Foreigner at The Biltmore Estate

As I mentioned briefly in a previous blog, Foreigner was playing this past Labor Day weekend at The Biltmore Estate in Asheville. As is usually the case in Schlewing's World the decision to attend the concert was made less than 24 hours before the event was taking place.

I will never be known as one that makes plans with my free time. Sure there are things like actual vacations that need to be planned by booking time off or booking airfares and hotels. However when it comes to what's for supper, what's the plan for tonight or what's the plan for the weekend I rarely know until said time arrives. I don't even wear a watch so time planning for me is an exercise in futility.

Anyways back to the point at hand. I ended up booking three seats online for the Foreigner show at a pretty decent price and started to "rev on the red line" in advance of the show. LOL. Had to throw in a Foreigner song reference in there.

It's a nice drive up to Asheville along the Poinsett Highway and then SC25. Late August and early September is still early for fall colors here so all you see is a sea of green along the way. It is still a majestic vista in all directions.

Once you arrive at Biltmore you know that you are going to be in a pretty unique environment for a rock concert. Driving along the narrow and winding tree-lined roads you see a flock of Canadian geese hanging out near a pond just up the road from a rafter or gang of wild turkeys. Not exactly what you on your way to the BiLo Center in downtown Greenville.

You're then directed to the parking lots that are a bit of trek from the main building and surprisingly you aren't charged to park your car like you are at the Charter Amphitheater if you attend a show there. Once you park your car, you're directed to the bus stop where they have a fleet of buses running concertgoers up to the Biltmore House. A five minute bus ride and then you're dropped right off in front of this grandiose house built for G.W. Vanderbilt and his family between 1889 and 1895. It is a sight to see!

Most of us know Foreigner from the 70s and 80s as a band led by vocalist Lou Gramm and guitarist/writer Mick Jones. Over time these two guys have had their differences in musical philosophies and Lou Gramm first left the band in 1990, came back a couple of times and then left for good in 2003. Kelly Hansen the present day vocalist showed up in 2004 for a few shows and joined the band officially in 2005 as Lou Gramm's replacement. As for the other players in the band, several of them have been playing with Mick Jones off and on for almost 20 years and in a live setting these guys are tight.

First off as the sun was setting and the seats were filling up and I am looking towards the stage, all I can think of was how beautiful this scene was. You're sitting outside right next to this glorious house and you have this majestic scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background behind the stage. Before you know it their road manager is welcoming you to the show and onto the stage walks Foreigner.

The opening riffs start and you recognize "Double Vision" immediately and as soon as you hear Kelly's vocals you realize that you're in for a treat. This guy has a set of pipes and can carry these songs on his own. Amazingly this song from way back in 1977 is played just like it was that year all over again. The words and the chorus are immediately recognizable and remembered and I catch myself singing along with the boys in the band.

With hardly a pause Double Vision leads into another album title track which was "Head Games" from 1979. Like most Foreigner rockers, you have a great riff, a catchy chorus and the lyrics come right back to you as they're singing them. One thing I noticed right off the bat is that when they play these songs live they allow themselves a little bit of liberty in extending the songs and the solos so that you're getting a fresh take on the song.

Next on the set list is immediately recognizable from the opening keyboard riff for 1977's "Cold As Ice". Man what an opening trio of songs. The song is played as is at the start and the harmonies on the chorus are perfect and then the band experiments a bit with some a cappela vocals and harmonizing and a bit of a keyboard solo. Great, great version.

Things slow down a bit then with a moody intro seguing into 1981's "Waiting For A Girl Like You". Time to hold hands, flic your bic or as they do in this day and age, use a candle app on your cellphone. I draw the line at the app. That's so gay. Okay I am not being politically correct there. Sorry. I should have typed lame. Anyways this song gives you a chance to hear Kelly Hanson's voice front and center and you realize once again how good of a singer this guy is.

The tempo picked up again with 1978's "Blue Morning, Blue Day" which was the 3rd single release from the "Double Vision" album. This led into one of my favorite Foreigner songs from 1979's "Head Games" which is "Dirty White Boy". I have played air guitar to this song for over 30 years. Another one of those singalong songs for this dirty white middle-aged man.

After those two up-tempo rockers, Kelly talked a bit about this next song and how they have rearranged it as an acoustic song allowing for all the members to be up front and center and sing a stripped down version of 1987's "Say You Will". Great rendition of the song.

Then the unmistakable opening riff of 1977's classic "Feels Like The First Time" gets everybody out of their seats bopping up and down to this great live version of the song. Once again the song showcases some great vocal work by Kelly, some cool guitar work and some pounding drum work by Brian Tichy.

The next song started off with some solos on lead guitar and keyboards leading into the unique sax work of 1981's "Urgent". The sax work being played by Thom Gimbel who's been in the band 1995. He did a fine job on this live version.

Then came the big bass drum intro of my fav Foreigner song 1981's "Juke Box Hero". Another one of those air guitar anthems from my youth. Live it starts with the drum, a bit of keyboards and a single spotlight on Kelly when he starts the song off. Amazing version done live.

Before you know we're at the encores. Hit after hit and you kind of know what's coming next especially when you see the kids from the Blue Ridge High School choir joining the band onstage. That means one song and one song only; 1984's classic ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is". Another opportunity for Kelly to bless us with his vocals and I am sure that it was a simply amazing chance of a lifetime for the kids onstage to sing the chorus. It was amazing to see and hear especially in that majestic setting.

To end the show Foreigner pulled out all stops and gave us an amazing version of the classic hit from 1978 "Hot Blooded". Another song that everyone knows the lyrics to and without fail when you hear it, you singalong to it.

What a great show. What a great place to see a show. I can't wait to go back to the Biltmore to see another great band in that setting.