LIVE REVIEW: Air Supply in Uncasville, CT (05.30.26)
Australian soft rock duo Air Supply performed a sold-out show at the Mohegan Sun Arena this past Saturday night. The band is currently on tour to promote their newest album, A Matter of Time, their first studio album in almost 20 years. This was my second time seeing the duo live, and after their performance in November, I made sure not to miss this show.
Air Supply is fronted by English singer-songwriter and guitarist Graham Russell and Australian singer Russell Hitchcock. In 2025, the duo celebrated their 50th anniversary after their formation in Melbourne, Australia, in 1975. Currently, the duo is backed by a phenomenal band, including bassist and backing vocalist Doug Gild, drummer Pavel Valdman, cellists Jessika Soli and Kat Findlay, and all the way from Tuscany, Italy, Mirko Tessandori, the groups pianist, keyboardist, and most recently, musical director. Throughout the evening, each member earned their well-deserved spotlight.
As the audience crowded into the large arena, the venue’s speakers played songs from Air Supply’s newest record, which built a certain feeling in the air that I’ve never felt before a concert. And whatever that feeling was, it electrified the start of an evening that many may never forget.
One by one, as each member conquered the stage,
greeted by a roaring crowd, the band opened with “Sweet Dreams,” a song that immediately showcased the duo’s talent and charisma, and energized the arena. Both Graham and Russell’s smooth vocals soared effortlessly, just like the records. The following songs from their setlist were a perfect mix of Air Supply’s greatest hits and select tracks from their later catalog. Classics like “Even the Nights Are Better” and “Just As I Am” had the audience singing along, their voices melding with Russell’s in a harmonious chorus. Then, songs like “Every Woman in the World” and “Chances,” two fantastic ballads, brought out the crowd’s emotion, with the girl next to me even crying! Nothing is more power than something like that.
About halfway through the performance, the duo performed “A Matter of Time,” the title track from their new record. Though much of the audience seemed unfamiliar with the song, it blended seamlessly with the band’s classic material, proving that Air Supply’s songwriting remains remarkably consistent five decades into their career.
After leaving the audience mesmerized with their magical performance of the piano-driven “Here I Am” and “Goodbye,” it was the perfect time to pace down the set and perform an acoustic song, giving Russell a break. With Graham performing “Me and the River,” the arena lit up with phone lights, a trend at shows that never fails to impress me. Then, Russell returned to the stage, sitting down and singing the emotional “Two Less Lonely People in the World.”
Throughout the night, it was evident that Air Supply’s music transcends generations. Younger fans, likely introduced to the band by their parents, stood side by side with longtime followers, all united by a shared appreciation for the duo’s artistry. Graham and Russell’s chemistry on stage remains sweet and lovely, with their mutual respect and passion for music shining through every note.
Then, right when nobody expected it, came the three chart-toppers, “Lost In Love,” “The One That You Love,” and “Making Love Out of Nothing At All,” before leaving for an encore, and returning with (my personal favorite) their cover of Badfinger’s “Without You,” and finishing with the #1 hit, “All Out of Love,” echoing throughout the packed arena. Once the band took their final bows, throwing out setlists, guitar picks, and even signing albums, the audience erupted in a standing ovation, a testament to Air Supply’s enduring legacy. Exiting the venue, concertgoers carried with them the euphoria of a night well spent, a celebration of timeless soft rock music delivered by two of its most underrated figures.
It wasn’t the loudest concert I’ve been to. It wasn’t the biggest or the flashiest. But it might’ve been the most genuine. Overall, the audience wasn’t incredible. But, you know what? It reminded me that soft rock isn’t just love ballads and anthems. This music carries the weight of our lives and somehow makes it feel lighter. And Air Supply, more than most, gets that. They don’t just sing songs. They tell stories. Your stories and my stories. Through harmonies and heartbreak, through guitar lines that sound like falling and rising at the same time.
That night, with my ears slightly ringing, my heart full and my voice a little hoarse from singing with strangers I left grateful. For Graham and Russel. For their songs. For the way music, when it’s done right, can still split you wide open and stitch you back together all at once.
And if they come through again next year? I certainly won’t miss out on another phenomenal show. And I hope for you to attend too!
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