Foghat –Under the Influence

I still remember the first time I heard Foghat. It was 1977 and the neighborhood kids and myself were hanging out in Jon’s basement – the kid on the street with the coolest basement and the best sound system. I don’t know where Jon picked the album up but he had Foghat Live with its cool two-sleeve packaging that had the four band members’ heads in the letters of LIVE. Just by the look of the cover art alone – this one was a winner but then – we put the album on the turntable.

There were only six songs on the album but that summer – I don’t know if that vinyl ever came off the turntable and now – almost 40 years later I sit in my own basement and once again I find myself being blown away by another Foghat album.

Under The Influence is the 19th album from this boogie rock band and while some of the faces have changed over the years – the sound remains the same and the spirit of those early records are back and stronger than ever in this 12-track collection of Rock n Roll greatness.

Drummer Roger Earl is the only true original member of the band – he is one of the original founders and Foghat has seen a lot of changes over the years but this current line up has been together since 2005 and they seem to have found a groove.

Consisting of Charlie Huhn on rhythm guitar and vocals, Bryan Bassett on lead guitar, Craig MacGregor on Bass and Roger Earl on drums I feel secure in saying that Foghat has once again found a formula for success and that seems to be ringing true as Under The Influence went out to the fans on June 24th and at the time of this writing is currently sitting at #17 on the Billboard Hard Rock Album chart. The first time that band has charted since 1983 and for good reason. Under The Influence may just be one of the best albums of the year.
An exercise in not only revisiting but also reinventing a bygone style of music – Foghat manages to reintroduce their funky, bluesy yet heavy style of performing to an audience that likely has no idea what Foghat used to stand for. Luckily, the band is still around to school a new generation in the magic of music written and performed from the heart.
As I mentioned, the album features 12 tracks and honestly- there isn’t a bad one in the bunch. For me though – Heart Gone Cold clearly stands out from the pack but it is just a slightly brighter diamond in a collection of shimmering jewels. The album consists of several new original songs – several from a band that Roger Earl drummed for pre-Foghat called Savoy Brown and a cover of Heard It Through The Grapevine as well as a cover of their own arguably most famous song – Slow Ride.

Under The Influence is a party album – a disc that you can put in – push repeat and let play for the evening while you and a bunch of friends hang out. It’s a soundtrack to a perfect evening and it’s an album I think you’ll find yourself spending time with over and over again.

It’s great to see the band thriving once again – and I’m being told that their live show is a sight to behold. Do yourself a favor and head out and pick up Under The Influence now – that way when the tour comes your way you’ll be ready to rock it. I know I’ll be.

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Review by Dave Dreher, RockRevolt Journalist

Tour Dates:

SAT 7/16/2016 in ALBANY, OR @LINN COUNTY FAIR
WED 7/20/2016 in OMAHA, NE @BAXTER ARENA
FRI 7/22/2016 in WALKER, MN @MOONDANCE JAM 25
SAT 7/23/2016 in SAN BERNADINO, CA @2016 LOST HIGHWAY FESTIVAL
FRI 7/29/2016 in PASO ROBLES, CA @ MID CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR
SUN 7/31/2016 in WHITEHORSE STATION, NJ @QUICKCHECK NJ FEST OF BALLOONING
WED 8/3/2016 in COLUMBUS, OH @OHIO EXPO CENTER & STATE FAIR
THU 8/4/2016 in KITCHENER, ONT @VICTORIA PARK
SAT 8/6/2016 in ST. OKOBOJI, IA @ARNOLDS PARK
MON 8/8/2016 in STURGIS, SD @FULL THROTTLE SALOON
TUE 8/9/2016 in RIDGEFIELD, WA @CLARK COUNTY FAIR 2016
THU 8/11/2016 in SOLANA BEACH, CA @BELLY UP TAVERN
FRI 8/12/2016 in SANTA CRUZ, CA @SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK
SAT 8/13/2016 in SEDALIA, MO @MISSOURI STATE FAIR
FRI 8/19/2016 in WENDOVER, NV @PEPPERMILL CASINO
SAT 8/20/2016 in SALAMANCA, NY @SENECA ALLEGHENY CASINO
MON 8/22/2016 in AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WA @NORTHERN QUEST CASINO
SUN 8/28/2016 in UNCASVILLE, CT @MOHEGAN SUN CASINO
FRI 9/2/2016 in WOODWARD OK @OKLAHOMA ANNUAL H.O.G. RALLY
SAT 9/3/2016 in WALLA WALLA, WA @WALL WALLA FRONTIER DAYS
SUN 9/4/2016 in HURON, SD @SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FAIR
FRI 9/9/2016 in LAS CRUCES, NM @RED HAWK GOLF CLUB
SAT 9/17/2016 in COTTONWOOD, AZ @THUNDER VALLEY RALLY 2016
MON 9/19/2016 in ELKHART, IN @PRIVATE SHOW
WED 9/21/2016 in NEW YORK CITY, NY @B.B. KINGS BLUES CLUB & GRILL
FRI 9/23/2016 in YAKIMA, WA @CENTRAL WA STATE FAIR 2016
FRI 10/7/2016 in GRETNA, LA @GRETNA HERITAGE FESTIVAL
SAT 10/8/2016 in COLONIAL BEACH, VA @COLONIAL BEACH BIKE FEST
FRI 10/14/2016 in LAS VEGAS, NV @GOLDEN NUGGET CASINO & HOTEL
SAT 10/15/2016 in TYLER, TX @T.B. BUTLER SQUARE
THU 11/10/2016 in TAMPA, FL @THE CUBAN CLUB
FRI 11/11/2016 in JACKSONVILLE, FL @GREATER JACKSONVILLE AGRICULTURAL FAIR
SAT 11/12/2016 in MIAMI, FL @MAGIC CITY CASINO