Peter Wolf Peddles Cure For Loneliness To SoCal

PETER WOLF

PETER WOLF play The Coach House Aug. 12, Greek Theater Aug. 13; photo Joe Greene

Peter Wolf and The Midnight Travelers haven’t played the West Coast for quite some time, making their upcoming dates “must-see” shows for music lovers of all ages. They are making their way to The Coach House Aug. 12 before heading over to the Greek Theatre Aug. 13.

“We’re very excited because it’s been a long time for me and my fantabulous band to be out on the west coast and I’m really looking forward to it because Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and of course, Los Angeles have all been places that I’ve enjoyed playing,” Wolf proclaimed. “And now with my new record A Cure for Loneliness, very excited in getting out there and performing it.

Most fans immediately associate Peter Wolf with the J. Geils Band when they first hear his name. As well they should considering they put out 13 albums together and had numerous radio hits such as “Freeze Frame,” “Love Stinks,” and “Centerfold” all of which topped the pop singles charts.

But Wolf has also put out eight albums on his own since going solo in 1984 with “Lights Out” and “Come as You Are” landing on the US Hot 100.

“What I do is perform stuff from the new album and also, I add some of my favorite Geils songs because they’re songs that I helped write and have been a part of my life for many years,” Wolf said. “So it’s a pretty dynamic show as far as that goes.”

The new album has a close-knit variety of songs that lean more toward Americana country and blues or soulful, melancholic ballads than up front rock-blues numbers. There’s even a new take on the J. Geils classic, “Love Stinks”.

They’re the type of songs that after two or three listens you find yourself mouthing the lyrics. Rolling Stone magazine has named it one of the best 45 albums so far this year.

Peter Wolf

Peter Wolf; photo Dennis DiBrizzi

His previous release Midnight Souvenirs included the iconic track “The Night Comes Down” which was written for the late Willy DeVille.

“I feel it’s sort of criminal that he’s still so subterranean to many music people,” Wolf said. “Once I turn people on to him they fall in love with him. I wish that happened while he was still with us.

“But I knew Willy from way back in his early CBGB days. We were always gonna try to do something together but it never quite worked out. And this last recording, the recording before this, we had this song worked out and unfortunately he got very ill and passed away. So, it was very sad. I’m a big fan.

“And not to sound morbid but the same thing happened – I was supposed to work with Bobby Womack. We had this song all picked out and he got very ill during the recording.
Peter Wolf Provides Cure For Loneliness

“But, Willy DeVille I find an intriguing character and there’s a documentary being made and they’ve asked me to participate in it. So I hope that maybe that will shed some light and widen his visibility. “

Wolf is a self-described music fanatic, enjoying collaborating with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Merle Haggard, John Lee Hooker, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Wilson Pickett, Shelby Lynne and many others including Robert Cray.

“We did a Muddy Waters tribute at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. We worked together on that,” Wolf said. “Besides a good player, he also happens to be a very nice person.”

Being absorbed by music, which is the cure for the loneliness the new album refers to, he also likes going to concerts. In fact, he recently saw Mudcrutch with Tom Petty when he came around.

“The other night I went to see Bob Dylan’s show and he’s somebody I’ve followed and known throughout the years. He’s been doing a lot of the standards. It was a really powerful show.”

Peter Wolf and The Midnight Travelers have been on tour for the last six months and San Juan Capistrano has the good fortune of providing the show in a cozy atmosphere.

“I enjoy The Coach House, it has a good feel, intimate. I think it will be a good evening.”