The J. Geils Band 

16 July 1999
World Music Theater, Tinley Park, Illinois

CD 1 (69:29):
1  Just Can't Stop (3:54)
2  Southside Shuffle (3:51)
3  Love-Itis (3:56)
4  Peter talks (1:09)
5  Homework (3:41)
6  Sanctuary (3:44)
7  Night Time (7:46)
8  Peter talks (1:43)
9  My Good Days Are Gone (?) (5:36)
10  Crusin' For Love (3:44) Incl. Boogie Chillin'
11  Peter talks (0:50)
12  One Last Kiss (4:28)
13  Peter rap (0:26) =>
14  Freeze Frame (3:48)
15  Hard Drivin' Man (4:14)
16  Band introductions (7:20)
17  So Sharp (2:37)
18  Detroit Breakdown (6:34)

CD 2 (63:06):
1  Teresa (3:39)
2  Just Can't Wait (3:28)
3  Give It To Me (6:44)
4  Rapunzel story (5:26)
5  Musta Got Lost (4:33)
6  Love Stinks (3:18)
7  Lookin' For A Love (3:32)
8  Whammer Jammer (2:44)
9  (Ain't Nothin' But A) House Party (4:58)
10  Encore break (2:00)
11  Where Did Our Love Go? (4:13)
12 Thank you's (2:25)
13  Pack Fair and Square (1:55)
14  Centerfold (3:53)
15  Encore break (1:57)
16  Peter intro (0:36)
17  Start All Over Again (3:21)
18  First I Look At The Purse (4:16)


Notes: 
Lineage:  Sonic Studios DSM-6 mikes => Sony TCD-D7 DAT => Master DAT => 
Stand-alone Pioneer CD burner => EAC => Magix Audio Cleaning Lab => 
WAV => FLAC Front-end (level 8)


Comments:  Amazing show.  With the exception of a couple of Boston-area 
benefit concerts later in the year, this was the final stop on Geils' 
1999 reunion tour.  It is much to Chicago's embarassment that despite 
our city being the cradle of the blues, this band was only able to 
draw about 1100 people to the enormous (35,000-capacity) 
World Music Theater on a beautiful Friday night.  
To this day, I still rate this among the top 5 concerts I've ever seen.  
The band was in great spirits and great form; and their 
backing vocalists (I didn't retain their names) and the Uptown Horns 
were a terrific addition to the core line-up.  
The setlist varied throughout the tour, pulling out all of the stops 
there are only a couple songs performed in the tour 
(most notably "Land of 1000 Dances") that weren't pulled out this night.

The recording itself is pretty good, recorded roughly 11th row dead 
center in the middle of all of the band's guests 
(I was the only one in the vicinity not wearing a laminate).  
While this made for an extremely stressful taping experience, 
it offered the benefit of very little crowd noise to interfere 
with the music.  The audience that *did* have the good sense to come 
out were very rowdy, and I was happy that the noisiest revelers 
were far away from my microphones.

I wish the recording were better, but I'm happy with it nonetheless.  
The fidelity and mix were good, and I caught more high end than 
I normally do with these mikes . . . after a few more years of trial 
and error, I now think I was about three rows behind the 
"sweet spot" for this venue.  
(As the taper, I'm being picky -- it probably rates an 8-9 on a 10-scale.)

If you like this band at all, or just are a fan of old-time Motown 
R&B and/or Chicago blues, I think this one's worth checking out.  
I still think J. Geils is one of the most underrated live acts of 
the 1970s and '80s, and it was a thrill to see them come around one 
more time at the top of their game.  I just wish it wasn't such 
a short-lived reunion.  
BACK