George Belli is the Man of 999 songs. Not quite a thousand … but many, many songs, and ones you don’t normally hear played by cover bands or even on the radio much anymore.

Belli grew up playing in the Boston rock scene for a number of punk and post-punk bands including The Real, who were hot in the big city for a bit during the 1980s.

Since moving north, Belli has been playing clubs in and around Concord for a number of years now. Recently, Belli put his acoustic strum and hum of classic punk and new wave covers aside and threw together a pretty hopping electric band, The Retroactivists.

George Belli & The Retroactivists play the Makris Lobster & Steak House on Friday night.

Q Who is your favorite band and why?

A The Kinks. Ray Davies' humanity and humor keeps me going back to the old Kinks records and keeps me buying his new stuff – really, in my humble opinion, the greatest songwriter the rock era has produced. I also love the fact that, like me, they're always out of step with the world.

Q Name five songs you love that the band doesn't cover?

A “A Firth of Fifth,” by Pete Gabriel's Genesis; “Airport,” by The Motors; “Sound & Vision,” by David Bowie; “6 Months in a Leaky Boat,” by Split Enz; and “My Pink Half of the Drainpipe,” by Bonzo Dog Band

Q A lot of folks pan today's music as compared to the British Invasion, new wave, and Brit-pop movements. Are critics being fair to today's musicians?

A Today's musicians are just as talented as ever – unfortunately, with pop and rock such a big business, nobody gets to make up the rules as they go along anymore, resulting in a lot of sound-alike bandwagon-hoppers. Big business wins again.

Q What living music legend have you not met but would like to meet and why?  

A Paul McCartney – because there would be no me without The Beatles.

Q What can people expect to see and hear at your show Friday?

A We're passionate about the bands and songs we do. We're kind of like troubadours, making sure that bands like the Kinks, Squeeze, Zombies, Small Faces, etc., aren't ever forgotten.