When does 4 = 10 ?

Foreigner Unplugged
Entering the intimate arena of Shepherds Bush Empire I sniff the scent in the air and note the warm and welcoming sweet smell of pot!

So a relaxed audience and as it proved, a relaxed and polished acoustic set delivered by a magnificent seven, led by Mr Foreigner himself, Mick Jones, on guitar - the man who composed all their big numbers.

The soft rock anthems were gently wheeled out, and like a well oiled machine it was as if time had stood still. Kelly Hanson on vocals, in 80’s attire - waistcoat, long scarf, open shirt with chain and medallion gave an unblemished performance. Only a shaker or tambourine to keep him company, he hit virtually every note and the harmonies from the assemble were pitch perfect and added great depth and colour.

A little bit of sax raises my blood and kicks me back to the late Gerry Rafferty and Baker Street (the sax player, on that record Raphael Ravenscroft received a pittance, a cheque for £27 which bounced despite the record’s acclaim and annual royalty stream).  It was a song my father loved and Tom Gimbel rather taunted me with a hope of what was to come.

Then a wander thru the hits - Jukebox Hero, Double Vision, Dirty White Boy, Say You Will, Hot Blooded and a first, Girl on the Moon which worked extraordinarily well as an acoustic number plus a little bit of Memphis with an Elvis blues number That’s Alright and The Flame Still Burns a soundtrack for the film, Still Crazy (1998).

The ballads like Waiting For A Girl Like You are perfect for an unplugged set as is Feels Like The First Time which was beautifully ghosted with group harmonies. The gig ended with the expected, I Want To Know What Love Is - their biggest seller and a No1 in the UK and over the pond.

Half way thru we stopped for a Q&A session with Team Rock Radio presenter Kylie Olsson trussed up beautifully in a tightly clad leather skirt, she was still able to generate genuine interest from the artists who currently make up The Foreigner septet.

We sat just 5 rows back so enjoyed a near perfect view- my only disappointment to a faultless evening was that Urgent with it’s ringing and shrill sax was never  played... what a miss.  So here it is… now

Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange produced ‘4’ the album which defines Foreigner, other credits include working for AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams & Shania Twain.

Foreigner Unplugged - April 14.4.2014
O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Gig list

Double Vision
Long, Long Way from Home
Say You Will
Waiting for a Girl Like You
When It Comes to Love
Fool for You Anyway
Dirty White Boy
That's All Right  (Elvis Presley cover)
Flame Still Burns
Feels Like The First Time
Juke Box Hero

Encore

Girl On The Moon (Live Debut)
Hot Blooded
I Want to Know What Love Is

Foreigner 7
Mick Jones (acoustic guitar/vocals
Kelly Hansen (vocals/percussion),
Michael Bluestain (piano/vocals)
Jeff Pilson (acoustic guitar/acoustic bass/vocals),
Tom Gimbel (sax/flute/vocals),
Bruce Watson (acoustic guitar/mandolin/vocals)
Chris Frazier – (drums percussion)