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J Geils Band: House Party Live in Germany

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J. Geils Band
House Party: Live in Germany
Eagle Vision
2015

It's arguable the original lineup of the J. Geils Band remained in its prime all the way from their splendid eponymous debut album through a series of almost equally potent but ever so slightly varied successors in the Seventies into the widespread popularity that ensued with the commercial breakthrough of "Centerfold" in the eighties. House Party Live in Germany exemplifies how and why as it depicts the balance of the Boston-based band's authentically rootsy musicianship with the ever-so slightly tongue and cheek showmanship that made their live shows an unmitigated pleasure.

Recorded in 1979 on the 'Rockpalast' television series, notes Geils' performance actually opened a show with a triple bill including Patti Smith and Johnny Winter. But the presentation the group offers, including a marching band cum cheer-leading squad parading across the stage prior to the frenzied intro to the group itself, is that of a unit sufficiently self-assured to fully command the stage no matter their position on the bill.

And a progressive intensity is rooted in that collective confidence actually becoming ratcheted up to continuously higher levels throughout the fourteen song set. Yet even as Live in Germany to a great extent resembles the very first live J Geils release, Full House (Atlantic, 1970), in its full-bore boogie on numbers such as "Jus' Can't Stop me' and "Looking for a Love," the setlist is carefully constructed to heighten the impact of the performance; the tunes are sequenced to also include well-crafted pop-oriented tunes such as "I Could Hurt You" as well as moody ballads like "Teresa."

In the midst of those dynamics, Geils proudly exhibit their blues roots on "First I Look at the Purse" and even more so during the wailing harp spotlight of Magic Dick's "Whammer Jammer." An edgy rendering of the reggae-influence "Give It to Me" allows the namesake guitarist to demonstrates his articulate, pithy instrumental chops, at which point the momentum of the show becomes unmistakable with each passing number till the conclusion.

Chief group songwriters vocalist Peter Wolf and keyboardist Seth Justman maintained a solid grasp of their main influences if vintage r&b and soul as they generated original tunes like "(Ain't Nothin' But A) Houseparty" that maximized the strengths of the band, including the indefatigable rhythm section of bassist Danny Klein and drummer Stephen Bladd (heard in full gritty force in this sharp sound mix)Yet, in the form of "Where Did Our Love Go?" they also paid deserving homage the towering monolith of Motown.

Kicking off a three song encore, The Supremes' song signals the homestretch of a show slightly truncated for the sake of the broadcast, at least in comparison to the more expansive likes of Blow Your Face Out! (Atlantic, 1976), where the J. Geils Band broadened the atmosphere as they dug deeper into the resources of their repertoire. Still, as the jaunty likes of that tune, replete with scythe-like guitar and scorching blues harp, gives way to the full speed ahead "Pack Fair and Square," balloons shower the delirious audience and the group fortifies its connection with the crowd as they parade on and off stage in their trademark mix of black leather and glitter attire topped off with sunglasses (their high-spirited camaraderie in decided contrast to their fractious relationship of recent years).

The accuracy of of the camera work, capturing the group's animated stage presence, including Wolf's manic patter, should come as no surprise as the German show was five years into its ongoing broadcasts, but as the frontman jumps into the roiling sea of humanity in front of the stage, there's no lapse in the sensation of being there.

There's hardly a higher compliment to tender a concert video but House Party: Live in Germany fully deserves that accolade, especially as it's one of the few visual records of Geils live. Meanwhile, the availability of a DVD/CD combo pack allows this celebratory experience extra versatility, further certifying the title as an essential entry in this truly great band's discography.

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