Foreigner
- Az Chaudhry
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The singer urges the crowd to stand up as musical director / bassist Jeff Pilson’s keyboard is wheeled out for ‘Cold As Ice’ and of course the crowd are happy to oblige as soon as they hear the first few bars from the 1977 hit.
I have to be honest and admit that I wasn’t too bothered about seeing Foreigner this time around, especially as Mick Jones has now retired from performing due to Parkinsons disease and there was very little chance of ex-vocalist Lou Gramm making a guest appearance in Europe. However, when Jefferson Starship were announced as special guests my interest was certainly piqued.
Cathy Richardson’s vocals sound powerful and melodic and she looks pretty cool playing rhythm guitar at the same time.
The lights go down and a video screen has Jefferson Starship’s logo brightly displayed. They kick off their twelve song, hour long set with ‘Find Your Way Back’. Cathy Richardson’s vocals sound powerful and melodic and she looks pretty cool playing rhythm guitar at the same time. Next up is ‘Stranger’, also from 1981’s ‘Modern Times’, and Richardson once again shows that she can sing Grace Slick’s parts without any issue. ‘Sara’ has the crowd joining in and quite a few mobile phones are being waved about by the ten thousand attendees. Surprisingly, Richardson sings the main vocal with founding member David Freiberg joining in at certain parts and excellent backing vocals from drummer Donnie Baldwin. The crowd are up on their feet during ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’. Psychedelic lighting dominates the video screen during sixties’ hit ‘White Rabbit’ and keyboardist Chris Smith provides an extended intro. ‘We Built This City’ is cheesy as hell but who cares …we’re all enjoying ourselves and Freiberg sounds great for someone who is almost eighty eight! The highlight of the evening for me is ‘Jane’ and Freiberg once again excels on vocals and Jude Gold nails the guitar solo! The band receive a well deserved standing ovation at the end of their set.
His voice is nothing like Lou Gramm’s or Hansen’s, however it is powerful and doesn’t sound out of place.
Thirty minutes later the lights dim once again, and Foreigner’s logo appears on the video screen. The band hit the stage and we’re straight into ‘Double Vision’. Vocalist Luis Maldonado is resplendent in a snazzy suit. Speaking to several crowd members post gig, they weren’t aware that Kelly Hansen had retired last year and that Maldonado had been promoted from within (he was previously the rhythm guitarist in the band for several years). His voice is nothing like Lou Gramm’s or Hansen’s, however it is powerful and doesn’t sound out of place. ‘Head Games’ is up next and the crowd are enjoying themselves. Lead guitarist Bruce Watson is laying down plenty of riffs and grinning like a cheshire cat, and he’s flanked by rhythm guitarist John Roth (Winger and Giant). I was unaware that Roth had joined the band, it transpires he was Maldonado’s replacement.
The singer urges the crowd to stand up as musical director / bassist Jeff Pilson’s keyboard is wheeled out for ‘Cold As Ice’ and of course the crowd are happy to oblige as soon as they hear the first few bars from the 1977 hit. Pilson remains stage front with his keyboard for another smash hit, ‘Waiting For A Girl Like You’, and Maldonado handles the high notes with ease. Roth fills in on bass for these two ballads. The hits keep on coming… ‘Blue Morning, Blue Day’, ‘That Was Yesterday’ and ‘Feels Like The First Time’ are all performed impeccably and the crowd are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, this is where things take a downturn. Maldonado, Watson and keyboardist Michael Bluestein perform the classic ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, apparently because Foreigner love the song so much. Fair enough, it’s their choice and it sounds just fine, but it’s a missed opportunity to delve into their extensive back catalogue.
‘Urgent’ quickly increases the tempo and the crowd jump to their feet again.
‘Urgent’ quickly increases the tempo and the crowd jump to their feet again. Bluestein treats us to an extended keytar solo at the front of the stage (apparently the band can’t afford a saxophonist!) The song ends and he returns behind his bank of keyboards to “entertain us” with a solo which then becomes a duet with drummer Chris Frazier and then leads into a drum solo. Fifteen minutes later (it felt longer), the rest of the band return to the stage. Main set closer ‘Juke Box Hero’ (a personal favourite) is another extended number. Maldonado introduces the band whilst singing and then we have the nauseating splitting of the arena into two halves and who can sing the loudest. I can’t be the only fan who finds this extremely irritating!
The encores consist of the superb ‘Long Long Way From Home’ and then the local kids’ choir from Parrswood High School enter the fray for ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’. Pilson is out front on keyboards again and Maldonado is genuinely appreciative of his young backing vocalists’ ensemble. The show ends with Maldonado grabbing his guitar and showing off a little during a rocking ‘Hot Blooded’.
This could have been a great show; however, the extended solo spots totally spoilt the momentum and flow.
This could have been a great show; however, the extended solo spots totally spoilt the momentum and flow. Twelve original songs and they were on stage for an hour and three quarters – do the math!
Review: Az Chaudhry
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