If you didn’t know better, you might have thought you were watching a young band with something to prove Sunday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. But no, it was Foreigner, a group that’s racked up more than 70 million album sales, and Foreigner’s enthusiastic spirit, combined with an almost ridiculous number of well-delivered hits, made for one of the better classic rock shows you’ll see anytime soon.
Playing to a packed house of 4,776 — surpassing the venue’s record set by Randy Travis only 10 days earlier — the British-American band wasted no time, slamming into “Double Vision,” “Head Games” and “Cold As Ice” to open. Any fan who entered with doubts about Foreigner’s Lou Gramm-less lineup must’ve been thinking “Lou who?,” thanks to the powerhouse performance by lead vocalist Kelly Hansen, a dynamic performer with remarkable range and a charisma that helped the band win over the crowd very early into the set. Mick Jones, the only original member, let fly two guitar solos in “Head Games” while adding piano sounds with a keyboard, as he did often throughout the show, to “Cold As Ice.” Large digital screens, as well as Hansen’s rambunctious behavior — for example, he ran into the audience during “Head Games” — bassist Jeff Pilson’s headbanging and the sextet’s overall stage presence made for a concert that was as visually compelling as it was sonically satisfying.
After the trio of well-known tunes to open the show, Foreigner shared the title track from its 2009 album “Can’t Slow Down,” the band’s first studio record in 15 years. Such a move often inspires beelines to the beer stands and bathrooms, but, to the band’s credit, the relatively unknown yet catchy song offered no letup.
“Waiting For A Girl Like You” and “I Want To Know What Love Is” were the only ballads Foreigner included, and both provided emotional peaks. “Waiting” came after “Can’t Slow Down.” Following a Jones keyboard intro, Hansen took the reigns, hitting all the tough-to-reach high notes. The band placed “I Want To Know What Love Is” near the end of its set, when it was joined by a backing choir of Scranton High School students. While it was difficult to hear the students — maybe because the crowd’s own singalong was so loud — it made for a nice moment.
Other radio staples like “Dirty White Boy,” “Feels Like The First Time” and “Urgent” were all expertly performed and well-received, as were a pair of relative obscurities: “Starrider,” from the band’s 1977 self-titled debut, and “That Was Yesterday,” a single from 1985’s “Agent Provacateur,” a track seemingly forgotten by classic rock radio over the years. “Starrider” opened with a Moody Blues/early King Crimson feel, with rhythm guitarist Thom Gimbel on flute. (Gimbel also played saxophone a few times Friday.) The unique song unfolded into a more traditional rock chorus, with Jones playing some Jimmy Page-style riffs.
Foreigner — which also features drummer Jason Sutter and keyboardist Michael Bluestein — wrapped up its set with “Hot Blooded” and an encore of “Jukebox Hero.” Remarkably, the energy level of the band, as well as the large, boisterous crowd, had not waned at any point.
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