Concert Review
Foreigner
Thursday August 7, 2025
Erie County Fair Grandstand
Hamburg, NY
Choir: Starpoint Chorus
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
It was not a night like any other night Thursday out at the Erie County Fair. Foreigner making their first ever appearance at the fairgrounds were also honoring vocalist Kelly Hansen as he made his final western NY appearance with the band. Hansen has been in the band since 2005 and recently announced his retirement from the band. His final show will take place in October.
The band played out at Darien Lake in 2023 making this their first area appearance since. The band has been on the road all summer and sounded in fine form Thursday evening. Things got rolling with “Double Vision” and the band hit the crowd with hit after hit. One fan said “I knew every song upon exiting the venue. That is all fine and dandy except the one thing that Foreigner failed to do was take care of the diehard fan. With the massive catalog Foreigner has they should rotate out something for the fans that you don’t hear every show. Make no mistake about it though this band can perform in their sleep.
The band has had a steady and stable lineup for a while now. Music director/bassist Jeff Pilson is the longest tenured member having been around since 2004. Both guitarist Bruce Watson and drummer Chris Frazier came aboard in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Keyboardist Michael Bluestein has been manning the keys since 2008. Luis Maldonado came in 2021 and started off a guitarist but will be assuming the role of lead singer following Hansen’s departure in October. To give the fans a little taste of Maldonado, he sang “Urgent” and the classic “Juke Box Hero”. His voice while different from Hansen and original vocalist Lou Gramm, did not sound out of place.
Following a nice tribute by Pilson, Hansen came out for the encore and thanked the fans for twenty years. They then launched into “Long, Long Way From Home”. The local choir for the night came from The Starpoint High School Chorus. They came out and performed with the band on “I Want To Know What Love Is”. The night ended with “Hot Blooded” the song Foreigner has closed out the evening with more times than any other.
While it may spell the end of the road for Hansen following this tour the band will continue on. Hansen stated “this band will forge on”. As announced in May Hansen feels this is the right time for him to step away and give the keys to Maldonado. Hansen had a hard job to do when he first came into the band. Trying to fill the shoes of one of the greatest rock singers ever in Lou Gramm was no easy task. Hansen managed to not only do a fine job with the catalog but he was able to keep the band relevant and still playing top notch venues and prestigious tours. Hansen has more than held his own and is recognized as one of the best replacement singers of all-time. Foreigner may be a band that never ends. By making smart personnel decisions as well as a legion of fans who still want to see the band perform they may carry on for a long time to come. Having a catalog of timeless songs does not hurt as well.
Photo Gallery
Set List
Double Vision
Head Games
Cold As Ice
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Dirty White Boy
Feels Like the First Time
Urgent (Luis Maldonado on vocals)
Keyboard and Drum Solo
Juke Box Hero (Luis Maldonado on vocals)
Encore
Long, Long Way From Home
I Want To Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded
