{"id":171344,"date":"2026-03-22T16:24:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T16:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/171344\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T16:24:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T16:24:00","slug":"air-supplys-50th-anniversary-concert-live-at-bergenpac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/171344\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Supply’s “50th Anniversary Concert” LIVE! at bergenPAC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air Supply’s “50th Anniversary Concert” LIVE! at bergenPAC<\/p>\n

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\"New<\/a><\/p>\n

\"New<\/a> <\/p>\n

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\t \ufeff\ufeffBy Spotlight Central, Photos by Love Imagery <\/a>
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originally published: 03\/22\/2026<\/p>\n

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Fans who know that even the nights are better at bergenPAC in Englewood, NJ anxiously await the start of a sold-out 50th Anniversary Concert this Friday, March 13, 2026 evening by the world-famous pop duo, Air Supply.<\/p>\n

Comprised of guitarist\/songwriter Graham Russell from England and his bandmate, vocalist Russell Hitchcock from Australia, the two members of Air Supply met in 1975 while performing in the Sydney version of\u00a0Jesus Christ Superstar. After creating their duo, the pair appeared in clubs and coffee houses in Australia prior to touring the United States and Canada with Rod Stewart.<\/p>\n

In 1979, Russell and Hitchcock recorded\u00a0Life Support, an album featuring \u201cLost in Love,\u201d which climbed the charts in Australia and ultimately found its way to music executive Clive Davis in New York. Davis signed Air Supply to Arista Records and in 1980, \u201cLost in Love\u201d became the fastest selling hit single in the world, leaping straight up the U.S. charts.<\/p>\n

Seven top-five singles later, Air Supply managed to equal The Beatles\u2019 run of consecutive top-five singles. Their albums also sold millions of copies and, since then, several of the duo\u2019s songs have gone on to achieve over a million plays on the radio.<\/p>\n

Inside the bergenPAC auditorium, the lights dim as keyboardist Mirko Tessandori, bassist Doug Gild, and drummer Pavel Valdman enter the stage with electric cellists Kat Findley and Jessika Soli. The spotlight shifts from drums to cellos to keyboards to bass as the ensemble\u2019s ethereal sounds envelope the crowd.<\/p>\n

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Audience members cheer when guitarist Graham Russell and vocalist Russell Hitchcock take the stage. Opening with a powerful rendition of their 1981 Top 5 power ballad, \u201cSweet Dreams,\u201d Hitchcock starts off singing lead \u2014 his voice sounding as clear and powerful as ever \u2014 while Russell plays guitar left-handed. The pair croons together in harmony on the song\u2019s mystical \u201cClose your eyes I want to ride the skies in my sweet dreams\u201d chorus before the arrangement builds in intensity under spinning lights.<\/p>\n

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Concertgoers hoot and holler and Hitchcock exclaims, \u201cGood evening, ladies and gentlemen \u2014 we are Air Supply!\u201d as the duo turns in a dynamic rendition of their 1982 Top 5 hit, \u201cEven the Nights are Better.\u201d Lights flash over the audience as four-part harmonies fill the bergenPAC auditorium before Hitchcock and Russell sing to one another in front of the cheering crowd.<\/p>\n

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Moving on to the group\u2019s 1985 Top 20 hit, \u201cJust As I Am,\u201d heads bop as fans sing along with Hitchcock and Russell on the slow rocker\u2019s melodic \u201cAnd you say you love me just as I am\/You always treat me the best that you can\u201d refrain.<\/p>\n

Fans sway their arms back and forth as Russell and Hitchcock trade off on vocals on Air Supply\u2019s 1980 Top 5 hit, \u201cEvery Woman in the World.\u201d The audience happily joins the pair in singing, \u201cYou\u2019re every woman in the world to me\/You\u2019re my fantasy, you\u2019re my reality,\u201d on this Graham Russell-penned pop tune.<\/p>\n

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After Hitchcock announces, \u201cIt\u2019s so good to be back in the United States!\u201d the duo performs its 1981 Top 5 hit, \u201cHere I Am.\u201d Five-part harmonies ring out before the crowd joins in singing the song\u2019s \u201cJust when I thought I was over you\/And just when I thought I could stand on my own\u201d refrain with Hitchcock as his iconic voice soars throughout the auditorium.<\/p>\n

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Russell takes over the mic exclaiming, \u201cGood evening, Englewood!\u201d Revealing, \u201cWe are approaching 6000 live shows in our careers,\u201d he notes, \u201cTIME\u00a0magazine said we are \u2018the most romantic band in the world,\u2019\u201d to which a fan yells out, \u201cHappy 50th!\u201d Here, Russell plays the twangy 12-string acoustic guitar intro to 1980\u2019s powerful \u201cChances,\u201d a number which has Kat Findley\u2019s and Jessika Soli\u2019s cellos crescendoing as lights flash to crashing drums and swirling keyboards.<\/p>\n

