Mount Pleasant, MI (July 26, 2025) – Rock and roll fans from across the state, emerge to the Mount Pleasant hillside to say goodbye and enjoy an evening of classic rock music from three 80’s rock band supergroups.
With ominous skies above, music lovers are not deterred and come out in droves on Saturday night to partake in the outdoor activities of the 2025 Summer Outdoor Concert Series held at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI.
What originally was billed as a farewell stop for the band Foreigner, has turned into a passing of the mic with the band’s frontman Kelly Hansen retiring at the conclusion of the summer tour and guitarist Luis Maldonado stepping in as new lead vocalist in October, and the beginning of the new fall tour. Prior to the goodbyes and the welcoming, two other bands perform on the stage.
To get the evening’s party started, the energized boys of Night Ranger take the stage with authority and hammer it with their rock anthem “(You Can Still) Rock In America.”
Night Ranger is lead by Jack Blades (lead vocals, bass guitar), Kelly Keagy (drums, lead vocals), Brad Gillis (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Keri Kelli (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals) and Eric Levy (keyboards, backing vocals).
Blades welcomes the crowd and tells of the band playing up in Toronto the previous night. He continues saying “we crossed the border into the US and were like “Aww, we’re home.” 100 percent USA up here on this stage. I think you all deserve a Damn Yankees song” that leads into “Coming Of Age.”
With a tribute photo of Ozzy Osborne appearing on the video screens, Blades mentions that “this week was a real hard week for me, because we lost somebody this week and I think you all know who I am talking about.” As the crowd begins to chant Ozzy’s name, Gillis continues with “that was a real kick in the gut for me. I played with Ozzy in ’82 after the tragic death of Randy Rhoades. I finished that tour and did the Speak Of The Devil record. Night Ranger had their album release and I left Ozzy, and here I am…with Night Ranger 43 years later.” With his hand raised and a finger pointed to the sky, Gillis states “Ozzy gave me my start, so thank you very much. God bless him.” Blade comments back that he and Tommy Shaw of the rock band Styx had written with Osbourne for the Ozzmosis album and that he was a very good friend to them and the Night Ranger family. They conclude their tribute by playing the Ozzy Osbourne hit, “Crazy Train.”
Blades mentions that Ozzy changed the world with his music and image. Asking of how many times Ozzy played Detroit, he jokes, “how many times have we played Detroit? At Pine Knob?” The crowd cheers as he continues, “We still call it Pine Knob, even when they changed that frickin’ name…DTE…what the hell is that?” As the crowd applauds and laughs with him, “It has always been Pine Knob to us.” The crowd cheers even more.
Night Ranger is in the middle of celebrating their 43rd anniversary of taking “kick ass American rock and roll all over the world.” Taking it back to where it all started, they perform their 1982 debut single “Night Ranger.” In the middle of the song, the rest of the band surrounds Keagy up on his drum riser and begin to go into a band drum solo. Kelli approaches the drum kit with a wolf mask on while beating on the drums.
The band performs another song “High Enough” from Blades’ 1989 side gig of the Damn Yankees before wrapping up their set with “When You Close Your Eyes,” “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” and “Sister Christian.”
The band concludes by throwing out guitar picks to the crowd and taking a bow at center stage while the song “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond performs throughout the venue.
The crowd is amped up and on the juice by time Night Ranger finishes their set. Hard to believe a band of this caliber is taking the opening time slot for the evening. But when they are the openers, it is an indication that the crowd is in for a hell of a night.
Night Ranger setlist:
- (You Can Still) Rock In America 2. Sing Me Away 3. Coming Of Age (Damn Yankees cover) 4. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne cover) 5. Night Ranger 6. High Enough (Damn Yankees cover) 7. When You Close Your Eyes 8. Don’t Tell Me You Love Me 9. Sister Christian
Next up on stage is the Canadian rock band, Loverboy from Calgary, Alberta. The band originated in 1979 and is lead by Mike Reno on vocals. The remaining band members consist of Paul Dean (guitar), Doug Johnson (keyboards, harmonica and saxophone), Matt Frenette (drums), Ken Sinnaeve (bass guitar).
Johnson welcomes the rest of the band on stage with a keyboard/harmonica intro for their walkout to the crowd that leads up to their 1987 hit “Notorious.” With the crowd working their way back to their seats from the stage change-over, intermission, Reno continues the show with the “Lucky Ones.”
“Take Me To The Top” sees the band show off a little with an instrumental showcase in the middle of the song that has a saxophone solo that leads up to a keyboard solo. Reno also dedicates the song to Ozzy and his family.
Teasing the crowd on whether to play the next song or not, he claims that “the crowds get shit assed crazy.” With all the Loverboy and rock and roll fans in the crowd, they cheer loudly for the band to play the 1981 hit “The Kid Is Hot Tonight” before “Lovin’ Every Minute Of It.” Reno tells the crowd that their reaction is the reason Loverboy comes to Michigan. As the cheering escalates in volume, the band dedicates the next song “Hot Girls In Love” to the ladies in the crowd.
As the infamous deep keys of the keyboard ring out, the crowd stands and begins to dance and sing along with the band to “Turn Me Loose” before ending the set with their signature single, “Working For The Weekend.” Everyone in the venue is standing, waving their hands overhead while singing along.
The band has a slow start with the crowd until halfway through the set when the crowd catches a second wind and finishes strong, showing Loverboy that Michigan knows how to rock.
