Foreigner returns to Spokane: fans have been waiting for the group’s concert at Northern Quest

Already in the middle of their touring season, after a year at home, the chart toppers from Foreigner are looking forward to getting back on stage and in the swing of things.

“When we get going, we play four to five shows a week,” said keyboardist Michael Bluestein. And this year they could do more than “we still have a lot to do with COVID make-up appointments and everything”.

Together with glam metal artist Lita Ford, Foreigner will hit the headlines at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. For Bluestein, the transition from real life on the street to a year off wasn’t all bad. The extra time gave him plenty of room to get creative and have a bit of fun.

“It was kind of satisfying … switching gears and spending a lot of time in the studio, doing more live streaming, learning a lot about technology and shutting down the video and audio part of it,” he said, explaining how he managed to do it more himself being able to concentrate without having to squeeze in between concerts.

Bluestein was able to write more solo works – including a parody single called “Why Corona?” – and started a podcast with bandmate Bruce Watson. “VIB: Very Important Beer” is available on YouTube.

Still, he was more than ready to hit the road with the supergroup again. The Delta variant has threatened more than once to throw “a curveball” into the band’s plans, but so far all members have managed to stay COVID-19 free.

“Of course everyone in the band and crew is vaccinated and we now do bi-weekly COVID tests while we’re out,” he said. “We heard about other tours and other cancellations. So it felt like some kind of achievement to make it to the end without anyone succumbing. “

Mick Jones, the only remaining founding member of the band, was particularly careful. “It’s kind of a touch with certain health concerns,” said Bluestein, cautiously optimistic, explaining that Jones has appeared on stage more than once in the past few weeks. “We always love to have him when we can, but you know it’s a little skimpy.”

Local choir performs again

Foreigners are returning to Spokane for the first time since their September 2019 concert at the Spokane County Interstate Fair and will again be accompanied by the East Valley High School Choir.

In 2019, the choir won a chance to perform on stage with the band after submitting a sample tape of Foreigner’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is” to a KISS 98.1 competition.

This time the choir will perform a 10-minute a cappella medley of rock classics, including “Home Sweet Home” by Mötley Crüe, “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin ‘on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi and “Any Way You Want It ”and“ Don’t Stop Believin ‘”by Journey. Since the pandemic forced their 2019-2020 school year to an abrupt end in March 2020, students have been suffering without music.

“We lost a lot of kids because we couldn’t sing last year, and the kids who came back were just so sad all along,” said Andrea LaPlante, director of the East Valley High School Choir. “I mean, they love to sing and they want to be with their friends, but sometimes they have a really hard time seeing the positives.”

The loss of singing in addition to isolation and fear made an already difficult time even more difficult for her students, LaPlante said, “but I always try to help them.” After 18 months without singing together, the choir is up to two weeks of intensive rehearsals started the date with Foreigner. During the open-air concert, the students will appear unmasked but socially distant.

“It’s super fun music and the kids really like it,” said LaPlante. Especially juniors and seniors, the 25-member choir is full of anticipation. “We still have about 10 days to get it ready,” said LaPlante, keeping our fingers crossed for good luck. The 2019 concert was an optimistic start to a dismal school year, but LaPlante hopes this concert will be a step in a new and happier direction for their students.