38 Special
Bergen Performing Arts Center – Englewood, NJ – 2/20/2025
Review & Photos – Rebecca Wolf
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccawolfconcertphotos/
As we turned the calendar to 2025 we reached a quarter-century into the “new millennium”….. now a far cry from “new.” Consequently, the music from the mid 1970s, some of the greatest rock music ever created, is now 50 years old. As I head to a concert of an artist/band who was in their prime in the 70s and 80s I often wonder about the crowd they’re going to draw. Will fans have kept their interest after four or five decades? Will they continue to be as devoted if only one or two original members remain? Will these OG fans have introduced the next generation to their beloved music and have brought their offspring to these performances? These were some of the thoughts running through my mind on February 20th.
It was a cold, snowy night….weather that often keeps many staying safe and warm in their homes. If I wasn’t already wondering about the crowd that would attend 38 Special’s performance at Bergen Performing Arts Center, during their 50th Anniversary Tour, I surely was on a night like this. Watching fans slowly fill the seats I hoped it was not going to be a partially empty theater. As an announcement notified all present that the show would be starting in 5 minutes, a surge of fans migrated in from the lobby, suddenly filling the theater seats and quickly making it clear that there was no concern regarding a partially empty theater. The venue was filled with a range of enthusiastic fans, spanning the ages from those who clearly were diehard, first generation 38 Special fans, to those who likely discovered their music later in the band’s career, to those who were fortunate enough to be children of first generation parents and grew up in a household filled with this great rock music.
A devoted fan in the front row, his age indicative of someone in the second category, sat holding the band’s 1982 LP Special Forces with a sign attached asking to have his album signed. “You know there’s only one original member?” I questioned the gentleman. “Yes, that’s good enough for me,” he enthusiastically replied. The last original member in the band is Don Barnes, on lead and backing vocals, and lead and rhythm guitar. Barnes formed the band with Donnie Van Zandt in 1974. Leaving the band in 1987 and branching out asa solo artist, Barnes returned to 38 Special in 1992 where he’s remained since. Additional band members include, Bobby Capps on keyboards, backing and lead vocals, since 1992, Gary “Madman” Moffatt on drums/percussion, since 1997, Barry Dunaway on bass and backing vocals since 2014 and Jerry Riggs on lead guitar and backing vocals since 2019.
The band arrived onstage to rapturous audience applause. Opening with “Rockin’ Into the Night,” the title song from the band’s 1979 album, was the perfect way to begin an evening of powerful, energetic rock music. More than 55 years since the album’s release and there’s nothing about the sound that screams old, outdated or irrelevant. One of the best things about much of the rock music from the 70s, 80s and 90s (IMO) is that although the sound and production of today’s music is vastly different, our beloved “classic” rock music continues to stand the test of time. The band segued into “Wild-Eyed Southern Boys,” the title track from 38 Special’s 1980 album. It was this fourth album, that added a touch of upbeat, pop flavor to the band’s original Southern rock sound, grabbing the attention of the masses and producing the band’s hit single “Hold on Loosely,” which rose to No. 3 on the US Billboard Rocks Track chart and has become a classic rock staple.
As the band’s leader, Barnes captivated the crowd throughout the performance with his still rich, powerful, gritty vocals, and the aura of the “elder statesman” who’s remained the foundation of the band for half a century. “Age is just a number,” Barnes reminded the audience, as everyone witnessing Barnes that evening could attest to. As Barnes engaged the crowd and proudly spoke about the band’s 50th anniversary, he introduced the esteemed band members who are now part of 38 Special. With more than 30 years as the band’s keyboard player (the longest of any current member) Bobby Capps is a spirited keyboardist, who created beautiful melodies on the keys, as well as displayed beautifully soulful vocals while singing “Second Chance,” a song that reached No. 6 in 1989 on US Billboard Hot 100.
