Foreigner broke onto the now classic rock scene in 1977 winning over fans with the classic rock anthem “Feels like the first Time”. Over 30 years later, Foreigner continues to tour and perform to a devoted fan base while earning new fans through impeccable live performances.
Founding guitarist Mick Jones is the sole remaining member from Foreigner’s classic lineup. With all due respect to founding members, Jones has put together a group of musicians beyond typical session players that gel together like a band that has been performing together for decades.
Touring in support of their appropriately titled release “Cant’ Slow Down”, Foreigner stops in the south to deliver an epic performance at Atlanta’s premier OTP venue Wild Bills which is rapidly becoming the venue of choice for witnessing classic and emerging acts in an large but intimate venue.
As Foreigner took the stage, the capacity crowd was treated with a relentless set of superbly executed hits beginning with classics “Double Vision”, “Head Games”, “Cold as Ice”,”Blue Morning”., and “Waiting for a girl like you”. Lead vocalist Kelly Hansen, formerly of 80′s rock band Hurricane, left no doubt that he could carry the soulful and soaring lyrics of the band and won over fans with a strong and engaging stage presence.
Midway through the 90+ minute set, the band continued to rip through their catalog of career hits delivering “Starrider”, “Feels Like the First Time”, “Urgent”, and crowd favorite “Dirty White Boy”. The band truly shined through these classics and featured over the top performances by bassist/vocalist Jeff Pilson of Dokken, Sax and Rhythm guitarist Thom Gimbel, keyboardist Michael Bluestein, and drummer Brian Tithy. All the while Mick Jones passionately carried lead guitar duties and shredded solo after solo from center stage with youthful and reckless abandon. The show closed on the classic Foreigner anthem “Juke Box Hero” with backing vocals carried by the crowd as they morphed the song in and out of the Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love”.
As the crowd chanted “Foreigner, Foreigner, Foreigner” the band returned to the stage to end the night with a three song encore of “I want to know what love is”, “Hot Blooded”, and the rocking “Long Long way from home”.
Whether a die hard fan of the classic Foreigner lineup or a fan of the bands music, this now classic and youthful lineup presents a show not to miss and ensures the music of Foreigner will forever live in rock history while continuing to thrive in contemporary modern times.
Foreigner review and photos by Allen Ross Thomas of Artist Exposure
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