In a performance that spanned decades of hits, Foreigner played in front of a capacity crowd on Saturday night at the Seneca Niagara Events Center inside the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, New York. The lights went down shortly after 8:00 PM and an ethereal medley of hit Foreigner songs filled the venue as the band entered the stage, opening the set with “Double Vision” from 1978’s album of the same name. Before bursting into “Cold as Ice,” singer Kelly Hansen quipped that he’s not going to say it’s freezing outside but he will say this: and “Cold as Ice” ensued. By the way, it was freezing outside but Kelly warmed things up on the inside by leaving the stage and joining the audience to sing a portion of the song. He brought the fans to their feet as he traipsed through the crowd.
One of the highlights of the show was an acoustic version of “Say You Will” that was reorchestrated by bassist Jeff Pilson. The song included beautiful vocal harmonies along with Thom Gimbel playing the flute. Singer Kelly Hansen then introduced the band members. Thom Gimbel (rhythm guitar, saxophone, flute), Jeff Pilson (bass guitar), Michael Bluestein (keyboards, synthesizer) and Chris Frazier (drums) round out this seasoned group of musicians. Bruce Watson played lead guitar, filling in for Mick Jones. Admittedly, I was disappointed that Jones, a founding member and only person to play on every Foreigner album, did not perform. Watson did a fine job and although Gimbel has been with the band for 23 years and I’ve been a Pilson fan since his Dokken days, without any original members on the stage, this wasn’t really Foreigner. It was, however, a terrific tribute band with the gumption to emote the main ingredient of the evening, nostalgia. Foreigner fans enjoyed singing along and stepping back in time with the likenesses of their “Juke Box Heroes.”
Another highlight of the show was “Urgent.” It featured an extended intro that showcased the musicianship of the band and included Gimbel rockin’ the sax throughout the tune, leading up to a keyboard solo and a drum solo before the band finished up the first part of the show with “Juke Box Hero.”
The Niagara Falls High School Concert Choir graced the stage and helped sing the chorus during the classic power ballad “I Want to Know What Love is.” It was the second song of a three song encore that wrapped up with “Hot Blooded.” A roaring standing ovation attested to the fact that the band sounded great. It was a fun concert and a great way to burn off the winter blues in western New York.
Setlist:
Double Vision
Head Games
Cold as Ice
Waiting for a Girl Like You
Dirty White Boy
Say You Will
Feels Like the First Time
Urgent
Keyboard and Drum Solo
Juke Box Hero
Encore:
Long, Long Way From Home
I Want to Know What Love is
Hot Blooded
Photos by Gus Griesinger
We would like to thank Philip J. Pantano from Pantano & Associates for the credentials to review the show.
