These PBS Soundstage performances have always been a mixed blessing for me. Yes, it may be your only chance to catch a recent performance from your favorite artist, but the presentation of most of these shows has been way too glitzy and sterile for my taste. They seem more like a TV series promoting its own program rather than a concert video promoting an artist. The lack of any special features about each performing artist or band also hammers this point home.
The Soundstage producers must have been taking all of my hate mail and death threats to heart, though, because each season has seen a steady improvement in production quality, especially in presenting a more authentic concert experience. This latest Foreigner Live offering may be the best one yet.
Anyone who is over thirty years old — and who listened to mainstream rock radio (when there used to be such a thing) — will likely be intimately familiar with Foreigner. In the ten year period between the release of their self-titled debut album in 1977 and their last platinum-selling album,1987's Inside Information, Foreigner were arena rock kings.
I am not going to rehash the history of Foreigner here, but many will say that when Mick Jones — its sole original member — reformed the group in 2004, it had been reduced to just a glorified cover band. Fair enough, but what a glorious, glorified cover band they are. Jones brought in some ace musicians including bassist Jeff Pilson (formerly of Dokken), drummer Jason Bonham (son of the legendary Led Zeppelin tub smasher, John Bonham), and guitarist/saxophonist Tom Gimbel. On tour, Michael Bluestein serves as the band's keyboardist.
This comeback could not have really been taken seriously, however, had Jones not struck gold with his new lead vocalist, Kelly Hansen. A dead ringer for original Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm, Hansen has all of the energy, charisma, and powerhouse vocals to make this comeback a success. I could not believe just how good Hansen and the band sounded when I heard the Alive & Rockin' DVD. And I was even more impressed when I saw them live in concert last year. If you had pretty much written Foreigner off for dead, as I've suggested earlier, allow this excellent new DVD to give you a fresh perspective.
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