John Waite, Foreigner, and Styx Rock Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater

Ascend Amphitheater was alight with lasers, smoke, fireballs, electric guitars, and even a keytar as John Waite, Foreigner, and Styx took over the warm summer night in Nashville, delivering nearly four hours of non-stop hits.

Opening the evening was John Waite, who drew a substantial crowd despite being the first act at 7 p.m. At 72 years old, Waite captivated the audience with hits from his bands Bad English and The Babys, alongside solo tracks and a notable cover mashup. His set included favorites like “Change,” “When I See You Smile,” “Every Time I Think of You,” “Missing You,” and “Back On My Feet Again.” He wrapped up with a mashup of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” and Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Let Me Love You Baby.” Energized by the crowd’s response, Waite ended his set with a humorous, “Let’s hear it for the band!” quickly followed by, “Let’s hear it for me!”

Next up was Foreigner, a band that has impressed audiences for 47 years since their self-titled debut in 1977. Despite the current touring lineup having no original members, frontman Kelly Hansen and bassist Jeff Pilson have been part of the group for nearly two decades. The band, originally formed by Mick Jones in 1976, has sold over 80 million albums. On Friday night, their performance reminded everyone why they’ve endured.

The band launched their fiery set with classics like “Double Vision,” “Head Games,” “Cold As Ice,” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” with the crowd singing along passionately. Hansen took a moment to highlight the band’s history, noting the release of their debut album 47 years ago. As the night progressed, Foreigner continued with hits such as “Dirty White Boy,” “Feels Like The First Time,” and “Urgent.” During a drum solo, Hansen climbed onto a towering riser, thrilling the crowd as he performed “Juke Box Hero” high above the venue.

Foreigner’s encore included a local chorus accompanying them for “I Wanna Know What Love Is,” with Hansen pointing out, “The reason we have these youth choirs on stage with us on tour is to remind everyone about the lack of funding for school music programs.” They closed with “Hot Blooded,” proving their ongoing ability to honor the band’s legacy.

Styx, unlike Foreigner, still tours with several original members, including guitarist Tommy Shaw, who joined the band in 1975. Taking the stage at 9:35, Styx kicked off with Shaw’s impressive guitar work and distinctive vocals on “Grand Illusion,” using lasers to connect with the audience. Hits spanning four decades followed.

After “Too Much Time on My Hands,” the spotlight turned to Lawrence Gowan, the current singer and keyboard player, known for his ability to match the original vocals of Dennis DeYoung. Gowan performed “Lady,” capturing the essence of the band’s classic sound while toning down his trademark theatrical style for the ballad.

Styx also showcased “Crash of the Crown,” from their 2021 album of the same name, but it was the latter part of the set that fans eagerly awaited. They got what they wished for with show-stoppers like “Best of Times,” “Fooling Yourself,” and the iconic “Come Sail Away.”

For their encore, fans knew what was coming, and Styx didn’t disappoint, returning to the stage with “Mr. Roboto” followed by “Renegade,” closing the night with high energy.

Overall, all three acts demonstrated that age is merely a number, delivering powerful performances regardless of being in their 70s.

Source: The Tennessean, USA TODAY NETWORK