Feels Like the First Time

Legendary band returns to Vegas for mini-residency

As many accolades as Foreigner has collected through the years, it can now add “Vegas Headliner.” Its history started around the time a teenage Kelly Hansen began to be recognized for his voice and joined his first band. The eras that Foreigner and Hansen’s band Hurricane emerged from are marked by memories of hedonism, but the only indulgence Hansen has planned during the band’s The Venetian stay is the caloric kind, and only if the timing is right.

“I have several friends who are chefs at restaurants around town, although it’s very hard for me to eat a fancy meal on a gig day,” says Hansen. “Who wants to eat a heavy meal then run around onstage?”

Unlike a lot of veteran groups who experience changes, Foreigner’s former members have an open invitation to join the band in concert. Founding lead singer Lou Gramm’s continuing health issues after having surgery for a brain tumor in 1997 caused him to curtail participating in planned reunion shows, but Hansen has Gramm’s endorsement. “Lou is great,” says Hansen. “He’s always been gracious to me, and hopefully he and everyone else has always gotten the feeling from me that I have an immense amount of respect for what he’s accomplished. In fact, it’s been the same with all the original members. They’re all such great guys. We share a thing that’s really rare, to be associated with this catalog of songs.” –

Matt Kelemen

The Venetian, 8 p.m. March 2425 and 29, starting at $41 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com