Music lovers at Englewood, NJ’s BergenPAC this Friday, May 3, 2019 are taking selfies in front of the stage where large metal letters hang proclaiming the name of the iconic ’80s band set to appear here this evening — Foreigner.
As we wait for tonight’s show to begin, we chat with several music lovers in the auditorium including Paul from Long Island who says, “Foreigner is a great band — I’ve seen them about a dozen times — and I just love their music; they have a lot of hits.”
“I go to concerts all the time, explains Paul, “I’ve seen Elton John, Chicago, Pink Floyd, ELO…” joking, “You can’t take the money with you!” before adding, “and I really like this venue, too — seeing concerts here is great.”
Josh from Clinton reveals, “I’m a diehard Foreigner fan. I’ve seen them nine or ten times in the last three years. I can listen to them for hours.”
Continuing, “I have a whole wall of fan memorabilia with about 19 autographs,” Josh contends, “And this line-up is the best — lead singer Kelly Hansen makes the group.”
Lisa from Leonia recalls, “I’ve been a fan of Foreigner since 1978. I went to Leonia High School and we had a jukebox in the cafeteria where we’d listen to their music.”
Recalling, “I saw them last summer in Philadelphia and they blew me away,” Lisa concludes by exclaiming, “I’ve been to thousands of concerts and I can tell you this: Foreigner is one great band.”
Gina from River Edge remarks, “I grew up listening to Foreigner’s music. They have very cool songs — I can relate to them on an emotional level,” before her husband, Gary, adds, “‘Feels Like The First Time’ is our song, but I think all of their music is amazing — you just don’t hear music like that anymore.”
Ingrid from Fairfield recounts, “I’ve been a fan of Foreigner since the late ’70s, and I’ve seen them about eight or nine times. I love their music and lyrics. They’re not exactly hard rock — I’d call their music ‘Classic ’80s Rock,’ like Styx, Journey, and Def Leopard. And I love that they still tour with their original guitarist and songwriter — Mick Jones. He’s so great.”
Ingrid’s friend, Cindy from Sparta, concurs noting, “We just love Foreigner,” before adding, “and the group’s lead singer, Kelly Hansen, is so amazing — he’s energetic and he works the whole stage.”
Lastly, we chat with Dale, and his daughter, Sophie, who traveled all the way from Manassas, VA for tonight’s show.
Explains Dale, “We drove 269 miles to come to this concert. We’re here for the experience. I brought my oldest daughter — today is her 18-and-a-half-year birthday — and it is a rare moment, not to mention well worth the drive, to get to see a group like Foreigner this close up.”
Daughter Sophie agrees adding, “I can’t wait to hear them play my favorite Foreigner song, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is,’ revealing, “When I get married, that’s going to be my song.”
The lights dim and an announcement is made indicating that Foreigner CDs will be available for sale with part of the proceeds going to help the Shriners Hospitals for Children charity. Moreover, with each purchase, patrons will have a chance to win a guitar which has been autographed by all seven current members of Foreigner.
Yellow and white lights criss-cross the stage as synthesized sounds fill the theater, building in intensity until an announcer exclaims, “Ladies and gentlemen — Foreigner!”
White lights splash onto the audience as founding member and guitarist Mick Jones takes a spot center stage followed by the rest of the Foreigner band — Jeff Pilson on bass; Tom Gimbel on sax, guitar, and keyboards; Mike Bluestein on keyboards; Bruce Watson on guitar; Chris Frazier on drums; and Kelly Hansen on lead vocals.
“Come on New Jersey!” exclaims Hansen as the audience leaps to its feet while the group launches into its opening number, “Long, Long Way from Home.” With their big sound, the group excites the crowd as Gimbel wails on his tenor sax and Hansen rocks out accompanied by Jeff Pilson on bass and vocals.
Seguing into their 1978 gold record, “Double Vision,” the crowd is still on its feet, not wanting to miss a thing.
Heads bop to the rhythm of this tighter-than-tight band as Hansen channels Mick Jagger, wearing his scarf and dancing with his mic stand as he croons, “Fill my eyes with that double vision/No disguise for that double vision.” Lights flash in time to the driving drums and bass before the crowd explodes with cheers and applauds.
