Not long after the Georgia Satellites formed in 1980, vocalist-guitarist Rick Richards was asked why he chose such a moniker.

“I told this guy that we’re from Connecticut but Georgia is easier to spell,” Richards cracked.

The Georgia Satellites will perform Friday, Sept. 18, at Infinity Music Hall & Bistro in Hartford, but the group is not from Connecticut. The Georgia Satellites hail from the Peach State, but the band name is sort of misleading. Yes, the veteran band that has been floating under the radar for much of its existence is from well below the Mason Dixon line, but its direct, well-crafted and at times humorous tunes have more in common with classic rock bands from the United Kingdom than acts that headlined Southern rock jams a generation ago.

“That’s the truth,” Richards said while calling from his Atlanta home. “I love the Allman Brothers. I’ll be happy to be in any room that Gregg Allman is in, but I grew up loving the music made by the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. That is still such great rock ‘n’ roll. That had such an impact on me.”

The Georgia Satellites hit with a visceral punch and provocative and sometimes cheeky lyrics. That sums up “Keep Your Hands to Yourself,” the band’s lone top-five smash. If it weren’t for Bon Jovi’s huge single “Livin’ on a Prayer,” the Georgia Satellites would have topped the pop charts in 1986.

“That’s something you can’t control,” Richards said. “We were just happy to have such a big hit.”

After releasing its third album, 1989’s “In the Land of Salvation and Sin,” the Georgia Satellites splintered the following year.

The band resurfaced, sans original vocalist-guitarist Dan Baird, in 1993 and Richards took over the lead-vocals duty.

“I’ve done what I can to keep this band alive,” Richards said. “I still love playing these songs people still want to hear.”

Richards is with bassist Bruce Smith, who has been with the band since 1993, drummer Todd Johnson, who has been with the group for 14 years and guitarist Fred McNeal, who signed on in 2013.

It’s apparently working out, since the Georgia Satellites will soon release its second album since reforming, the first since 1997’s “Shaken Not Stirred.”

Richards and his crew decided to craft new material only two weeks ago. “That was right after we recorded a version of Chuck Berry’s “Run, Run Rudolph,” Richards said. “That was the catalyst to get back into the studio. We’ve come up with some new songs. It won’t take us long to record the new stuff.”

The Georgia Satellites will bang it out quickly, since the plan is to record in old-school fashion. “We’ll do very few overdubs and record it live in the studio,” Richards said. “That’s the way they did it when they were making the best music ever. It was pretty simple then and simple works. We’ll get this out sooner than later. I’m excited about having some new material.”

Don’t expect the Georgia Satellites to play any new material when the band comes to Infinity Hall, or to reconnect with Baird. “I’ve talked with him on and off over the years but that’s not anything to write home about,” Richards said. “As far as songs go, it’ll be a trip back through our records. We’ll hand-pick the songs and have fun with them.”

When Richards isn’t working with the Georgia Satellites, he crafts songs with Izzy Stradlin of Guns N’ Roses fame. “I love Izzy,” Richards said. “He’s one of a kind. But we’re not doing anything together right now since I have the Georgia Satellites and he was working on a record with (former Guns N’ Roses bassist) Duff (McKagan) and now he’s on sabbatical. But I think this is going to be a good time for the Georgia Satellites. We’re going to focus on this next album after we play some of these dates in which we’re focusing on the older material.”

Such as “Keep Your Hands to Yourself,” which Richards has played a million times. “That’s fine,” Richards said. “I know a lot of bands have some issues playing the hits or they’re tired of them, but not me. If they still dig that song, we’ll still play it. There’s nothing like having a hit. I don’t know if there is one on this next album but we’ll see. If something catches on, great. If not, we’ll still be out there going from town to town when the album comes out.”

THE GEORGIA SATELLITESplay at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, 32 Front St., Hartford. Tickets are $34 and $44. Information: 866-666-6306 ANDinfinityhall.com