By Doug Deutsch
Longtime rockers Foreigner returned to the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City last weekend, playing two sold-out shows at the 7,000-seat Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena. Though the current band lineup currently features no original members, many have been with the band for a long time, including frontman vocalist Kelly Hansen, who’s been with Foreigner since 2004.
Taking the stage at approximately 8:15 p.m., the group played the hits their fans came to see during an approximately 90-minute set – “Blues Morning, Blue Day,” “Cold As Ice,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent,” “Juke Box Hero” and others. While there were no original members, the ones onstage nonetheless were very skilled, with special shout-outs to lead guitarist Bruce Watson, keyboardist Michael Bluestein drummer, Chris Fraizer, and aforementioned vocalist Hansen. These guys can play.
Early on in the show, Hansen called attention to the fact that this was to be Foreigner’s Farewell Tour,” but as bassist Jeff Pilson also told us in an interview last week, “it’s a farewell ‘tour,’ but not goodbye forever.” So, like Kiss, Motley Crue, and others who have said they were on their final tour only to reappear on the music scene a short while later, don’t be surprised if Foreigner continues to perform or even record.
Our evening’s highlight was when The Children’s Choir of Southern New Jersey, presented by Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation Inc. took the stage during Foreigner’s last encore to perform their iconic ballad “I Want To Know What Love Is.” The choir did a nice job, and for their efforts, were gifted $500 by Foreigner towards their school music program.