Dueling guitars and four-part harmonies highlight “Head Games” — a number which features a thrilling Mick Jones guitar solo. As he plays, Hansen eggs the crowd on to cheer for Jones, and they do.
Following excited applause, Mick Jones takes a moment to greet the audience exclaiming, “Hello, New Jersey! How happy are we to be in New Jersey? It’s just like home! Tonight is a celebration. You guys ready to get this party started?”
The iconic keyboard intro opens Foreigner’s 1977 Top 10 hit, “Cold as Ice.” Singing, “You’re as cold as ice/You’re willing to sacrifice our love,” Hansen twirls his microphone stand over his shoulder while the band rocks out.
Hansen conducts the audience as they happily sing along on the “Cold (cold) as (as) ice” interlude before he leaps into the audience, walking among them, but returning to the stage just in time to conclude the song.
The crowd roars and the stage lights turn as the band segues into their 1981 power ballad, “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” a song which ranked #100 onBillboard’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” On this crowd pleaser, Hansen hits all of the high notes with ease.
Jones switches over from guitar to keyboard and the crowd sings along on the famous “I’ve been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life” chorus.
Hansen asks to turn up the house lights, looks around, and jokes, “So many fantastic beautiful ladies — surrounded by some sketchy dudes.”
Here, he launches into a song which Mick Jones wrote about Elvis Presley entitled “Dirty White Boy.”
On this bluesy rocker, Jones shines on guitar as Hansen sings and plays maracas, strutting around the stage as guitarist Bruce Watson accompanies him with finesse.
After Hansen introduces all of the current members of the band and Jones introduces Hansen, Jones announces, “Thank you, Englewood. We knew this was going to be a great crowd,” as a fan yells out, “We love you!”
Hansen tells the crowd, “Two years ago was the 40th anniversary of Foreigner, but this year is the 40th anniversary of the Head Games album.” Here, he tells all of the “over-40s out there” to find the “20-year-old rock and rollers” inside themselves “who used to be able to stand up for a whole concert,” reminding them, “Music was important back then — it was in your heart, your soul, your bones” before adding, “Now go back to the first song you ever heard from this band.”
At this point, Jones and Hansen launch into Foreigner’s 1977 debut single, “Feels Like the First Time.”
Clapping overhead as lights flash — bringing everyone back to a time when they first experienced Foreigner — the crowd sings along on the ubiquitous “It feels like the first time/Feels like the very first time” chorus of this feel-good anthem. Then, all three guitarists come together center stage, accompanied by Mike Bluestein’s swirling keyboard, Jeff Pilson’s tight bass, and Chris Frazier’s driving drums.
For the next number, keyboard and drums are featured on the intro before Jones plays a smoldering Carlos Santana-like guitar solo.
Audience members finally sit down to enjoy the music, but immediately jump back up onto their feet as smoke spews from the stage on the opening of the group’s 1981 Top 10 hit, “Urgent.” Strutting across the stage, saxophonist Tom Gimbel plays a bright and jazzy sax solo as Hansen flips his cowbell in the air. All the while, the crowd sings along on the catchy “You say it’s urgent/So urgent” chorus before smoke spews up from the rear of the stage on the song’s conclusion.
Band members leave the stage as keyboardist Mike Bluestein exclaims, “Alright, Jersey — clap those hands!” Bluestein channels Keith Emerson as he plays a hand-over-hand organ solo. Then, he cues drummer Chris Frazier who plays an electrifying drum solo — building it to a frenzied pace — lights flashing as he double pedals his bass drum, making it sound like multiple shots firing.
The crowd cheers when Frazier places one drumstick between his teeth and plays a drum roll with the stick in his other hand. They are truly amazed, however, when Frazier pours water onto his drums and plays them as lights shine through to create an innovative and unique live concert water show!
The audience stands and hollers throughout the display until Frazier stands up, throws his sticks out onto the stage, and picks up a mallet and crashes his gong. Here, the band returns backlit in silhouette to play their 1981 hit, “Jukebox Hero.”
