FOREIGNER CONCERT REVIEW ON ROCK N ROLL UNIVERSE

Set List: Long Long Way From Home, Double Vision, Head Games, Cold As Ice, Waiting For A Girl Like You, Blue Morning Blue Day, Dirty White Boy, Starrider, Feels Like The First Time, Urgent, Juke Box Hero. Encores: Misty Mountain Hop, I Wanna Know What Love Is, Hot Blooded. 105 minutes

The 2005 version of Foreigner reads like a who's who of Rock & Roll. On vocals you now have Kelly Hansen of the 80's band Hurricane and as more recently the band Heaven & Earth. The new bass player is Jeff Pilson of Dokken/Dio fame. And the new drummer is Jason Bonham. And if I have to explain to you who Jason is, well then you don't know your rock history very well do you? Mick Jones has managed to pull off the equivalant of a professional sports free agency singing extravaganza. Kelly Hansen on vocals has created quite a stir among long time Foreigner fans for being Mick Jones's replacement for long time vocalist Lou Gramm. But all you have to do is see the band live with Kelly, and within the first song he will make you a believer. Yes, Lou Gramm is one of rock's all time great singers. But let's face it the last few years have not been kind to Lou. Mr. Hansen is not a Lou Gramm clone ala Steve Augeri in Journey, but rather sings in a Lou Grammish style. And yes ladies he can hit all the high notes on "Waiting For A Girl Like You" and "I Wanna Know What Love Is." In fact, I'd go as far to say that Kelly Hansen is one of the best front men I've seen in a band. Mick's choice was a great one if you ask me. The rhythm section is where this band now gets all of its balls. Jeff Pilson and Jason Bonham knock this band into major overdrive. I've saw Foreigner live three other times since 1981, and those two give the band's sound a wallop that has to be heard to be believed. Foreigner is rounded out by long time keyboardist Jeff Jacobs and rhythm guitar/ sax player Tom Gimbel, nd of course you have the band's ring leader lead guitar player Mick Jones. This guy's guitar playing never ceases to amaze me. The band opened up with "Long, Long Way From Home", and then tore through a set that was greatest hits all the way. "Double Vision" just kicks major butt live. "Head Games" featured an extended guitar jam that showcases Mick's great guitar playing. I was really impressed with Kelly's vocals on "Dirty White Boy." And the version of "Urgent" live is killer stuff, where Tom Gimbel gets a chance to make his saxophone scream. One of the highlights of the night was in the middle of a blistering version of "Juke Box Hero", the band goes into Led Zep's "Whole Lotta Love"! My chin hit the ground as the band proceeded to play a killer version of the song only to go back into "Juke Box Hero"! The first encore of the night was dedicated to Jason's dad, the late great John Bonham. "Misty Mountain Hop" had you believing that John was on stage himself! Go see these guys live with Jason, close your eyes during this song and you'll swear John was up there with band. This is an apple that didn't fall too far from the tree. The night ended with the classic hard rock hit "Hot Blooded." Once again Mick Jones showed what a great guitar player he really is. A Les Paul plugged into two Marshall stacks never sounded better. If you have any doubt in your mind about Foreigner 2005, then go see the band live and I guarantee you'll fall in love with this band all over again