Nashville audiences know to expect the unexpected in a city where musical genres cross regularly. January 16-19, the rock band Foreigner took the stage with the Nashville Symphony and members of the Nashville Symphony Chorus to play before sold-out crowds. After the band opened with “New Morning,” lead vocalist Kelly Hansen promised that while this might be different from a regular rock show, “we will still rock and roll!” Over the course of the evening, Foreigner more than delivered. As Hansen led into “Cold as Ice,” twirling the microphone, the symphony conductor Ernst Van Tiel matched his energy level.
Even with the orchestra backing, Foreigner brought the full support of its band, most of the members multi-instrumentalists. And while at times, the symphony and chorus was more subdued, they brought full power do such rock classics as “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” Throughout the evening, Hansen pointed out some of their hits that had played stronger on the international music scene, such as “That Was Yesterday” and “The Girl on the Moon,” a “vibey” song he called “cool to sing.”
At that point, he introduced the man behind Foreigner, Mick Jones, who started the band in 1976 and served as creator, songwriter, and producer, as well as lead guitarist. Jones also has the distinction of membership in the select Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“He plays a G chord like no one else,” joked Hansen as he introduced Jones, before they played “I’m Looking Out for the Two of Us,” with Jones’ guitar licks and Tom Gimbel on saxophone. Jones’ guitar was also spotlighted on “Hot Blooded,” as he was joined by the band’s three other guitarists.
The band members moved to stools for the last few numbers of the first set for a decidedly more acoustic vibe. Hansen talked about the arrangement process: “Someone has to come up with every single note and every single rest,” he reminded the crowd, noting that while he was relaxing in L.A., Mick Jones was “making things perfect.”
He introduced some of the members of the band, including Foreigner’s conductor, Chuck Palmer. Jeff Pilson on bass and vocals played a central role in the music of the evening on cello. Other band members included Michael Bluestein on keyboards and vocals, “Shoeless” Bruce Watson on guitar and vocals, and Chris Frazier on percussion and Tom Gimbel, playing everything from guitar and sax to flute.
Hansen noted that Can’t Slow Down, Foreigner’s first CD release after he joined the band, is now ten years old. Referring to himself as the “new guy” after fifteen years with the band, he explained the band’s new mission with this particular project to regain their place in the music world.
“The Flame Still Burns” came from a film project for which Hansen got a “desperate call” for seven songs for Still Crazy, a film satire of rock and pop music. Despite the tight time frame, he managed to deliver, including this song that hit number one in England.
After intermission, the band performed more of the crowd favorites. During “Double Vision,” Pilson moved to the symphony’s string section, playing his cello on his knees beside the violinists. Mick Jones also played a powerful guitar introduction to “Urgent” and was accompanied on a break by Gimbel on sax. In the middle of the song, Hansen left the stage, moving through the middle of the floor section as he sang, while more and more of the crowd moved closer to the stage.
The hits came one after another, moving from “Feels Like the First Time” to “Juke Box Hero” which brought the crowd out of their seats, singing along. In the encore, Hansen invited the audience to “get into the groove, doing something together.” When he asked “Will you sing along?” before launching into the finale, “I Wanna Know What Love Is,” the symphony crowd was on their feet, harnessing the power of Foreigner’s groove.