Capps was not the only band member who had the opportunity to highlight his musical skills during the performance. The band’s newest member, lead guitarist Jerry Riggs, presented with the energy and flair of a rock and roller, with shoulder-length blonde hair, a black, silver-studded jacket, and passionate facial expressions to match the intensity with which he jammed on his guitar. “He’s a master on the guitar. He’s going to transform this theater,” Barnes enthusiastically announced as he introduced Riggs and “Radar Rider,” a number composed by the band Riggs (fronted by Jerry Riggs) which appeared in 1981’s animated film Heavy Metal. The song opened with searing, futuristic, otherworldly tones emanating from Riggs’ guitar before Riggs roared in with powerfully sharp vocals. This heavy metal electricity was the perfect segue for Riggs’ phenomenal, extended guitar solo. As captivating as Riggs’ guitar performance, Moffatt’s blazingly powerful drum solo, accompanied by flashing colored stage lights and plumes of smoke, riveted the audience. This drumming explosion was the perfect indication of why Moffatt has been nicknamed “Madman.” While Dunaway spent much of the time out of the stage front limelight, as bass players often do, during several numbers he made his way forward to jam with the guitarists and showcase his rock skills.
During the hour and 40 minute performance the energy on stage was at full force, as the band performed a range of numbers from their catalog of 12 studio albums, including “Fantasy Girl” and “Honky Tonk Dancer,” from Wide-Eyed Southern Boys, to Chain Lightnin’ from 1982’s Special forces, to “If I’d Been There,” from 1984’s Tour De Force, to “Somebody Like You” and “Heart’s on Fire” from 1986’s Strength In Numbers, to “Trooper with an Attitude,” from 2004’s Drivetrain. While there will always be heightened enthusiasm in any audience when a band’s hit numbers are performed, it was clear on this evening that the crowd was filled with many fans of 38 Special…the band, beyond their most well-known chart toppers. That’s not to say that the band’s biggest hits didn’t bring a surge of fan excitement as hundreds began to sing along to “Caught Up in You,” which reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. And, when the band returned for an encore, to a dark “storm-filled” stage, with sounds of rumbling thunder, pouring rain, flashes of lightning and billows of smoke, and Barnes began the iconic opening guitar riff of “Hold on Loosely,” the electricity in the audience matched the lightning onstage, as all in attendance were on their feet, exuberantly cheering and passionately singing along.
Attending a lot of concerts of 70s and 80s bands (many with only one or two original members remaining) I read a lot of reactions to performances. While there’s often positivity and glowing accounts from fans who were thrilled with the music, the experience and the opportunity to see/hear any remaining original band members, there are those who seem personally offended that a band continues to perform and don’t sound exactly like it did decades ago. They are not incorrect, no one is going to sound like the original line-up and those remaining from the original band are not going to sound the same after 40-50 years. However, that doesn’t seem to be a reason a band should stop performing if they enjoy doing so and their adoring fans continue to flock to performances.
To the delight of 38 Special fans, including those at Bergen PAC on February 20th, Don Barnes has kept the band going with his strong vocals, rocking guitar skills and the talented musicians he’s assembled to share the stage with him. While I began the cold snowy evening wondering about the evening’s turnout, I should not have had any doubts. 38 Special is still “Rockin’ Into the Night.”
SET LIST
Rockin’ Into the Night
Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
Back Where You Belong
The Sound of Your Voice
Back to Paradise
Honky Tonk Dancer
Rough-Housin’
Teacher Teacher
You Keep Runnin’ Away
Somebody Like You
Second Chance
Like No Other Night
Heart’s on Fire
Radar Rider – Riggs Cover
Guitar Solo Jerry Riggs
If I’d Been the One
Fantasy Girl
Good Times – The Easybeats cover
Trooper With an Attitude
Gary Moffatt Drum Solo
Caught Up in You
Chain Lightnin’
Hold On Loosely
Travelin’ Band – CCR cover
