Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 7th 2011.

Foreigner are quite rightly held up as an example of the best within the world of A.O.R music, with a pedigree of music that stretches back over 30 years. It can be seen as still an alien type of music for British fans to attend, however, whether it’s Stadium Rock or Adult Rock, either way it’s still entertaining and as a concept deserves as much attention as Punk or Prog.

The band had a mountain to climb on the night as the evening’s openers Styx had given the crowd the type of opening that is craved for by huge audiences but rarely delivered as usually everyone is conditioning themselves for the main act.

However, as soon as influential main man Mick Jones came on stage the crowd went ballistic, cheering loudly as the band opened up an hour set with Double Vision and the crunching Head Games. Each note serving its purpose to get the crowd up on its feet and enjoy the high temperatures and good music being served up.

Vocalist Kelly Hansen wove his particular kind of magic on a L.G. Arena leaving them spellbound as he weaved, bobbed and sang his heart out for audience that showed their admiration joyfully at the end of every song that he and the rest of the band played.

The evening’s set list may have read like a best of and greatest hits evening but sometimes there is nothing wrong with that approach especially when the evening is billed almost as three of the finest bands of their genre. Amongst the offerings served up Foreigner were the excellent Cold as Ice, the number one smash hit song, I Want to Know What Love Is and the storming Hot Blooded.

By playing to the bands strengths and playing tracks that was to guarantee a massive reception by all of those inside the L.G Arena, Foreigner can easily be argued as one of the greats of A.O.R music. Each song was played with the right amount of dedication and Thom Gimbel especially was on top form during his wonderful saxophone solo.

There was no better way to finish a superb set than with the classic Juke Box Hero which had the audience primed for the main part of the evening.

The recently refurbished L.G. Arena has had a lot of money spent on it to make it compete with the o2 Arena in London and other newer, more modern venues and it takes bands like Foreigner to appreciate the full potential that this venue can offer. Foreigner are utterly riveting as a spectacle with each member of the band performing at a peak of their talent.

Ian D. Hall