Foreigner Soundstage Live was filmed in Chicago in late 2008. While I couldn't determine the exact recording date, I believe it was in November, which seems appropriate as Hansen mentions it being very cold at the time, before the band launches into — what else? — "Cold As Ice." The setlist features16 of the band's biggest hits as well as one new song, "Too Late," which was also included on last year's compilation album, No End In Site: The Very Best of Foreigner.
The show begins with Jones bathed in white spotlights as he fires off the opening riff to the Foreigner 4 lead track, "Night Life", before the rest of the band (and a dazzling light show) join in soon after. The opener bleeds right into "Head Games," where if you close your eyes you will swear you are listening to Lou Gramm, circa 1979. Don't take such a comparison the wrong way, however. Even though Hansen can sound like a younger version of Gramm when he wants to — and he should — he also imposes enough of his own style to make these performances unique.
The new song, "Too Late," holds its own nicely amongst the classics. In fact, I'd be interested to hear an entire album of new material from this current lineup and, from what I've learned, the band is supposedly working on one as we speak.
One of the surprise highlights of the set comes with an acoustic makeover of their 1987 hit single, "Say You Will." With the exception of Bonham, everyone in the band contributes some background vocals as they show off some dazzling harmonies.
Before launching into "Dirty White Boy," Hansen explains to the crowd that the song was actually written about Elvis Presley, but you'd never know it from the lyrics. Actually, I prefer to keep thinking it was written about me.
One of the things I appreciate about this new Foreigner is that they got themselves an honest-to-goodness sax player in Tom Gimbel to play the parts in songs like "Long, Long Way Home" and "Urgent," instead of just relying on some cheesy synth samples. His performance on "Urgent," in particular, nearly steals the show.
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