Loverboy setlist:
- Notorious 2. Lucky Ones 3. Queen Of The Broken Hearts 4. Take Me To The Top 5. The Kid Is Hot Tonight 6. Lovin’ Every Minute Of It 7. Hot Girls In Love 8. Turn Me Loose 9. Working For The Weekend
As the night’s darkness settles over top the venue grounds, Foreigner takes the stage with a full-on light and video show to go along with their 1978 and ’79 classics, “Double Vision” and “Head Games.” With the crowd dancing and singing along with the band, it appears obvious that this night is full of energy and going to be a fun evening.
Foreigner is an American band formed back in 1976 in New York City and has seen numerous musicians on the band’s roster. Creating the sounds of the band tonight is Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Bruce Watson (lead and rhythm guitar), Luis Maldonado (lead and rhythm guitar, vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards, backing vocals) and Chris Frazier (drums).
Hansen welcomes the crowd and states how happy the band is to be playing in Mount Pleasant this evening. He goes on to mention that the evening is perfect for a night out for some classic rock and roll. As the crowd applauses and agrees, he continues with “the only thing we want to get done here tonight…is have a great time with you all.” The comment leads into “Cold As Ice” that displays the theatrics of Hansen in his vocal and stage presence with the way he glides across the stage and his pose at the conclusion of the song.
Dedicating “Dirty White Boy” to all the ladies in the crowd looking for their “naughty partner,” Kelly jokes that the band would like to help but is leaving town after the show, so it is up to the guys in the crowd to put their best foot forward and get it done.
48 years ago, the band unleashes it’s first album in March of 1977. Because of crowds like the one in Michigan this evening, Foreigner is still standing on stage and entertaining the masses. They have also been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. That takes the show all the way back to the beginning and the first song ever heard from the band, “Feels Like The First Time.” The band displays their desire to be great as they sing together with great harmony.
After 20 years as the lead vocalist of Foreigner, Kelly Hansen has announced his retirement at the end of the 2025 summer concert tour in September. The band originally had called this run of shows The Farewell Tour, until later announcing that they will continue forward with new vocal leader, Luis Maldonado starting in October. As Hansen introduces Maldonado to the crowd as the new leading vocalist, Luis accepts the passing of the mic as he gives the welcoming crowd a preview with the band’s #1 hit single from 1981, “Urgent.” While Maldonado takes the control on stage, Hansen steps back to mid stage with a tambourine and assists with backing vocals.
As the band frontline leaves the stage, a fiery solo battle unfolds between Bluestein (keyboards) and Frazier (drums). Frazier ends the duo display by hitting the gong beside him that leads into the band’s return to stage and intro of “Juke Box Hero.” While Maldonado shows off more of his vocal range with the higher notes, he also shows off his guitar work as he straps back up to his guitar halfway through the song and shreds licks back and forth with Watson at center stage. The crowd shows their approval of the new vocalist as the band waves to the crowd and exits off the stage.
After a quick break backstage, Pilson returns to the side stage microphone to acknowledge the crowd and thank them for coming and supporting the direction of the band with new frontman Maldonado. He also speaks of the time spent with the band and being associated with Kelly Hansen and the personal friend he is. He asks the crowd to thank and acknowledge him one last time before leaving the stage. At that point, Hansen returns to the stage and thanks the crowd. He asks the crowd to sing with him one last time, as they have done all over the world with “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
Kelly and the band are joined on stage by the local Shepherd High School Blue And Gold Singers to assist with the harmony of the chorus. As the song concludes, Hansen comments “one of the many great reasons we have these beautiful and talented youth choirs up on stage with us for the past 15 years is to raise awareness about the lack of funding in school musical programs. Many of us on stage are products of school musical programs and it is the first place that gets slashed and cut back when budget cuts come along, and that’s messed up. These people have a passion and desire to pursue something that really moves them. They need your help…so contact your school board, local politician, teachers, make donations, do whatever you can to help keep these kid’s hopes and dreams alive.”
He then takes a moment for himself personally to thank the band and the Michigan crowd for supporting him and standing beside him for the past 20 years. “It has been a joy to be able to sing this incredible catalogue of songs to you guys with an amazing group of people behind me. Thank you so much. This may be the last time I sing to you here, but you will always be in my memory. Thank you guys…from our hearts…you have made us “Hot Blooded.”” As the song ends, the band proceeds forward to center stage for one last bow to the Michigan people with their current frontman, Kelly Hansen. Hansen thanks the crowd one final time before commenting, “please be loving and caring to your fellow human. That will mean so much.” He then exits the stage for the final time as the crowds says their goodbyes with applause.
Although the band appears to be headed in a positive direction with the new frontman Luis Maldonado, it is still a sad moment to witness the last time you will see and hear the voice that has kept the songs alive over the past 20 years. Maldonado brings a new blood and energy to the band and Foreigner show. Just hope that the aging Foreigner fan club accepts his new role with a slightly different sound to the songs they have grown accustomed to. There is not much time remaining to catch a show and give Kelly the proper sendoff he deserves, but you can plan a show this fall with the new lineup.
Click on the links below to see where and when the show is coming to your local area. Also, with summer still heating up, there is time to catch a show at the back yard hillside 2025 Summer Outdoor Concert Series held at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.
Foreigner setlist:
- Double Vision 2. Head Games 3. Cold As Ice 4. Waiting For A Girl Like You 5. Dirty White Boy 6. Feels Like The First Time 7. Urgent 8. Keyboard & Drum Solo 9. Juke Box Hero Encore: 10. I Want To Know What Love Is (with Shepherd High School Blue And Gold Singers) 11. Hot Blooded
Words by: Leslie Reasoner
Photos by: John Reasoner
Foreigner
Loverboy
Night Ranger
Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort