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December 1, 2024

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It took over twenty years of eligibility for Foreigner to finally get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Then when it came time to actually induct the band this past October, the Rock Hall belittled the original members in attendance by NOT having them play any instruments and only bringing out original singer, Lou Gramm for a partial duet with Kelly Clarkson for one song.

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Gramm could have hit the nearly sold-out Robins Theater stage with a huge chip on his shoulder.  However, being the professional that he is, he let the music, and his singing voice do the talking for him.

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The former lead singer of Foreigner recently announced that he plans to hang up his microphone by June of 2025.  If last nights performance was any indication, Gramm will be going out on top.

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The show started of with a video montage with Gramm narrating how he met up with Mick Jones and eventually formed Foreigner.  He and the band quickly took to the stage with "Feels Like The First Time."

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The setlist was chock full of hits and he played at least one track from pretty much every Foreigner album that he was a part of.  "Double Vision," "Long, Long Way From Home" and the number two smash hit "Waiting for a Girl Like You" were all played early in the set.  On the latter, Gramm noted that Olivia Newton John's hit "Physical" was the song that kept them from reaching number one.

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Gramm's solo hit, "Midnight Blue" found it's way in the middle of the show, but then it was all Foreigner tunes for the rest of the evening.

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The best thing about Lou Gramm's All Star band, besides being great musicians, is that he actually has a saxophone player in the band.  He absolutely kills the sax parts all of the Foreigner tunes, but especially on the iconic sax solo on "Urgent."  

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The current incarnation of Foreigner, that doesn't have any original members, does not have a sax player.  Instead, that iconic solo is performed on the keytar.  Ugh. 

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Of course Gramm had to play Foreigners number one hit, "I Want To Know What Love Is."  Instead of having a choir on stage, he asked the audience to sing back up and they willingly did.

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The last two songs of the night got everyone on their feet and singing along.  "Juke Box Hero" and "Hot Blooded" got a rousing response from the packed audience.

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After the show, Gramm showed his appreciation to all of his fans by appearing at the merch stand to meet, sign autographs and take pictures with anyone who wanted tohang out after the show.

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And that, ladies and gentleman is how a true professional puts on a great rock show.

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Review and photographs by Greg Drugan

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