Review & photos by Joe Schaeffer
Foreigner brought their Best of Foreigner 4 & More Live three-week residency to the Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, and Vintage Rock was on hand to cover a show. The group will be embarking on a Farewell Tour that will cover 2023 and 2024.
The current lineup features guitarist Mick Jones on guitar, lead vocalist Kelly Hansen, bassist Jeff Pilson, guitarist Bruce Watson, guitarist and bassist Luis Carlos Maldonado, drummer Chris Frazier, keyboardist Michael Bluestein. Jones, who is battling ongoing health issues, was unable to join the band on this current Vegas residency.
As expected, Foreigner brought out the stellar history of the band with their songs. With 47 years behind them, it also makes it difficult to choose what tunes to play. A bevy of hits were included. The enduring rock anthems of “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold As Ice,” “Waiting for A Girl Like You,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Dirty White Boy,” and “Blue Morning, Blue Day” were all part of tonight’s set.
Hansen pointed out that performing at a residency gives the band an opportunity to do something different on stage. The band members all took a spot in the front of the stage to play a three-song acoustic set. “Can’t Slow Down,” the title track from the band’s last studio release from 2009, started us off followed by “Girl On The Moon” and “Say You Will.” The latter turned into a massive singalong.
For what has become customary, a group of local kids From Liberty High School came up to the stage to sing back-up vocals on “I Want To Know What Love Is” during the three-song encore.
Throughout the 80-minute concert, the crowd joined Hansen in belting most of the night’s numbers. It was never more evident than on the show closer “Hot Blooded,” which ended the night on a high note.
