Lou Gramm Band
Wolf Den
Uncasville, Connecticut
16 July 2011
Tony Pijar
First off, it is absolutely amazing that Lou Gramm is alive, let alone performing. Having fully recovered from a brain tumor that caused serious physical setbacks, Gramm was in good form and his voice still impeccable.
Of course, much of the set revolved around our Foreigner favorites with a few solo pieces interspersed throughout. “Double Vision” was the perfect opener for Lou and his band to demonstrate how proficient and they are. “Ready or Not”, the title track from Lou’s first solo album is a tight, punchy rocker that proved he didn’t need Mick Jones to write catchy, hummable tunes. One of the heaviest Foreigner songs in “Dirty White Boy” gave Gramm a vehicle to display just how great a singer he is. The hits came and went in what seemed a flash – “That was Yesterday”, “Blue Morning, Blue Day”, “Cold as Ice”, etc. “Waiting for a Girl like you” and “I want to know what Love is” were simply beautiful, and this show proved that Gramm should be the only one who sings these songs – no one else really comes close to the emotiveness and passion that Gramm exuded…and I love what Kelly Hansen is doing with the new look Foreigner.
It’s staggering to fathom just how many hits Foreigner with Gramm have tallied throughout the years – “Feels like the First Time”, “Head Games”, “Juke Box Hero”, “Long way from Home”, “Urgent”, and “Hot Blooded”, all aired with power and precision. It was so good to Lou singing again. Check out his new album, “The Lou Gramm Band” for further evidence that the man with the golden voice is back in stride.
