Photojournalist: Brian McLean

Even though Earth’s atmosphere is primarily composed of two gases—nitrogen at 78 percent and oxygen at 21 percent—the atmosphere inside Arlington Music Hall for Air Supply’s Wednesday night show was breathless.

The Australian soft-rock duo of Graham Russell (guitar, vocals) and Russell Hitchcock (vocals) brought their string of consecutive 1980 top-five Billboard Hot 100 singles—and more—to the DFW Metroplex. Add a pinch of their half-century career longevity, and the results confidently spoke from the stage.

A Wednesday night show did not deter the sophisticated fan base, who flocked to Arlington for a night of lite rock while the Texas Rangers hosted the Seattle Mariners for an early afternoon first pitch less than two miles away.

Air Supply did not need an opening act for their 50th-anniversary tour stop in Arlington. The spotlights were solely on them. It was Russell and Hitchcock’s night to shine—and shine they did in grand Texas fashion.

With keyboards building audience anticipation, the left-handed Russell, strapped with an inverted, right-handed, road-worn Telecaster, took to the stage from the crowd’s left, while Hitchcock entered from the right in an elegant bright red jacket.

From the extended introduction of “Sweet Dreams” to its first notes, it immediately became apparent that the Airheads would be treated to a night of richly mixed sound: soaring vocals backed by cellos, keyboards, a solid rhythm section, and lead guitar accompanying Russell. All the elements were tied together with polished production.

Air Supply wasted no time delivering hits and set staples, including “Even the Nights Are Better,” “Every Woman in the World,” “Here I Am,” “Chances,” as well as “Just as I Am” and “Goodbye.”

The duo continued to glide effortlessly through their set, eventually delivering the remaining songs from their nine-track, five-times-platinum 1984 Greatest Hits album on Arista Records, along with additional selections.

As the night progressed, the show’s momentum continued to build.

In turn, the crowd remained engaged, showing its appreciation by singing lyrics and choruses throughout the evening. The gratitude of Russell and Hitchcock was evident.

The lone merchandise booth, located in the walkway behind the auditorium’s back wall, offered plenty of T-shirts, vinyl records, handwritten lyrics on large white canvases, and other items to satisfy fans filing out after the show.

Not all is lost on a night of hits, though. Air Supply will be releasing their first studio album in fifteen years, titled A Matter of Time.

The album took two years to complete, from start to finish, between breaks in the duo’s annual 130-date international tour.

For now, memories of Air Supply’s show at Arlington Music Hall should occupy fans’ time until A Matter of Time hits the streets in the near future.

SETLIST:
Sweet Dreams
Even the Nights Are Better - #5 1980
Just as I Am - (Rob Hegel cover)
Every Woman in the World - #5 1980
Here I Am - (Norman Saleet cover) - #5 1981
Chances
Goodbye
I Can Wait Forever
G's Spot
Two Less Lonely People in the World
The One That You Love - #1 1981
Lost in Love - #3 1983
Making Love Out of Nothing at All - #2 198

Encore:
Without You - (Badfinger cover) (Harry Nillson cover)
All Out of Love - #2 1980

photos by Brian McLean