Blimp Time-Hop: J. Geils Band Bring Love Stinks Tour To CCCC

40 years ago today, the mighty J. Geils Band returned to the Civic Center for the second time. It was the Love Stinks tour and the first of many sold out 80s shows here in Portland on May 2, 1980.

The band was unquestionably one of the greatest live acts of 70s and early 80s with Stephen Jo Bladd on drums, Magic Dick on the 'lickin' stick', Danny Klein on bass, Seth Justman on keys, J. Geils on guitar and on lead vocals and sick dance moves, Peter Wolf.

The title track lamenting relationship drama that we all encounter at some point in life  and a track called Come Back that begs for the return of lost love, were getting plenty of spins on WBLM.

Here's the official music video for Love Stinks. I might start wearing one of those badass gas masks when go out for groceries.

Here's a lip synch performance of Come Back from what looks like on a some unknown TV show. Peter's kinetic, frenetic energy makes him a front man like no other.

We after all, always thought of this band as our own. If you wanted to hear the Woofah Goofah on the radio in Maine, you always tuned into the Blimp.

Of course we listened to Love Stinks on the turntable at home after school too. Usually while chowin' down an entire mixing bowl of some sugar cereal soaked in milk. I’m also pretty sure I copied the album from vinyl to cassette so I could listen to it on my little boom box strapped to my Schwinn. Love my Geils!

Check out this scorchin' live performance of Just Can't Wait from the spring of 1980 in Oakland, California.

Being from just down the road in  Boston, The J. Geils Band was always popular up here and they’ve been real good to us with shows over the years.

We count 14 times that they brought the 'Houseparty' to Blimpville from 1971 in Waterville to their last one 2015 on the Maine State Pier. Peter Wolf kindly gave WBLM a shout-out during the updated opening rap of Must of Got Lost in the encore. It's always been such a Blimpy tune, so we were blown away by the honor of being part of the lyrics that night.