Journey, Foreigner set lists at Xcel Center

My one big question following tonight's Xcel Energy Center show: How in the world did Time-Life miss the opportunity to sponsor this show show for its "Ultimate Rock Ballads" collection? What a power-balladic affair. I was worried that all the lighter fluid would be depleted by the time Journey got to "Don't Stop Believin'."

I didn't have space to cover Night Ranger's set in the full review for tomorrow's paper, but I admired their unchanged quality. Co-leader Jack Blades still looks like a younger version of Robert Plant, and drummer/singer Kelly Keagy still uses his nifty headphone mic to sing "Sister Christian" -- allowing him to extend both arms passionately when he comed out from behind the kit for the last refrain. After "Sister Christian," roadies came out and planted two U.S. flags on stage for the final song (about the biggest props allowed the first band on a three-band bill). The closer, you guessed it, was "You Can Still Rock in America."

Foreigner didn't exactly steal the show from Journey, but when was the last time you saw a band perform where you knew every single one of the songs in their set by heart, whether you like 'em or not? That's what impressed me most about the middle band's set: They didn't have time for any filler, and the crowd never had the chance to sit down. Well, except for those of us who had to sit from feeling nauseous when it came time for "I Want to Know What Love Is." Here's Foreigner's whole set list:

Double Vision / Head Games / Cold As Ice / Waiting For A Girl Like You / Dirty White Boy / Feels Like the First Time / Urgent / I Want to Know What Love Is / Hot Blooded ENCORE: .Juke Box Hero

Journey's set did have filler (read: three new songs), plus Neal Schon and pianist Jonathan Cain each ate up time soloing. A few of the band's hits were left out, too, including "Who's Crying Now" and "Oh Sherrie." Er, never mind, scratch that last one. Here's what they did play: