and tour.
View CommentsQuick Hits: Material Issue, Bruce Springsteen, Career Advice for Aging Rockers, Neil Diamond
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Oh internet friends of mine, it's been a looooong time since we've done one of these Quick Hits type of posts. I'm getting ready to point my car towards Michigan for night #2 of the J. Geils Band reunion shows in Detroit, happening Saturday night. The band are reuniting for a pair of shows in their adopted home away from home, to celebrate the birthday of longtime classic rocker WCSX.
I'll be meeting up for the first time with fellow blogger Dan Kelley of Classic Rock FM and Okemos Brewing Company, to cross another longtime favorite off of my "never seen" concert list.
Also in the itinerary, a stop at Encore Recordings in Ann Arbor to drool over their majestically massive spread of compact discs and vinyl.
Sunday, I'll be back in the Cleve for baseball fun at the Indians game with Pat, a bunch of my favorite blogger friends, and the entire Music Saves clan!
But yeah, so what have I been digging lately? Check out these links of note:
At the top of the list, it was my turn to share a choice boot on "Bootleg City @ Popdose. I dug out a killer Cleveland broadcast featuring Material Issue, recorded in 1991 at the Empire Concert Club. Click here and check it out. I believe it will only be available for one week, so act fast! Thanks very much, to Jeff and Robert at Popdose for the opportunity!
Blogness on the Edge of Town guest blogger Deb Filcman gave us full coverage of the recent Springsteen shows in Boston which had some great moments, including no Patti (I kid, kind of,) and covers of "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" by ZZ Top, and "I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Ramones. So jealous. Must...see...Bruce...shows...SOON!
Michael Gallucci at Scene Magazine caused a bit of a stink (possible pun intended) with his post titled "Not Grateful For The Dead." I'm sure you can guess the subject, and the potential reaction to the post. But if all of it is over your head, you can read Gallucci's post while wearing a suggested flameproof Devo suit.
The recent Jeff Beck shows in the Los Angeles area were something to remember, with a surprise appearance from onetime band mate Rod Stewart, performing on stage with Beck for the first time since 1983.
The Regeneration Tour returns for another year of 80s flashbacks featuring ABC, Heaven 17, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew, and Berlin. Stuck in the 80s has the deets for ya here.
My comrade Brian has the Lollapalooza lineup for those of you that haven't seen it yet - and yes, we're thinking about going. I know a ton of Clevelanders that are already planning to make the trip - anyone else? Let me know in the comments!
Ol' Swap at The Frontloader shares some thoughts about "Spirit of 76" by The Alarm. Another group that I need to see live.
Kevin Estrada has some cool photographic memories of some of his early shots of Ozzy Osbourne, and the story behind them.
Darren at He's A Whore has a convenient fix for the Jane's Addiction squabbles.
While we're on the subject of musical helping hands, Popdose have some advice for Michael Stipe.
And my pal Jason Hare deals with the horrifying news of a new Timothy B. Schmit solo album in the only way that he can - by dissecting classic 70s Neil Diamond television!
We'll leave it there for now...
I don't want to tease you all, or anything - but stay tuned for a site announcement from Addicted to Vinyl, coming early next week!
And maybe, I'll finally stop slacking, and pick a winner for the Jane's Addiction vinyl. Maybe.
P.S. - I've posted a working link for the second volume of Radio Friendly Unit Shifter. Check it.
P.S.S. - Check out some great live J. Geils Band stuff here, if you missed it when I posted it originally this past September.
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