Live: Foreigner at St. Joseph’s Amphitheater at Lakeview September 2, 2023

The Historic Farewell Tour brought Foreigner to Syracuse’s St. Joseph’s Amphitheater at Lakeview with special guest Loverboy in tow.

Loverboy’s singer Mike Reno was all smiles as he delivered an enthusiastic 10-song set that included all the fan favorites from “Notorious” to “Turn Me Loose” before finally wrapping up with “Everybody’s Working For The Weekend.”

After a quick set change Foreigner was up, and speaking of the set, the lighting and stage design was AMAZING, with light bars that hung from the ceiling that were able to bend and move throughout the show. Singer Kelly Hansen ran on stage, and started right in with three top hits, “Double Vision,” “Head Games,” and “Cold as Ice.” This man is such a force with an incredible persona, making his way to every corner of the stage, flipping his microphone stand around, and putting on a show for everyone to see. I don’t think Hansen stood still until it was time to play a few acoustic songs.

Hansen paused for a moment advising they were going to play an old song that was 46 years old, joking that he noticed that most of the audience was “over 40” as well and asked, “How many of you remember being able to stand up for the whole concert?” He went on to talk about how those in the audience who are under 40 have fabulous taste in music, but lack the hard-fought knowledge the older generation has gained such as how to roll up a cassette tape with a no. 2 pencil. Everyone sang along as they played “Feels Like the First Time.”

A large banner of a jukebox fell across the backdrop as the instrumental opening to “Juke Box Hero” ramped up, and it was like nothing I’ve ever heard before. The keyboard and drum solos were the perfect prelude to one of my favorite songs of the night.

Later in the evening, as the set came to a close Hansen spoke of how valuable memories are, and how the fans have been an integral part of the journey and have given them so many wonderful memories for so many decades. This is why they have made the difficult decision to say farewell now, ending things on a high note, and creating good final memories because they don’t want to give these songs or their loyal fans any less than they deserve. He said, “You have warmed our hearts, and made us Hot Blooded” as they ripped into the opening of their final song. Foreigner sure did end with a bang, there was smoke, there were flames, the crowd was excited and the music was LOUD.

Setlist:
Foreigner: Double Vision, Head Games, Cold as Ice, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Dirty White Boy, When it Comes to Love (acoustic), Girl on the Moon (acoustic), Say You Will, Feels Like the First Time, Urgent, Keyboard and Drum Solo, Juke Box Hero. Encore: I Want to Know What Love Is, Hot Blooded. 

Loverboy: Notorious, Lucky Ones, Queen of the Broken Hearts, Take Me to the Top, The Kid is Hot Tonite, Heaven in Your Eyes, Lovin’ Every Minute of It, Hot Girls in Love, Turn Me Loose, Working for the Weekend. 

Opener Loverboy