Dropping to his knees just as he used to watch James Brown do at the Apollo Theater in Harlem was just one trick in Peter Wolf's repetoire Saturday night at Park West. Wolf pulled out all the stops in giving what amounted to a master class in being a frontman. Whether whirling like a dervish, shaking maraccas like he was backing Bo Diddley, telling tales of meeting Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, rapping like an old-time DJ, singing while sitting on the edge of the stage or hushing the crowd by playing a harmonica off mic, Wolf gave a performance that would have made the Godfather of Soul proud.
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Wolf has few equals as a frontman. You can count Mick Jagger and Bruce Springsteen among his peers in that department. Like the rock icons, Wolf defies his age at 64. Touring behind his first album in eight years, the J. Geils Band singer sounded in fine voice and brought his trademark energy and enthusiam to the stage to a degree that would make rockers of any age envious.
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Backed by a five-member band that effectively switched gears from playing the midnight soul of his solo work to the raise-the-roof J. Geils Band material, Wolf expertly crafted a flowing setlist that worked from start to finish. Wolf didn't rely on the nostalgia crutch of playing all the hits of the J. Geils Band or even his own. He's understandably proud of his new album, Midnight Souvenirs, and played nine songs off it. Pairing the soul-drenched "Tragedy," with "Night Time" was one of the night's high points. "Love Stinks" packed a surprising wallop for being 30 years old and "Looking For A Love" followed to bring everyone out of their seats. The set closed with a new song, "There's Still Time." A standing group of talking fans on the side of the stage provided Wolf with a chance to demonstrate how he controls a room. Most performers would have ignored the distraction or addressed it with a request to be quiet. Instead, he seized upon the opportunity, making a beeline to the talkers and making them pay attention with his singing. Wolf doesn't merely play a room. He commands it.
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During the encore, Wolf delivered a snippet of "Overnight Lows" before the band launched into "Must Of Got Lost," which saw Wolf singing on his knees. The night ended with Wolf sitting still for one of the few times in the show for a delicate, soulful "It's Too Late For Me." And with that, the master class for frontmen ended.
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How happy is Wolf to be back to performing? Well, about 20 minutes before the doors opened, Wolf went down the line of fans waiting along the sidewalk outside the venue and thanked them for coming to see him. Judging by the ovations he received throughout the concert, those in attendance felt fortunate to see him.
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Here's the setlist:
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Growin' Pain Long Line Long Way Back Again I'm Always Asking For You I Don't Wanna Know Waiting On The Moon Homework Cry One More Time Thick As Thieves The Green Fields Of Summer Wastin' Time Lying Low Tragedy Night Time Riverside Drive Love Stinks Looking For A Love There's Still Time --------------------------- Nothing But The Wheel Overnight Lows/Must Of Got Lost It's Too Late For Me
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Start: 9:26 p.m./Finish: 11:08 p.m. Totals: 22 songs, one hour and 42 minutes
