When does 4 = 10 ?

Fanfare / 17th April, 2014

Foreigner Unplugged

Entering the intimate arena of Shepherds Bush Empire I sniff the scent in the air and note the warm and welcoming sweet smell of pot!

Foreigner 4So a relaxed audience and as it proved, a relaxed and polished acoustic set delivered by a magnificent seven, led by Mr Foreigner himself, Mick Jones, on guitar – the man who composed all their big numbers.

The soft rock anthems were gently wheeled out, and like a well oiled machine it was as if time had stood still. Kelly Hanson on vocals, in 80’s attire – waistcoat, long scarf, open shirt with chain and medallion gave an unblemished performance. Only a shaker or tambourine to keep him company, he hit virtually every note and the harmonies from the assemble were pitch perfect and added great depth and colour.

A little bit of sax raises my blood and kicks me back to the late Gerry Rafferty and Baker Street (the sax player, on that record Raphael Ravenscroft received a pittance, a cheque for £27 which bounced despite the record’s acclaim and annual royalty stream).  It was a song my father loved and Tom Gimbel rather taunted me with a hope of what was to come.

Kelly HansonThen a wander thru the hits – Jukebox Hero, Double Vision, Dirty White Boy, Say You Will, Hot Blooded and a first, Girl on the Moon which worked extraordinarily well as an acoustic number plus a little bit of Memphis with an Elvis blues number That’s Alright and The Flame Still Burns a soundtrack for the film, Still Crazy (1998).

The ballads like Waiting For A Girl Like You are perfect for an unplugged set as is Feels Like The First Time which was beautifully ghosted with group harmonies. The gig ended with the expected, I Want To Know What Love Is – their biggest seller and a No1 in the UK and over the pond.

Half way thru we stopped for a Q&A session with Team Rock Radio presenter Kylie Olsson trussed up beautifully in a tightly clad leather skirt, she was still able to generate genuine interest from the artists who currently make up The Foreigner septet.

We sat just 5 rows back so enjoyed a near perfect view- my only disappointment to a faultless evening was that Urgent with it’s ringing and shrill sax was never  played… what a miss.  So here it is… now

Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange produced ‘4’ the album which defines Foreigner, other credits include working for AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams & Shania Twain.

Foreigner Unplugged – April 14.4.2014
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Gig list

  • Double Vision
  • Long, Long Way from Home
  • Say You Will
  • Waiting for a Girl Like You
  • When It Comes to Love
  • Fool for You Anyway
  • Dirty White Boy
  • That’s All Right  (Elvis Presley cover)
  • Flame Still Burns
  • Feels Like The First Time
  • Juke Box Hero

Encore

  • Girl On The Moon (Live Debut)
  • Hot Blooded
  • I Want to Know What Love Is

Foreigner 7
Mick Jones (acoustic guitar/vocals
Kelly Hansen (vocals/percussion),
Michael Bluestain (piano/vocals)
Jeff Pilson (acoustic guitar/acoustic bass/vocals),
Tom Gimbel (sax/flute/vocals),
Bruce Watson (acoustic guitar/mandolin/vocals)
Chris Frazier – (drums percussion)

Posted by: Fawkes