With six-part vocals shining through, the group sings, “He’s a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes,” before Hansen does a call and response with the crowd, telling them to “Raise your hands up” and sing “Yeah!”
Jeff Pilson plays his bass with his right hand above the fingerboard while lights flash and guitars wail. The BergenPAC auditorium erupts into pandemonium as the band ends the number with a flourish and then takes leave of the stage.
Audience members clap in unison until the group returns, at which point Hansen inquires, “You want to hear some more music?”
The crowd responds in the affirmative and Hansen continues, “Make some noise! Do you hear the beat, New Jersey? That’s the groove. Allow that groove to get inside you. Tap your foot. Move your shoulders. Let the groove take the place of any negative feelings.”
Inviting audience members to put their arms around their neighbors saying, “Let the love in your hearts rise up out of your fingers and into their shoulders,” Hansen thanks the crowd “for everything you’ve done over the last 40 years,” before adding, “Will you sing this next song with us?”
Lights shine as a choir of young singers take their places between the drums and keyboard to join Foreigner in performing one of the band’s greatest hits — their 1984 #1 smash, “I Want to Know What Love Is.”
The audience experiences a touching moment singing “I want to know what love is/I want you to show me” along with the band and all of the young choir members.
After thanking the youth choir for joining them, the youngsters bow and exit. Then, the group launches into its final number of the night — their 1978 Top 10 hit, “Hot Blooded.” Rockin’ it old school, bassist Jeff Pilson moves over to keyboards and keyboardist Mike Bluestein plays bass. The musicians rock out to the “I’m hot blooded/I’m hot blooded” chorus before all of the guitarists jam center stage on this hard-driving song.
The audience cheers as smoke fills the stage and Hansen says, “You are truly exceptional. We love you. Thank you, and good night!” before the winning ticket for the Foreigner autographed guitar is pulled.
As audience members make their way out of the BergenPAC auditorium, we chat with several music lovers in the house who share their opinions of tonight’s performance with us.
Says Darlene from Saratoga Springs NY, “I thought this concert was great! I’m a long-time fan of Foreigner, but this is my first time seeing them. They played so many hits tonight it’s hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to choose, I’d say ‘I Want to Know What Love Is,’ which was exceptional with the youth choir.”
Adding, “This is also my first time here at Bergen PAC,” Darlene comments, “I think this is a great venue — I will definitely be coming back.”
Sharon from Verona calls Foreigner’s performance tonight “awesome.” Recalling, “I grew up with this music, and my mom was a fan,” Sharon explains, “It’s a family thing,” before adding, “and I really liked seeing Foreigner here at BergenPAC — everyone here is so pleasant.”
Joseph from Verona concurs adding, “I’m a big fan, too — I just saw them recently, in fact — but they were really amazing here tonight.”
We also chat with family members and friends of Michael from Bergen, the winner of the Foreigner autographed guitar.
While Michael gets his picture taken with his new instrument, his wife, Christina, reveals, “Michael is really the perfect fan to win this guitar. He came to the concert with his best friend, Charlie, and they serenaded each other throughout the whole concert. They know the words to every single song.”
Comments Charlie, “The concert was great. The group has such energy — they’re phenomenal,” to which his wife, Maria, adds, “My husband is a huge Foreigner fan, and both he and I thought they were just amazing tonight.”
Lastly, we chat with Kenny from Englewood who tells us, “I grew up here at BergenPAC. I’ve been coming here since it was a movie theater. I call it ‘my house’ — I go to about ten concerts every month here — and that’s why people call me ‘Kenny Concert.’”
“I even got a set list from tonight’s show,” reveals Kenny, declaring, “This show was phenomenal — my hands were in the air the whole night! I’m so happy I got to see this concert,” before concluding with a smile, “I lost my mind seeing Foreigner here tonight — I’m just ecstatic!”
To learn more about Foreigner, please go to foreigneronline.com. For information on upcoming concerts at BergenPAC — including Chicago on June 19, Pat Benetar and Neil Geraldo on June 22 , The Righteous Brothers on July 11, and Rob Thomas on July 17 — please click on bergenpac.org.
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