'Foreigner: Alive & Rockin'
(Foreigner / DVD / NR / 2007 / Eagle Vision)
Overview: In 2007 Foreigner are celebrating their 30th anniversary and are playing more shows in more countries than ever before. The band has sold over 70 million records worldwide. Only Led Zeppelin has sold more albums for the Atlantic Records label. This DVD was filmed at the Bang Your Head Festival at Balingen in Germany in June 2006 and captures the band rocking harder than ever before on a set list of their biggest hits including "Cold As Ice", "Urgent", "Juke Box Hero", "Double Vision" and more.
DVD Verdict: The Foreigner line-up these days - and for this performance - consists of Mick Jones (guitars), Kelly Hansen (vocals), Jason Bonham (drums), Jeff Jacobs (keyboards), Tom Gimbel
(guitars, saxophone, flute) and Jeff Pilson (bass). So, yeah, it's quite a mish-mash of who's-who for sure. And although most have been with the band in some form or another for many, many years, it's the kick-ass drumming of John's son and the stealth-like bass guitar playing of Pilson that stand out for me.
In celebration of Foreigner's 30th anniversary, the band have just released this live DVD called 'Alive & Rockin.' The package contains 100 minutes of footage from last year's Bang Your Head festival in Ballinger, Germany, and includes new interviews with original guitarist Mick Jones and members from the revamped line-up, including drummer Jason Bonham and singer Kelly Hansen. There is also a feature called "Foreigner TV," which focuses on concert fans.
OK, for those who don't know, their drummer is now Jason Bonham, the son of dead Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. It shows. Jason is the highlight of the show. He is an amazing, energetic, and really freakin' loud drummer. Probably in reference to this, they stick Whole Lotta Love in the middle of Jukebox hero. It's fantastic to hear the crowd roar when they recognize that classic riff.
For those of you who might be afraid of Foreigner now that they're fronted by someone not named Lou Gramm, you shouldn't be. I'd give Kelly Hansen an A+ for his vocal work. Sure he sounds a lot like Lou Gramm, although he seems to give his own little twist to the each song. This is not a bad thing, trust me.
This is a Full Frame Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of Interviews with Mick, Kelly and Jason Bonham.
1. Double Vision
2. Head Games
3. Dirty White Boy
4. Cold As Ice
5. Starrider
6. Feels Like The First Time
7. Urgent
8. Juke Box Hero / Whole Lotta Love
9. Hot Blooded
www.ForeignerOnline.com