Air Supply turned back the clock Sunday night at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, delivering their classic hits with the rock punch of a full backing band to a large crowd.
But although the event was billed as an Air Supply concert, the local acts NexCyx, Tamara Marshall and Marisa Lindsay gave an impressive performance.
NexCyx, with lead singer Mahalia, along with Russell, Kris, Andre and Chad, delivered a hardcore performance of Prince’s Purple Rain, a four-song tribute to Michael Jackson, originals Gossip Girl and Queen and their cover version of Maroon 5’s Moves Like Jagger, which recently saw them winning an international contest.
Marshall’s originals were delivered with a beautiful voice, and she mixed John Lennon’s Imagine with Bob Marley’s One Love.
Lindsay had the afro of Jackie Brown, the eclectic vibe of India Arie and the funkiness of Erykah Badu to complement her offerings, especially the throaty Catch Me On The Upswing.
The crowning moment to the local aspect was the triple threat of Mahalia, Marshall and Lindsay delivering Patti LaBelle’s Lady Marmalade as a fitting ending to their two hours on stage.
NexCyx’s set got kudos from lead singer Russel Hitchcock, who told them, “You rock big time”. Then the Aussie duo of Hitchcock and guitarist/vocalist Graham Russell showed the audience how they rock. They started off with Even The Nights Are Better, and a thrilling Just As I Am, where Hitchcock showed off the vocals that have made the group soar for four decades.
Crowd favourites Every Woman In The World and Without You followed. Those who weren’t ashamed to admit they love Air Supply, especially in the general audience, were dancing and waving their hands, helping in a sing-a-long and capturing the moments on their phones and cameras.
The leads and their four-man backing band – a keyboardist, guitarist, bass player and drummer – jacked up the bass and volume to Metallica levels. Every song grew to new heights as Aaron McLain on his electric guitar fanned the flames with slick metal solos while Amir Efrat captivated the audience with his keyboard skills.
On Chances Are and new single Dance With Me, the two men showed they were funny too. Hitchcock – the short one with the white locks and soaring voice – hammed it up by blowing kisses, flashing his chest, and imitating his female fans.
Russell – the tall one with the less-polished pipes – poked fun at his bandmate (“He’s gone backstage to drink a cup of tea and fix his hair”) before poking fun at himself: he used Dance With Me to serenade a lucky female fan, holding her hand from onstage to twirl her around, begging her “do not pull me off”, to laughter from the crowd.
Air Supply’s lyrics run as deep as the song titles, which on Sunday included Power Of Love and a sugary sweet Me And The River. Two Less Lonely People featured just the two Russells, with the band joining in at last two lines.
And while singing Here I Am, the duo left the stage to embrace, shake hands and greet fans.
The band saved the best for last, with a slowed-down, dramatic The One That You Love, a tender Lost In Love, and sing-alongs Making Love Out of Nothing At All – reggae styled ending – and, of course, All Out Of Love.
The band came back to fittingly do Goodbye, appeasing the begging crowd.
Clearly, Air Supply’s star has not faded. Romantic ballads have been their forte for over 40 years and they delivered a delightful 95-minute set of absolutely sweet and magical pop songs, making everything seem so hunky-dory.
People who thought the duo could not deliver would have been pleasantly surprised to hear these two 60-plus performers singing their original love songs and sounding no different from how they sound on radio.
The hooks were sharp, the vocals smooth and the power ballads so potent that they ensured the audidence had an evening of pure delight.
