Music review: 鈥楩oreigner with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus鈥�
Rhodes
I鈥檝e been a fan of Foreigner ever since I was captivated by the muscular opening guitar riffs that fueled 鈥淔eels Like the First Time.鈥� With tracks like 鈥淐old as Ice,鈥� 鈥淭he Damage Is Done鈥� and 鈥淗eadknocker,鈥� the band鈥檚 self-titled debut release received repeated playing time at a high volume in my house throughout 1977.
Frontman Lou Gramm had the perfect rock voice and guitarist Mick Jones knew how to craft energizing arrangements of stadium rock that sparked rock star dreams for plenty of teenagers like me.
Gramm left the band years ago for a solo career, leaving Jones as the lone founding member of the band still calling the shots. Kelly Hansen has done an admirable job in duplicating Gramm鈥檚 vocal magic over the years and the younger members add a new vibrancy to the dynamic of the band.
Foreigner鈥檚 latest effort consists of two performances recorded in Switzerland in 2017 along with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus. Recognized as one of the most popular rock acts in the world, Foreigner rocks out with the elegant backing of a 58-piece orchestra and a 60-piece choir.
鈥淥verture鈥� opens the evening in a grand and gracious manner, only to burst into the keyboard mastery of 鈥淏lue Morning, Blue Day鈥� and 鈥淐old as Ice.鈥�
Highlights from the set include the cosmic 鈥淪tarrider,鈥� a rousing reworking of 鈥淒ouble Vision鈥� and a stirring version of 鈥淲hen It Comes to Love.鈥�
聽If there is one Foreigner arrangement suited perfectly for orchestra and choir, it is 鈥淚 Want to Know What Love Is鈥� from 1984鈥檚 鈥淎gent Provocateur.鈥� Fittingly, this soaring track brings the album to a glorious close.
I finally got the opportunity to see Foreigner perform live last year during the band鈥檚 40th anniversary celebration with Cheap Trick and Jason Bonham鈥檚 Led Zeppelin Experience. The show was simply amazing and proved that the group鈥檚 catalog still packs a powerful punch.
Fans can catch Foreigner performing all the hits during an appearance on June 27 at KeyBank Pavilion. Upon hearing 鈥淛uke Box Hero,鈥� I guarantee there will be plenty of air guitar being played by guys my age as they see stars in their eyes and pretend the roar of the crowd is solely for them.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.