Foreigner / Jefferson Starship
Hi all, welcome to another update from my little Parkinson's world. This time I want to describe the gig Lynne & I went to on Thursday just gone. I'm definitely not intending this to be a review site but in particular I want to write about this one as it was a definite anomaly. Unless I've missed something major, something went very weird with the setlist.
First though, the support band... Jefferson Starship (previously Jefferson Airplane) were excellent. At worst maybe 2 songs which were a bit low key for me - too middle of the road. Apart from that they rolled out the hits some of which definitely take you back to previous eras...
Hot hits - We Built This City / Jane / Somebody to Love / White Rabbit & more.
I had no expectation and in any case wasn't disappointed. I quite like the whole sixties vibe anyhow. in fact going back to the sixties the lead singer was the famous Grace Slick, nowadays Cathy Richardson & she was excellent. There's some interesting stuff on youtube for example...
You might also remember this hilarious karaoke scene from the Cable Guy film starring Jim Carrey...
Now to Foreigner. A band I really like from the seventies & more. A fabulous catalogue of hot hit classic rock... Cold As Ice, Juke Box Hero, Urgent, Head Games, I Wanna Know What Love Is & so on. Lou Gramm used to be the lead singer but isn't involved now for many years following a stroke/serious head injury.
Guitarist Mick Jones is the other main guy from way back but he wasn't there on Thursday. Whilst doing a bit of research for this blog/newsletter I have discovered that Mick Jones has Parkinson's! So, of course my thoughts go out to him. I wish him every successful management of his condition.
Jeff Pilson was on bass (Dokken / Dio & more) so no fool there but this tour is badged up as a 50th anniversary tour - should they be doing that without any original members? It's at least questionable. The current lead singer is Luis Maldonado. I reckon he was a decent singer. The band was good - very competent in terms of musicianship but I couldn't help feeling that I was watching an expensive tribute band.
Anyway, "Foreigner" rolled out all the hits, a good solid perhaps 9 or 10 songs - the ones as a fan you would really want to hear. Then something happened - it was like a switch got flicked as they covered Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel. A beautiful song but would I want to see that by Foreigner? No. After that there was an unfeasibly long keyboard solo and an unfeasibly long drum solo, one more hit then it was over. Disappointing in the end.
If I've missed a bit of detail or got something wrong please tell me with a reply.
We were seated on ground floor level, decent leg room for me & the restless leg pains stayed away I'm very happy to say & we had no 6ft 6" guys standing in front of us - always a bonus!
I noticed a Walk for Parkinson's event is on currently around the country - a little too early for me after injury problems in recent months but I really have to get some fitness back so food for thought there for some possible fundraising whilst walking.
Love to all xx
