It was a flashback for the flocks of fans that flooded into the Fillmore Auditorium for the sold out Foreigner concert. The band, which formed in 1976, has a relatively new lead singer in Kelly Hansen. That didn't deter any of the thousands that crowded into the general admission venue from spending their Friday night with the legendary rock band.

With no opening act Foreigner was obviously the main draw and was expected to put on quite a show. At least one worthy of the cost of admission. The band did not disappoint. Hansen fits in perfectly with the group and has the quintessential eighties rock voice. With a history of heavy metal, and stints with a slew of bands under his belt, the front man put on quite a performance. He had no problem leaving the stage and getting up close and personal with the fans, as he did numerous times throughout the two hour set.

Although by day the members of Foreigner may look like run of the mill guys in their fifties, by night they try their hardest to shed that image. Tight t-shirts, painted on jeans, a lot of over sized jewelry, and maybe a few drinks later they almost look like rock stars. Remember this isn't 1976 anymore, but even though they do look their age they sure don't sound any older. The live performance was almost identical to that of recorded material. Spot on performances of "Feels Like The First Time," and "Cold As Ice," showed that Foreigner is far from retirement.

Hansen commanded most of the spotlight, as lead singers do, but the truly talented Mick Jones may have been the real star of the show. The founding member of the group, Jones, came front and center a few times throughout the set and wailed on lead guitar. His shredding guitar solos were the high points of the night.

As the set wound down the obvious mega hit was saved for the encore. As Hansen flailed and screamed through "Cold Blooded," the auditorium shook with applause and the audience took over the vocals. Between the ten minute drum solo and Hansen's voice, which epitomizes the eighties rock sound, Foreigner did what many critics had said they could never do. They stood the test of time.

Review By: Tyler Sobie