Farewell Foreigner
By Monique Tamminga
It was a fond farewell for Foreigner when they rocked a sold out show to an appreciative crowd at Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre Saturday night.
Foreigner frontman Kelly Hansen brought the energy, and the outfit — wearing bright red tight pants, dancing and running around the stage all night. He was even doing jumping jacks at one point.
Foreigner has got to be one of the most iconic classic rock bands of all time who started together 47 years ago in 1976. While none of the original band members played in Penticton – (Mick Jones is the only original member). It was Foreigner in every way as they brought the rock energy and played hit after hit song.
The Headpins, a huge local band in the 80s were the perfect fit to open the concert with a new singer Rosa who can belt out their hits as good as Darby Mills did, especially when she sang ‘Don’t it make you feel like dancing’ getting everyone on their feet.
They got the crowd warmed up for Foreigner who took the stage for a heavy playlist of their hits like Jubebox Hero, Urgent and Dirty White Boy and Feels Like the First Time. They played an impressive encore of songs that included bringing in Penticton Secondary’s choir to join them to sing “I Want to Know What Love is.”
They opened the concert with Double Vision and quickly changed over to Cold as Ice which was an epic experience and got the crowd going wild and singing along.
“Forty-seven years ago this band released their first album. Thanks to you guys we’ve been able to rock n’ roll for 50 years,” said Hansen to the crowd. It’s pretty cool that Foreigner came to the Okanagan as part of their Historical Farewell Tour.
Hansen told the crowd it was a goodbye to touring but they will still play concerts here and there. They are just getting too old to stay on the road, with Hansen joking they are going to need hip and knee replacements if they kept touring.
Bassists Jeff Pilson had to sit for most of the concert after recovering from back surgery, said Hansen.
While the fans were mostly on the older side, there were also those in their 20s and 30s, a group of women in wedding dresses and numerous people who came dressed as Foreigner in the 80s, with big wigs, head bands and attire. You’d be hard pressed to find someone
The drummer did a long and impressive drum solo, flipping his sticks high into the air and catching them several times. As one of the last remaining classic rock bands, they truly brought the rock feel to Penticton, banging their heads and jumping around.
They closed the concert with Hot Blooded – putting it all out there on stage.
It was a nostalgic, fun evening getting to replay the soundtrack to so many people’s youth. It may not be the original members but the original sound and feel is all there. Thanks Foreigner.
