Late last year, Foghat announced the launch of its latest tour, dubbed the “Slow Ride 50th Anniversary Tour.” As the title infers, the tour, which launched Jan. 11 in Sahuarita, AZ, is in part a celebration of one of the veteran rock act’s biggest ever singles, ‘Slow Ride.’ It is also in support of the band’s most recent studio recording, Sonic Mojo (2024). As part of its ongoing tour, the band stopped March 22 at the Weldon Mills Theatre in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina with support from local act, The Cove. Foghat’s performance Saturday night in front of the packed house was an exhibition of a band that even in its current lineup, still holds its own easily among so many younger up-and-coming new wave of classic rock acts.
From the opening notes of its roughly 90-minute set to ‘Slow Ride,’ which closed the night, Foghat kept every concertgoer entertained. The band pulled a pair of songs from Sonic Mojo for its expansive set while also pulling liberally from other albums in its catalog, the whole keeping people on their feet, dancing, and singing along happily from one song to the next. The music was only part of the entertainment for the audience. At points throughout the concert, the band also shared some conversation with the audience. Front man Scott Holt, at one point, joked with the audience that the band was not there to cause any trouble as he encouraged the audience to dance and enjoy the concert. There were also a few little stories behind some of the song performed along the way. Between the band’s interaction with the audience, the performance of each song, the audio and the overall simple presentation, the band’s performance was the epitome of the old adage that less is more. It did not need big special effects or anything else to keep the audience on its feet, clapping and singing along. It just needed its great music and on-stage presence. If Saturday night’s performance was any indication, audiences waiting to see the band on the remainder of its tour have plenty to anticipate.
Before the band took the stage, local act The Cove got the crowd warmed up in its own way. The band offered up a blend of original songs and covers of songs from the likes of Skid Row, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard among others. Saturday night was not the first time The Cove has performed at the Weldon Mills Theatre. The band opened for an equally well-known and respected band — .38 Special – in August 2024. While the band is a local act, the group held its own with front man Larry Ellis proving the consummate performer, going so far as to go out into the audience and shake hands and fist bump fans as he and his band mates performed. His powerhouse vocals and interaction with the band paired with the work of his fellow musicians to make the band’s hour-long set its own entertaining and engaging concert.
By night’s end, just past 10 p.m. audiences walked out of the Weldon Mills Theatre knowing that they had experienced a special possibly once in a lifetime experience, hoping it will not be the only or last time Foghat makes its way to the Weldon Mills Theatre.
More information on Foghat’s “Slowride 50th Anniversary Tour” is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Website: http://www.foghat.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foghat
Twitter: http://twitter.com/foghat