Russell switches over to electric guitar for \u201cGoodbye,\u201d an emotional power ballad which is sung by both \u201cRussells\u201d \u2014 Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock.<\/p>\n

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At the song\u2019s conclusion, Hitchcock holds out his mic and lets the crowd sing the last \u201cGoodbye\u201d before the sold-out house responds with enthusiastic cheers.<\/p>\n

Mirko Tessandori\u2019s keyboard and dual cellos accompany Hitchcock as he introduces the melodic ballad, \u201cI Can Wait Forever,\u201d before Russell takes over the lead vocal while strumming his acoustic 12-string.<\/p>\n

Hitchcock leaves the stage to Russell who recites a poem entitled \u201cVirginia\u2019s Endless Trees.\u201d After introducing the members of the ensemble, he talks about \u201chow much like life a river is,\u201d prior to performing his original composition, \u201cMe and The River,\u201d a waltz which is accompanied by fingerpicked guitar, keyboard, and two cellos.<\/p>\n

Russell tells the story about meeting Hitchcock at a choir practice in Australia a half-century ago and becoming best friends, revealing, \u201cWe\u2019ve never had an argument in all these years,\u201d as Hitchcock enters and the crowd cheers for the two colleagues. Here, the pair performs their 1980 Top 40 hit, \u201cTwo Less Lonely People in the World,\u201d their voices perfectly harmonizing on the tuneful ballad.<\/p>\n

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The audience sings along before Russell is featured on a rhythmic acoustic guitar solo where he strums on the strings playing harmonics prior to tapping on the body, creating a symphony of sound which excites the crowd and inspires whistles and cheers.<\/p>\n

Concertgoers sway to the rhythm of Air Supply\u2019s 1981 #1 smash, \u201cThe One That You Love,\u201d and stand and happily join Hitchcock and Russell in singing the song\u2019s ubiquitous \u201cHere I am\/The one that you love\/Askin\u2019 for another day\u201d refrain.<\/p>\n

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Following energetic applause, the group moves on to its 1980 #3 hit, \u201cLost in Love,\u201d the packed house singing along and clapping to the song\u2019s appealing \u201cLost in love and I don\u2019t know much\/Was I thinking aloud and fell out of touch\u201d chorus.<\/p>\n

Kat Findley and Jessika Soli play fast and furiously on their cellos, Pavel Waldman solos on the drums under flashing lights, and Mirko Tessandori offers up a dramatic keyboard solo on the song\u2019s interlude before the crowd stands and cheers for the group\u2019s 1983 #2 smash, \u201cMaking Love Out of Nothing At All.\u201d Here, fans enthusiastically sing along with Hitchcock who croons with feeling as this classic \u201980s power ballad builds to a crescendo under colored lights.<\/p>\n

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Fans stand and cheer on their feet and Hitchcock responds, \u201cThank you so much!\u201d before he and the rest of the ensemble leave the stage.<\/p>\n

After concertgoers chant, \u201cOne more song, one more song!\u201d the musicians return and Hitchcock announces, \u201cThank you for coming, and you must not forget \u2014 we would be nothing without you!\u201d Here the ensemble launches into an encore of Harry Nilsson\u2019s \u201cWithout You,\u201d where Hitchcock sings in his lower register before switching over to his high register and dazzling the audience with his powerful and emotional performance.<\/p>\n

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After Hitchcock and Russell thank the group\u2019s sound, lighting, production, and crew personnel, they thank their band members and salute former and active military in the audience. At this point, Russell launches into Air Supply\u2019s 1980 #2 hit, \u201cAll Out of Love,\u201d singing, \u201cI\u2019m lying alone with my head on the phone\/Thinking of you till it hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Soon, Hitchcock picks up the song\u2019s famous melody, his words ringing out through the theater, \u201cI\u2019m all out of love\/I\u2019m so lost without you\/I know you were right believing for so long,\u201d as Russell accompanies him on guitar.<\/p>\n

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The music builds and swells to a crescendo, and as a recording of The Beatles\u2019 \u201cAll You Need is Love\u201d plays, Hitchcock announces, \u201cThank you, and please be safe!\u201d before the pair takes a final bow and exits the stage to animated cheers and applause.<\/p>\n

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To learn more about Air Supply, please go to\u00a0airsupplymusic.com<\/a>. For information on upcoming shows at BergenPAC \u2014 including Rick Wakeman and Son on March 25, Melissa Etheridge on April 10, Paul Anka on April 15, and Audra McDonald on April 3 \u2014 please go to\u00a0bergenpac.org.<\/a><\/p>\n

Photos by Love Imagery<\/p>\n

Spotlight Central<\/a> NJ entertainment news,
concert recaps, and interviews<\/p>\n

Love Imagery<\/a> Fine art stage photography
@allyouneedisloveimagery<\/a><\/p>\n

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