Foreigner colorles

By TIM YAGLE
I HAD BEEN hearing that the no
longer foreign Foreigner had been
playing up a storm before ecstatic sold-
out houses at Pine Knob June 11-13. My
curiosity overcame meso I checked out
a sample of the fun Wednesday and the
fans were right.
The Anglo-American sextet is only an
average keyboard-guitar rock band
that hit it big with one good and one
mediocre single ("Feels Like the First
Time" and "Cold As Ice," respec-
tively). Their debut LP Foreigner was
not a bad album, containing mostly
mediocre to good rockers in "Long,
Long Way From Home," "At War With
the World," and "Feels Like the First
Time." Some of the tightly structured
songs were adapted by group leader
and lead guitarist Mick Jones to the
styles of other bands Foreigner
developed with and was subsequently
influenced by: "Headknocker" (Bad
Company), "Cold As Ice" (Queen), and

Guitarist Walter Egan opened the
evening with some decent mellow rock
from his new album Not Shy, plus a few
of the hits from his most recent LP, in-
cluding "Hot Summer's Night."
Egan is just right for easy rockers
with his laid back stage manner and
flowing music. His female backing
vocalist, intentionally or not, resem-
bled Ann Wilson of Heart.
Foreigner calmly began their set
with smoke slithering onto the stage
and a decent "Long, Long Way From
Home."
It appears as if Foreigner has
basically the same road show they had
for their Foreigner LP tour with Jones
sauntering downstage and assuming
the same authoritative position while
strumming the opening chords to the
song.
Lead vocalist Lou Gramm, again,
tried to attract part of the spotlight with
his muscular pleading stance and voice
to match, cradling the microphone.

they are letting their eg
In "Starrider," Ian
opening flute solo was ac
white smoke hopefullyg
impression you're up the
(or sky) with him. At t
mostly subdued bassist
was subtlely playing th
notes from Close Encoui
was pounding away on a
set alongside drummer D
Another new numb
Vision", that doesn't
anything, was followed k
bial show stopper, "Feels
st Time." It seemed like
trying to get you up for on
rest for a couple, then 1
again.

The Michigan Daily-Friday, June 16, 1978-Page 7
MORE ARTS ON
os run amuck. PAGE 12
McDonald's
companied by
giving you the
re in the stars
he end, while
Ed Gagliardi
e five famous
nters, Gramm
second drum FOLK ART AND DESIGN

'ennis Elliot.
er, "Double
say much of
by the prover-
s Like The Fir-
the band was
ie tune, let you
et you have it

mon. - fri. 11ito9 l
saturday 10 to 6
sunday 12 to 6
123 w washington
ann arbor


roo,

Ann Arbor Civic Theater
Invited Applications
for
DIRECTORS
DESIGNERS
For Its 1978-1979
Major Season Productions
Sept. 6-9, 1978
You Can't Take It With You
by GEORGE KAUFMAN & MOSS HART
Oct. 25-28, 1978
The Unexpected Guest
by AGATH A CHRISTIE
Jan. 10-13, 1979
A Little NVIht Music
bySONDH EI8HWHEELER
May 16-19, 1979
The Mead Woman of Chailot
by JEAN GIRAUDOUX
Ann Arbor
Civic Theater Productions
P.O. Box 1993
Ann Arbor, Mich.
48106


vay 'Photo y AUY FReEtnE
Foreigner lead vocalist Lou Gramm excitedly reaches for the heavens during the
band's final show at Pine Knob Wednesday. Foreigner headlined for four nights at
the picturesque music theatre.
"Starrider" (Yes). THEIR SHOW was occasionally
Jones' style seems to parallel that of plagued by overly loud music and
Queen's Brian May and Mick Ralphs of inaudible vocals. But for the most part,
Bad Company - Jones' contem- the two were wellmixed.
poraries. It was also a tradeoff between mellow
BUT IT simply amazes meas to what and hard rockers, most having either
people think so special about this band. long beginnings ornseemingly endless
One can compare Foreigner to a band finales. An example was from their
that followed the same trail to over- second tune, a new one, "Spellbinder"
night success as them - Boston. Boston and "Woman, Oh Woman" to the
plays a slightly better kind of rock than band's new single from their album to
Foreigner due to the technical mastery be released next week called Double
and imagination of lead guitarist Tom Vision, "Hot Blooded", and a good one
Scholz. Foreigner has no one of Scholz's it is. Then from "The Damage Is Done"
caliber. Jones is their.most valuable to adead "Cold Asee" to perhaps thew
asset. This could be one reason why best tune of theeveni" rd
,_L_ n~starider."
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imagination in their show, either that or