Ohio State Fair | Columbus OH
My First Rock Concert: Foreigner Brought the Heat!
Y’all… I did it. I officially checked off my very first rock concert! And who better to do that with than the legendary band Foreigner, live at the Ohio State Fair!!
Let me tell you how this all came to be: not too long ago, my concert bestie and I attended the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and boom—Foreigner was up there being honored. Watching their tribute, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. I only knew three of their songs (and yes, they’re all the soft rock cuts!), but those songs? They stayed with me. So when I saw Foreigner was coming to my area, I was hyped! And yep, I talked my bestie into coming along for the ride—though she wasn’t quite as pumped as I was. Still, she was game. Ride or die!
We pulled up to the fairgrounds, wondering if we’d enjoy it, what the crowd energy would be, if we’d know more than just our three hits. We found out we 1/2 way knew a couple more, so that was a bonus! 😄 The show was scheduled for 7 PM, but true rock star fashion—they didn’t take the stage until 7:30. And when they did? Whew… they blazed in with “Double Vision” and didn’t let up for a full 90 minutes (with a short break) of nonstop high-octane music and crowd-hyping energy.
Lead singer Kelly Hansen, who’s been fronting the group for the past 20 years, let us know he’ll be stepping down after the Summer tour dates. He announced he was passing the torch to guitarist Luis Maldonado, who will be stepping into the spotlight. He gave us a lil treat, and the man’s got chops, no doubt.
One of the most memorable moments of the night? When they performed “I Want to Know What Love Is”, they brought the Ohio State Fair Youth Choir on stage to join in. Listen… chills. Just beautiful. They shared that every city they perform in, they invite a local youth choir to sing with them. It was moving—but also bittersweet. Kelly took a moment to reflect on how arts and music programs are often the first to be cut in schools. That part hit hard as he encouraged us to pour into our youth however we can to keep the arts alive.
They closed the show with their high-energy cut “Hot Blooded”, and just like that, it was over. Whew! I was a little salty they didn’t perform “I Don’t Want to Live Without You” (major boo hiss), but I did get my other two faves: the one with the choir, “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” So I’ll take that as a win.
Despite it being a genre I don’t typically vibe with and only knowing a few songs, I gotta say—Foreigner puts on one heck of a show. The band is tight, the energy is amazing, and they know how to give the crowd what they came for. I don’t need to see them again—not because they weren’t great, but because my moment of nostalgia has been satisfied.
So yeah… my first rock concert? A success. I stepped out of my usual zone, made a new memory, and sang my little nostalgic heart out. Foreigner, you were loud, you were fun, and you were unforgettable.
Setlist:
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Double Vision
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Head Games
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Cold as Ice
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Waiting for a Girl Like You
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Blue Morning, Blue Day
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Dirty White Boy
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Feels Like the First Time
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Urgent
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Juke Box Hero
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I Want to Know What Love Is (with local choir)
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Hot Blooded
