WITH STRINGS AND BRASS...
FOREIGNER ROCKS AND KICKS ASS!
Cello’s, violins, and horns are not something that comes to mind when you think of the classic rock band Foreigner. Last night, South Florida was treated to, as part of a limited run, a set list of Foreigners greatest hits that included a full orchestra backing up the band.
Most times when a concert falls on a weekday, it is pretty hard to sell out the venue. This apparently is not the case for Foreigner. This show sold every single seat in the house. It is not often that you get to see a band of this caliber backed up by a full orchestra so when this show was first announced, tickets sold quickly.
The band, made up of founder and guitarist Mick Jones, bassist Jeff Pilson, lead guitarist Bruce Watson, drummer Chris Frazier, keyboardist Mike Bluestein, multi-instrumentalist Tom Gimbel, and vocalist Kelly Hanson exploded onto the stage to a standing ovation and launched into a set of familiar classics that included Blue Morning, Blue Day, Cold As Ice, and Waiting For A Girl Like You. The stage was slightly transformed into a more intimate setting for the next three songs, which were performed acoustically. To hear Say Yo Will, The Flame Still Burns, and Double Vision stripped down to the bare essentials is a treat in itself.
The accompanying orchestra was a show all on its own. Conducted by Dave Eggar, the songs had to be rearranged to accompany the strings, brass, and wood wind instruments. The combination of rock and classical combined is an auditory experience that is not soon forgotten.
The band finished out the evening with Feels Like The First Time, Urgent, Fool For You Anyway, Hot Blooded, and Juke Box Hero. The encore song, I Want To Know What Love Is was performed by a local school choir that was the winner of a competition that was held between several local schools that were competing for the coveted opportunity to perform with one of the most famous rock bands in history that is celebrating over forty years as Foreigner.
The only drawback for me was that the set list was short. With such a large catalogue of music that Foreigner has amassed over the decades, it would have been great to have had a little more music from them at this performance. Nonetheless, this was definitely one of the absolute best concerts to see.
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