I went and seen a Foreigner tribute band tonight. I've never been a huge fan of Foreigner but I decided to go anyway. It was free, my Dad expressed interest in wanting to go, and it would give me something to do on a Thursday evening. Huge bonus: the weather was absolutely perfect tonight (it was an outdoor show).
It was the second to the last concert for Sierra Vista Mall's "Rock the Mall" summer concert series. I didn't attend any of the other shows but I have a good feeling that THIS show was the one to attend! The shows run from 6pm-9pm, with a couple of breaks (or intermissions) in between sets. Foreigner Unauthorized played 3 sets.
The first set was probably my favorite. It was absolutely badass. (This is coming from someone who isn't a Foreigner fan. I like one or two... maybe even 3 songs, but that's about it.) After a few songs in, I felt the sudden urge to run to a record store and buy me a Foreigner album. I've never felt that urge before.
I don't remember what the first song was, but I believe the second song was "Head Games"... and "Feels Like the First Time" was played shortly after. When we saw Foreigner open for Def Leppard a few years ago, that was the LAST song they played... I had to sit through everything just to get to THAT song. That killed me. So hearing that tonight, almost right from the start, was amazing! The first set consisted of about 6 or 7 songs? They played most of Foreigner's hits (they saved a few "hits" for the last set). The second set was a bit longer. It mostly focused on their awesome, yet lesser known songs... and a few 'newer' songs. "Low Down and Dirty" was without a doubt, my favorite song from that set. I don't think I've ever heard that song before... I Youtubed the video when I got home... the video looks freakishly familiar... but I never would've known it was Foreigner. Lou Gramm wasn't singing it... as it was from 1991. It just looks like some generic, badly made, hair metal-ish video. Yikes. Anywho, I also really dug "Mountain of Love". They also shared a few "Foreigner facts" with the audience. The "Waiting For A Girl Like You" story was pretty interesting.
I believe they played "Head Games" twice... which didn't bother me one bit. Ha! First and third set. Third set had songs like, "Cold As Ice", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Urgent", "Hot Blooded"... a long with a few more. "Juke Box Hero" was the last song. A lot of people, including myself (and my Mother), kept yelling for them to play, "Juke Box Hero"... I was totally into it. It was quite amusing. They also mixed in a few non-Foreigner songs during 'Juke'... I recognized a Van Halen riff and they also did some Zeppelin ("Whole Lotta Love"). I went nuts.
It was the second to the last concert for Sierra Vista Mall's "Rock the Mall" summer concert series. I didn't attend any of the other shows but I have a good feeling that THIS show was the one to attend! The shows run from 6pm-9pm, with a couple of breaks (or intermissions) in between sets. Foreigner Unauthorized played 3 sets.
The first set was probably my favorite. It was absolutely badass. (This is coming from someone who isn't a Foreigner fan. I like one or two... maybe even 3 songs, but that's about it.) After a few songs in, I felt the sudden urge to run to a record store and buy me a Foreigner album. I've never felt that urge before.
I don't remember what the first song was, but I believe the second song was "Head Games"... and "Feels Like the First Time" was played shortly after. When we saw Foreigner open for Def Leppard a few years ago, that was the LAST song they played... I had to sit through everything just to get to THAT song. That killed me. So hearing that tonight, almost right from the start, was amazing! The first set consisted of about 6 or 7 songs? They played most of Foreigner's hits (they saved a few "hits" for the last set). The second set was a bit longer. It mostly focused on their awesome, yet lesser known songs... and a few 'newer' songs. "Low Down and Dirty" was without a doubt, my favorite song from that set. I don't think I've ever heard that song before... I Youtubed the video when I got home... the video looks freakishly familiar... but I never would've known it was Foreigner. Lou Gramm wasn't singing it... as it was from 1991. It just looks like some generic, badly made, hair metal-ish video. Yikes. Anywho, I also really dug "Mountain of Love". They also shared a few "Foreigner facts" with the audience. The "Waiting For A Girl Like You" story was pretty interesting.
I believe they played "Head Games" twice... which didn't bother me one bit. Ha! First and third set. Third set had songs like, "Cold As Ice", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Urgent", "Hot Blooded"... a long with a few more. "Juke Box Hero" was the last song. A lot of people, including myself (and my Mother), kept yelling for them to play, "Juke Box Hero"... I was totally into it. It was quite amusing. They also mixed in a few non-Foreigner songs during 'Juke'... I recognized a Van Halen riff and they also did some Zeppelin ("Whole Lotta Love"). I went nuts.
Here's what they played (not in order)
Foreigner Unauthorized is absolutely badass. I would definitely go see them again! Michael Nagy's voice is amazing. The guitar solo's might not have been spot on/perfect (my Father brought that up after it was over), but I didn't even notice, nor did I care. They rock and that's all that really matters. I think I appreciate the music of Foreigner a lot more than I did before.
Foreigner Unauthorized is:
Michael Nagy (Vocals)
Max De Vivo (Guitar Vocals)
Rik Willmitch (Guitar, Sax, Synth, vocals) )
Jim Belt (Bass)
Joe LoFreso (Keyboards, Synth)
Scott Nielsen (Drums)
Michael Nagy (Vocals)
Max De Vivo (Guitar Vocals)
Rik Willmitch (Guitar, Sax, Synth, vocals) )
Jim Belt (Bass)
Joe LoFreso (Keyboards, Synth)
Scott Nielsen (Drums)
Peace, Love, & Music,
~Lizzy Lepp
Thanks for a great blog entry for Foreigner Unauthorized Rock The Mall 2013 show! We greatly appreciate your review of the show and kind words!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
jbelt (Foreigner Unauthorized)
It was a pleasure reading your blog about a band that works so hard to duplicate the iconic group Foreigner, and it shows!. All the guys appeared to be real pro's and dedicated. Foreigner (The real band) it's pretty much a Tribute now days. Mick Jones, founder and the only original member remaining, doesn't perform with them as much any more. Bruce Watson is sitting in for Mick Jones. The band has had about 27 members throughout the years including Deen Castronovo (Current Journey drummer) and Jason Bonham son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham on drums. Most people remember the studio recordings however, the live version are somewhat different as Mick Jones frequently changes his leads, I have heard 4 different lead version on several live concerts of the same song. Perhaps this bands is duplicating the live version of the songs and that could appear somehow not spot on to the studio version but the essence of the song is the same and it's spot on to the live versions. I immensely enjoyed the show and I am a true Foreigner fan, I commend these guys for duplicating one of my favorite bands. They don't look like Foreigner but who cares, Foreigner doesn't look like the old Foreigner, but when I closed my eyes and heard the music I though the real band was there, big kudos to them!!
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