Take a Slow Ride: Foghat jams at the Minnesota State Fair Leinie Lodge Bandshell

British/American boogie blues rockers Foghat opened a two night doubleheader at the Minnesota State Fair's Leinie Lodge Bandshell (sponsored by the Leinenkugel Brewing Company), Friday night, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their live album that appeared first in 1977, while covering material from most of the catalog that made them well known in the 1970s with their hybrid British/American blues rock.  Drummer Roger Earl has been a constant in the group since their founding in 1970, and since then they have had many legendary players, most notably the late rhythm guitarist and singer "Lonesome" Dave Peverett, and slide guitar wizard, Rod Price.

Their latest lineup has been solidly in place since 2000 with Charlie Huhn on vocals and rhythm guitar, Bryan Bassett on lead and slide guitar, Craig McGregor on bass (since 2005), and original drummer, Roger Earl, who did a drum solo towards the end of the Friday night performance that left the crowd wanting more.  Foghat's songs are an ode to the blues, but also to good time rock and roll.  Despite their pedigree really coming through airplay on classic rock radio, they can still boogie on a blues standard, and Friday night, they proved that, covering two major blues standards, Big Joe Turner's "Honey Hush", and Elmore James' "It Hurts Me Too", mid set.

"Honey Hush" was turned into an uptempo romp while "It Hurts Me Too", retained it's standard 12 bar boogie.  Fans of the band also recognized the songs that were placed before some of the more obscure blues nuggets.  Rock & rollers such as the opener, "Fool For The City", "Stone Blue", and another blues standard from their repertoire, Willie Dixon's "I Just Want To Make Love To You".  The sparks flew, with Bryan Bassett's slide guitar playing... searing, howling, raunchy, and a trademark of Foghat's sound, as well as an ode to the aforementioned late great Rod Price, the band's original bandit with the bottleneck.

Huhn's vocals provided nearly as much fire as Bassett's guitar, and Roger Earl's drumming, including a drum solo in the middle, was rock solid the entire gig.  So, while the lineups may have changed over the years, the music... genuine, put on your dancing shoes, bluesy boogie rock, has stayed the same, definitely giving Foghat staying power, that they've had for over 45 years.

1. Fool For The City
2. Drivin' Wheel
3. Stone Blue
4. Hot Mama
5. Honey Hush (Big Joe Turner cover)
6. It Hurts Me Too (Elmore James cover)
7. I Just Wanna Make Love To You
8. Slow Ride