The Gods of Rock and Roll have landed at MusikFest 2013 Part 2: Foreigner & Styx
By Deborah Meade
Posted 8/9/13 - 9:49 PM ET
The next concert set was incredible! Foreigner and Styx performing on the same stage – absolutely beyond comprehension. Foreigner took the stage first. At sunset the light reflected off the stage as if the celestial bodies wanted to hear them play as much as the sell out crowd of over 6,000 people. The crowd at first quiet as if in awe of the greatness about to come. Then when Foreigner started with "Double Vision", they were full of the same energy, which reverbrated off the Steel Stacks stage and infected the audience with passion for the great music being played. Then they went right into "Head Games" and "Cold As Ice". During "Cold As Ice" the audience was completely shocked when Kelly Hansen jumped off the 6 foot high stage and ran out into the audience shaking hands, kissing girls and women, hugging everyone he could. It was really awesome! He came back all the way through the crowd. It was great and actually very touching to see a big time rocker give a little back to his fans. Kelly Hansen and all of Foreigner are incredible performers, and truly great men. They are such great guys that they are involved in charitable organizations to keep the music in the schools. Foreigner introduced the Bangor Area High School Select Choir, who had the distinct honor of singing with Foreigner! Lucky, Lucky young gentlemen and ladies! The choir would perform at the end of Foreigner’s performance.
Foreigner then went into "Waiting for a Girl Like You". It was a stunning performance. One of my favorite songs. Kelly always makes you feel like he is singing right to you. Continuing their performance with "Dirty White Boys", "Say you Will", "Feels Like the First Time", "Urgent"; I really enjoyed listening to Foreigner, one of my all time favorite bands. Foreigner quipped back and forth with the audience, giving us some laughs along with the great music. Next the key board and drummer led off into an eventual drum solo that was a fantastic lead into "Juke Box Hero". Then their first encore was "I want to know what Love is", which was a featured tune in the Broadway Play and Movie: Rock of Ages. The final encore was "Hot Blooded" in which the Bangor Area Select Choir sang back up. It was a fantastic evening with Foreigner!
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musician Mick Jones and fellow Briton and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm. The current band line up consists of members: Mick Jones, Kelly Hansen, Tom Gimbel, Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein.
AND then came Styx…
Styx initially performed music from the Grand Illusion Album. “We come from the age of vinyl” lead guitarist and vocalist, Tommy Shaw said as he spoke about writing songs and the good old days of performing. Styx then performed "New Kinda Man", "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)", and "Lady". All beautifully performed!
Then for a change of pace Styx performed "Man in the Wilderness", "Miss America", and "I’m OK". Tommy Shaw spoke about writing "Crystal Ball" and how he came to be apart of Styx. Then he gave a beautiful performance of "Crystal Ball". Tommy Shaw plays a 12 string acoustic guitar giving a full range of sound to the music.
Next up Styx rocked "Too Much Time On My Hands", followed by keyboardist, Lawrence Gowan’s solo of Elton John’s "Tiny Dancer". Then Styx performed the Rolling Stones' "Can’t Always Get What You Want", Queen’s "Fat Bottom Girls", and Pink Floyd’s "The Wall". Then my all time favorite Styx tune "Come Sail Away". It reminds me of the sea. Love that song! But, it was not written as a long song or song of the sea…it is an ode to extraterrestrial visitors.
Styx then came out for their encore number "Paradise Theater". It was awesome! Unfortunately due to some very severe weather the concert ended early. It was a fantastic concert.
The members of STYX - Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips (along with the occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo).
ArtsQuest and MusikFest did a fantastic job this year with their concert series. We were ecstatic to see sooo much Rock this year! Please keep it up!