Air Supply duo Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock rocked a sold-out crowd in New Jersey, with fans at bergenPAC singing along to five decades of pop hits.
Walking into the show and having never heard of the band, I didn’t know what to expect. Based on feedback from family, and after discovering they have a loyal fanbase (for the past 50 years), I had a pretty good feeling the performance would be excellent.
By the end of the concert, I was blown away. I knew I had a concert experience I would always remember.
The stop at Englewood’s bergenPAC was part of the band’s 50th anniversary tour. The first area I see in the lobby features a lot of cool merch, most notably the 50th-anniversary tour shirt. There was also a guitar for sale, along with other interesting wearable items and wall art from past and present shows.
The historic Art Deco theater has great sound, about 1,367 seats, and a mainstage that has hosted too many legends to name, including Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, John Legend, and Willie Nelson. Johnny Mathis performed his last concert there on May 18, 2025, and the venue has its own Hollywood-style Walk of Fame.
Sweet Dreams and Other Hits
This song was perfect to open with. The song had just enough energy to get the crowd moving, but not so much that it would be too much for the crowd to handle too soon. It really set the mood for the rest of the concert, and I enjoyed it very much.
Graham’s Poetry and Guitar Solo
After the opening and the performance of some amazing classic hits such as “Even the Nights are Better,” “Every Woman in the World,” and “Here I am,” Graham began an unexpected yet very interesting segment.
Graham likes to do mini segments during shows, with poetry being one of them. He read a poem out of special request he learned from a fan when he was out performing at another concert.
In addition, Graham began playing a cool guitar solo with aggressive strumming that echoed throughout the venue, adding depth and uniqueness to the concert.
Overall, I enjoyed these segments very much. It was very refreshing to watch someone with charisma and talent who also had a lot of personality. I was not expecting a segment like this, as many famous individuals present themselves in ways that hide the depth of their personality. The duo, especially Graham, was the opposite, unafraid to show their true personalities and charisma.
After Graham’s segment, the duo went on to perform more of their famous hits while also giving their instrumentalists a spotlight on stage.
Instrumentalist Solos
Each instrumentalist was given the opportunity to perform a solo. Mirko Tessandori performed a piano solo, Pavel Valdman performed a drum solo, and Jessika Soli and Kat Findlay performed a cello segment together.
I found it awesome that the duo gave its instrumentalists an opportunity to showcase their individual talent, which really gave me insight into how much talent is required for the band to make their songs come alive.
Not only were these solos awesome to hear, but they also displayed everyone’s individual talents and personalities, fostering a greater appreciation for the role each individual plays in the band.
Russell’s Jackets
To keep things fresh and interesting, Graham and Russell occasionally changed outfits as the concert progressed. While both had an assortment of fashionable outfits they displayed, Russell’s outfits stood out the most to me.
This is mainly because Russell’s sense of fashion during this concert revolved around his bright and stylish jackets. These jackets helped make him stand out, really enhancing his presence on stage.
While both have an amazing sense of fashion, Russell simply wins here because of his awesome jackets.
Small Critique
I have no criticisms other than one; the kick drum was a little too loud. I’m not sure if it was simply the volume of the kick drum, something to do with the design of the venue, or my inexperience with concerts, but the kick drum felt noticeably overpowering.
Every time the kick drum was used, It felt like a deep rumbling in my chest that got distracting at times from the other elements of the song being performed. Other than this, everything else was amazing and I truly had a great time.
Conclusion
Overall, this concert was an amazing experience. Everything from the music to the atmosphere was on point. The outfits and the segments were small yet impactful details that made the experience much more memorable. This legendary duo knows how to run a good show, and I recommend that everyone who has the opportunity to see them perform live should take it.
Even if you happen to be someone like myself who was relatively unfamiliar with their music, I guarantee you will still have a blast and will be singing along in no time.
Album Downloads and Other Info
The new album release comes in the midst of Air Supply’s 50th Anniversary Celebration tour, which officially kicked off in January and will run through September.
For years, Across The Concrete Sky was known as the only Air Supply studio album not available on any music streaming service. The album has 11 songs, with the final track, “Goodnight,” serving as the lead single and the most popular on the record. Originally released on July 7, 2003, all of the songs were written, produced and mixed by Graham Russell, except “A Place Where We Belong,” which was co-written by Argentine singer Alejandro Lerner.
Air Supply’s 18th studio album, A Matter of Time, is available for free. The band’s 2003 album “Across the Concrete Sky” is now available on streaming platforms. The album had been available only on CD and vinyl for 23 years.
Russell and Hitchcock met on their first day of rehearsals as actors in the Sydney, Australia version of Jesus Christ Superstar. The band was formed on May 12, 1975, and eventually came to the attention of music executive Clive Davis in New York, who signed Air Supply to Arista Records. In 1980, “Lost in Love” became the fastest-selling hit single in the world.
