Foreigner: Felt Like the First Time

Now in their fourth decade, band leader, founder, lead guitarist, and song-writer Mick Jones has reinvented Foreigner, staying true to the original concept: great AOR rock anthems. Mick formed the group in 1978 with ex-King Crimsonian Ian McDonald and singer Lou Gramm. Last night we saw them at House of Blues (Chicago). Gramm has moved on, but who cares? For the past 5 years, Kelly Hanson has been far more than a cipher vocalist. Drummer Jason Bonham has also moved on. My new favorite bass player is their Jeff Pilson, former founding member of Dokken. 10 feet from the stage (thanks Steph!), we saw an awesome show. A veritable hit machine, they easily filled 2 quick hours of great songs. We bought their new 3-disk CD set at the show: 1 disk has all new songs (they played 2), another has remixes of their biggest hits, and the 3rd is a DVD with recent concert footage. Very few bands should attempt a song from Zeppelin's catalogue. Foreigner is one - they have the street cred to do it, masterfully weaving Whole Lotta Love onto the later portion of Juke Box Hero. They did that first for Jason, in homage to his dad - but glad that is now de rigueur for JBH. I will post Double Vision, their 2nd album later today.

Jimi Hendrix - a book review

Photo is scanned image of the book I purchased, on the life of Jimi Hendrix, written by Sharon Lawrence.  She is a superb writer, having been a former UPI reporter for their LA Bureau. Though a shared connection in the music business, the author was befriended by Jimi while on the cusp of his stardom, and they developed a deep and close, yet tragically short, friendship. This fragile and amazingly caring rock god shared thoughts with Lawrence he may have told no one else – not even family members. Sadly, the final segment (a full third) of the book delves into the sordid details of Jimi's so-called "family members" and their legal wrangling over publishing rights, Jimi’s artifacts, and song ownership.  The first two main sections tell of Jimi’s initial embrace and "discovery" by England and Paris and how he made his mercurial and triumphant return to America for what turned out to be a short recording and touring career. The book sheds light on Jimi the person and how music deals can be so one-sided against an artist when those who supposedly had is back, really didn’t.  Title link to Hey Joe.

The Cars - Just What I Needed

The top record in the photo at left is their self-titled, monster-selling debut album and the one below is their fourth record, called Shake it Up.  As I posted on facebook, I saw The Cars on this huge, headlining summer American tour in 1979.  It was at the famous Aragon "Brawlroom" in Chicago.  I went to the Cars concert with pals whom I worked with at the local swimming pool that summer.  The opening act, I recall, was Nick "Hot Child in the City" Gilder.  It was a no-seating/all standing show.  We were right up front.  It was probably my first rowdy live concert experience.  Hit songs from their debut album were all over AOR FM rock stations that summer.  A few years later, with college pals, we saw Stevie Ray Vaughn at the Brawlroom.  Title link to youtube of Nick Gilder.  Shake it Up has the hit Since Your Gone on it.