Even though rain had been predicted for Saturday, Mother Nature instead provided a beautiful night  when I went back to the Freeman Arts Pavilion. After a long hiatus in our town, Foreigner made their way back bringing "The Greatest Hits Of Foreigner Tour 2021" to the Freeman stage. The last time they were in town was to play at our "Springfest 2013"; not sure where all that time went. As the sun was setting at 8pm, the band - lead vocalist Kelly Hansen, bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboardist Michael Bluestein, rhythm and lead guitarist Bruce Watson, drummer Chris Frazier, newest member Luis Maldonado on rhythm guitars and bass, and Mick Jones on lead and rhythm guitars - hit the stage opening with "Double Vision" and "Head Games."  Hansen stepped out to say to the crowd, “Hello Delaware, it’s good to be here,” while the roadies rolled a piano out on the stage. Pilson took his place at the keys and Maldonado switched from guitar to bass to play "Cold As Ice." Hansen then said that, “This year is the 40th anniversary of the Foreigner 4 album, so let’s go back to that era,” as the band played "Waiting for a Girl Like You," with Pilson and Maldonado staying on piano and bass for the song. Then they played "Blue Morning, Blue Day" as the sold-out crowd started to get out of their chairs and sing along with their cellphones and lighters illuminating the night sky. Hansen said that, “Since before this year’s tour started, the band has not played live in a year and four months. So how many of you became better drinkers?" This, of course, generated a huge reply from the audience as he continued to say, “This next song is for all the women in the crowd who had to deal with all the questions from their  dimwit husbands and boyfriends while in isolation,” that launched the band into "Dirty White Boy". After a quick band intro from Hansen, next came "Urgent", with Michael Bluestein coming from behind his keyboards and coming to the front of the stage with a Keytar strapped over his shoulder for the song. Now, it was time for the keyboard and drum solo with Bluestein and Frazier taking turns, with Frazier even pouring water from a bottle on top of his right floor tom-toms making quite the splash when he hit them. Then, as he was done, and started the bass-drum beat to the next song, "Juke Box Hero," Hansen said, “Come on, let me hear you, Delaware, raise your hands up," before ending the song with Hansen now saying, "Thank you Delaware, you’ve been great!" to finish their first set of the night.
    After a short intermission, Hansen asked, "Do you want to hear more?" The crowd gave up a huge cheer as they all rose to their feet. He then said that he would like to bring a special friend out on stage to join the encore. “Now, I would like to introduce the man, the myth, the legend, and the co-founder of Foreigner, Mick Jones!” Mick Jones has had some health problems in the past and they say he is traveling with the band on the tour and only plays gigs he feels up to playing. I remember at our "Springfest 2013" show he did not come out until about the seventh song or so. So what a thrill and treat for all in attendance to see him at the show, and in our backyard, for the encore that started with "Feels Like the First Time" and "Long Long Way from Home." For the next song, "I Want to Know What Love is", the band usually has a local high school choir singing the song with them but due to obvious health reasons, they’re not doing this on this tour but did put Jones on a piano center stage for the song. Hansen then addressed the crowd again saying, "I just turned 60 this year so I have a doctor who travels with me on tour and she is hot! I just went backstage and she said I have a fever of 103” which led into "Hot Blooded" to end the concert with the band all coming to the front of the stage waving their goodbyes and throwing guitar picks and drumsticks before exiting the stage.
    I have seen and covered this band many times and they give nothing less then 110% and are a very great live band; so If anyone is interested in seeing them, they do have a couple shows within our driving area. They are Saturday, October 23, at the MECU Pavilion in Baltimore, Md. and Saturday, October 30, at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.  And you can always keep up with them at their website at www.foreigneronline.com

Gary Crouthamel
Concert Staff Photographer
Coconut Times Web Magazine