Got a fever of a 103? The only cure might be a trip to see classic rockers Foreigner, in concert this Saturday at downtown's Rialto Theatre.
Hot Blooded was just one of the band's nine songs to hit the Top Ten on the Billboard charts between 1977 and 1988, as they ruled the airwaves and the record stores, selling more than 70 million albums worldwide on the strength of Lou Gramm's vocals, Mick Jones' guitar and the pair's infectious songwriting. They had a gift for putting together a song that could both rock 50,000 people in an arena and get your mother humming along unwittingly in the car.
As is the case with too many of rock's best partnerships, the inherent tension between Jones and Gramm led to the singer's departure, their inevitable reunion, and a subsequent leave as Gramm focused on his solo career and health issues. Jones recruited current lead singer Kelly Hansen, formerly of Hurricane, to the band in 2005.
Hansen calls singing with Foreigner "something I was meant to do."
"I've been in this band six years now, and I think we've crossed every kind of bridge that a band can cross together," said Hansen. "The latest (bridge) being when we finally had a chance to put out the first full-length Foreigner CD in quite a few years."
Can't Slow Down, released in October 2009, was the band's first studio album since 1994, and despite a long vacation from the studio, was a commercial success, returning the group to the Billboard album charts that they dominated in their early years. Can't Slow Down featured songs co-written by Hansen and Jones. Hansen described the process of recording the album as tiring but rewarding.
"Now I think we're fully engaged as a band, there's none of this 'new guy' stuff."
Following up on the success of the album, Hansen says Foreigner is now working on a new concept CD that should have those arena rockers - and the hum-along moms - both excited.
"It's going to be a multi-disc release. One of the aspects is going to be an acoustic element. We've started cutting the old songs in the Hit Factory in New York City, which was the last studio John Lennon was in before he was murdered and actually the same studio where Foreigner did their first demos."
Hansen adds that Foreigner has been performing some acoustic-only shows and getting a great response.
Saturday's concert at the Rialto won't be one of those acoustic shows, but instead a full-on rocking affair. It's an all-ages show, so you can bring the kids, who know the band from Guitar Hero, and mom, who can continue to hum along just like she has since 1977.
Tickets and information at RialtoTheatre.com or call 740-1000.
