It was a long, icy and snow covered drive to The State Theater in Portland, Maine. The 4 hour treacherous commute didn't quite fit the dream I had had for my first professional concert shoot but it was well worthwhile in the end I assure you. It was Foreigner after all and come hell or high water (snow as it were) I was going to be there front and center. The 4 hours were well spent as my thoughts drifted to their potential song list. You forget how many hits this epitome-of-the -80's rock band had until you stand before them as the greatness unfolds.
I thought I had a bit of time to spare despite Mother Nature's curve ball but luck was not on my side. There was no opening band and that surprised me. This is Foreigner and while anyone who breathes air knows who they are, they are still quite worthy of an opening act to warm the crowd and grow the anticipation. As a concert goer I like that part, I like the idea of an opening act. It gives the "new" band a great forum and an instant audience and it gives the audience exposure to new music. Win-win but not tonight folks. Tonight was about instant gratification and Foreigner delivered, Foreigner always delivers.
I flew into the theater and Foreigner had already taken to the stage. I rounded the velvet curtain that separated the lobby from the theater and proceeded down the aisle toward the stage all the while searching for Mick Jones. Where was he? Where was the lead guitarist, founder and only remaining "original member"? When I didn't see him my mind momentarily drifted to the pre-concert chatter one often hears when a Foreigner concert is in town--"it's not the original band", "it's not Foreigner", or "it won't be the same." These ney-sayers have been saying the same thing for years and to them I say, ok then, go see a show and then tell me "it's not Foreigner" but I guarantee you that that ticket will be hard to come by because they are STILL selling out venues wherever they go and tonight's show was no different.
While Mick was not present, the talent that graced the stage was top notch and every bit as "Foreigner" as Foreigner ever was. The line up included Kelly Hansen (formerly of Hurricane, with Foreigner since 2005) as lead vocalist, Michael Bluestein (Foreigner since 2008) on synthesizer/keys, Thom Gimbel (formerly of Aerosmith, with Foreigner since 1995) on flute, guitar, keys, and sax, Jeff Pilson (formerly of Dokken, with Foreigner since 2004), Chris Frazier (formerly of Whitesnake, with Foreigner since 2012), and Bruce Watson filling in for Mick Jones (with Foreigner since 2011) on lead guitar.
They played songs that the packed house came out to hear--Juke Box Hero, Cold as Ice, Dirty White Boy, Waiting for a Girl Like You and so many more. They shared the stage with the local high school choir who sang back up for them during I Want to Know What Love Is, an experience those kids will not soon forget I'm sure. The moment that stopped me dead in my tracks and caused me to lower my camera and just listen was the moment when I heard the first few notes of It Feels Like the First Time. It was in that moment that I looked around me and into the faces of my fellow 80's music junkies-- smiles spread across those faces, I could see that they were thinking the same thing that I was.... it really did feel like the very first time.
xo
Michelle
+Michelle Morrissette Cucchiaro
+I Shoot Rockstars
