Foreigner – Quechan Casino Resort, Winterhaven (CA) 2/14/10
Posted by Aaron Mayagoitia on 02.17.2010
Mick Jones and the boys deliver a Valentine’s Day concert heavy on hits and crowd-pleasing charisma.
Four, three, two, one… And then BAM! “Double Vision” started blasting through the PA system, rattling the packed venue with rock ‘n’ roll’s intoxicating energy. Surprisingly, the band sounded just like – if not better than – the classic Foreigner. Guitarist and founder Mick Jones is the only original member left, but he’s done a great job keeping the fire alive with an astounding cast of talent: singer Kelly Hansen, multi-instrumentalist Tom Gimbel, bassist Jeff Pilson (of Dokken fame), keyboardist Michael Bluestein, and drummer Brian Tichy. Of special notice is singer Kelly Hansen’s remarkable rendition of the Foreigner canon, his voice resembling original singer Lou Gramm’s unmistakable tone almost to perfection.
If you think that having the Foreigner sound is not enough, then you’ll be glad to know that the band knows how to treat an audience. The approximately two-hour show had all the hits both the long-time fans and the casual listeners had hoped to listen to, not to mention that their most recent single – a Billboard 200 entry with a #29 debut – “When It Comes to Love” off last-year’s Can’t Slow Down made its way into the set list as well, receiving a warm response from the audience; the deep cut “Starrider” catered to the band’s most loyal and demanding fans, Mick Jones even introducing the song as the evening’s “spacey number”.
But the band not only relied on playing the hits to awe the audience; Kelly Hansen’s electric presence had the front rows going and the whole place singing along; Michael Bluestein’s keyboard solo and Brian Tichy’s drum solo – including a bit of Led Zeppelin’s “Moby Dick” – provided excitement; Tom Gimbel’s “Urgent” saxophone solo was exhilarating. But the set’s climax came during an extended version of “Jukebox Hero” that included Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” and various spots for Mick Jones to let loose and let it rip.
Foreigner’s complete set list was:
Double Vision
Head Games
Cold as Ice
Waiting for a Girl like You
When It Comes to Love
Dirty White Boy
Starrider
Feels like the First Time
Urgent
Keyboard/Drum Solo/Moby Dick
Jukebox Hero/Whole Lotta Love
-Encore-
I Want to Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded
Man, was it a great concert! I got to scream my lungs out and have a great time. Everything about the gig was amazing. Not to be disrespectful, but not for one second did I miss any of Foreigner’s past members. The current band Mick Jones has assembled is in top shape, avidly talented and with mastery over the Foreigner sound. Those who stick to the idea that going to a Foreigner gig is only worth it if Lou Gramm is aboard are missing out on a great rock ‘n’ roll show. If the guys come to your town, be sure to check them out, you won’t regret it!
Thanks to my buddy Oscar Sañudo for the pics and vid.
The 411: If you enjoy a top-class rock concert, Foreigner is currently one of the bands that can give you that type of experience. The new band sounds even better than the old band and each individual member is utterly likeable. Those who’ve been to a gig won’t disagree, and those who haven’t shouldn’t wait any longer.
