Actually, the best BOSTON has to offer
Robert Dumas | Pawling, NY USA | 01/03/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"You can't go wrong with a live J. Geils Band album. These guys were born to be on stage and during their '70s halcyon days, a better live rock & boogie band could you find.
Unfortunately, "Showtime" covers live material from the band's least creative (albeit most commercial) period -- the late '70s/early '80s. Their previous live recordings -- "Full House" and "Blow Your Face Out" -- are vastly superior, but having all three live albums certainly provides fans with a great retrospective of J. Geils concerts over the years.
If you like hot, sweaty, blues-based boogie rock played with a good-time frenetic approach, J. Geils is the band for you and any of their aforementioned live albums will represent nicely. But, as I said, by virture of the more pedestrian material covered here, "Showtime" is the weakest of the band's live efforts.
Finally, not that true fans need a history/geography lesson, but J. Geils Band formed in the bars, pubs and clubs of Boston... NOT Detroit. The previous reviewer seems confused. Perhaps because Geils had a song called "Detroit Breakdown" he assumed it was were the band hailed from. They are, however, from Beantown.
Anyway, former lead singer Peter Wolf continues to make great solo CDs -- check them out, too; especially "Sleepless.""
Faithful
Jesse David Black | Revolution City, UFSA | 02/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This live CD won't have the impact on you, as did "Full House" or "Blow Your Face Out," and it is recorded on the down slope of the bands career, still, if you are a fan, this should be in your collection. Live, J. Geils always seemed to speed through their repertoire like the house was on fire and "Showtime" proves it. I bought this to complete my collection of one of America's great bands. Thank God for The J. Geils Band!"