As the ’70s slipped into the ’80s, and the ’90s evolved into a new millennium, the band Foghat may have faded into but a foggy memory for most its fans.

Monday, August 06, 2001

As the ’70s slipped into the ’80s, and the ’90s evolved into a new millennium, the band Foghat may have faded into but a foggy memory for most its fans.

Those memories came back loud and clear Saturday night.

Foghat, the British-born group that became one of the major touring and recording acts of its time, brought its boogie-blues brand of rock and roll to the Freeborn County Fair for two spirited performances.

On one of the hottest days of the year in a fair week that was the hottest in recent memory, the crowd was slow in arriving but had the grandstand nearly filled for both shows. While the obvious baby boomer Foghat followers got there early, many much younger people gravitated to the area once the band hit the stage.

Two original members remain: drummer Roger Earl and bass player Tony Stevens. Lead guitarist Bryan Bassett has been with the group since 1990. The front man, lead vocalist and guitarist Charlie Huhn, is a veteran of several rock and roll acts including Humble Pie and Ted Nugent.

Huhn is the perfect front man, much younger than the other band members and with a voice virtually indistinguishable from original lead singer &uot;Lonesome&uot; Dave Peverett, who died of cancer. Most of the running around on stage was done by Huhn. Bassett and Stevens jammed but basically stayed put.

The band opened with one of its most recognizable tunes, &uot;Fool For The City,&uot; the title track to the 1975 album which was Foghat’s first to go platinum.

&uot;Drivin’ Wheel,&uot; from the follow-up album to Fool For the City, &uot;Night Shift,&uot; highlighted Bassett’s talents and showed by Earl is considered one of the best drummers in the business.

&uot;Stone Blue,&uot; the title song from Foghat’s 1978 album, was one of those songs you forget until you hear it. Then you remember how much you used to hear it on the radio.

The band turned the tempo with &uot;Sweet Home Chicago,&uot; a cover of a Robert Johnson blues number also included on the Stone Blue record.

The blues theme continued with a two-chorus, slowed-down introduction to Foghat’s first U.S. single, &uot;I Just Want To Make Love To You.&uot; Stevens’ thumping bass and Bassett’s guitar turned it into the ever-recognizable, full-blown rock version.

The biggest hit, &uot;Slow Ride,&uot; was saved for last. It had baby boomers and teenagers on their feet, side by side.

Foghat obviously pleased its die-hard fans. And maybe made a few new ones along the way.