The ’80s rock band’s first-ever show at the amphitheater on Thursday felt like a race to reviewer Lorilee Craker, but the capacity crowd did get to hear some fan favorites. Review, photo gallery.
Wide-Eyed Southern Boys: 38 Special fired up some of its classics at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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Fans of ’80s band 38 Special held on tightly to the songs they loved, gathering in sold-out fashion Thursday at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
There was almost no chit-chat or banter by frontman Don Barnes and his crew — Bobby Capps, Gary Moffat, Barry Dunaway and Jerry Riggs. From the opening blazing guitars of “Rockin’ Into the Night,” they were all business, almost too much so.
While there is a rhythm and an ebb and flow pace to most rock shows, this one felt like a solid wall of sound or a race to see how many songs from this parade of hits could be compressed into 90 minutes. The sound mix was off, too, and way too loud.
Still, the Southern rock band impressed with still-strong vocals and those signature harmonies on tunes such as “Wide-Eyed Southern Boys,” “Teacher, Teacher” (from the 1984 movie “Teachers”), and of course, its biggest hit, “Hold On Loosely,” saved wisely for the end.
Barnes and keyboardist Bobby Capps sang most of the harmonies and they both sound pretty close to the way they did on FM radio in the ’80s.
Stellar Voice: Otsego’s Myron Elkins on stage at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
The most transportive moment was when Capps took over lead vocals and crooned the band’s 1989 ballad, “Second Chance.” While it’s debatable if this song needs a second chance, there’s no doubt it checked every box for an ’80s ballad and sent listeners right back in time.
The band also belted out 1983’s “If I’d Been the One” for those who like to imagine they are driving in a Chevy Nova with the windows rolled down, listening to a favorite mixtape.
After hardly taking a breath for 75 minutes (with the one exception of an atmospheric keyboard solo from Capps which segued into a guitar solo from Riggs), 38 Special finally unleashed its hallmark hit on the fans. “Hold On Loosely” was worth the wait as the sky darkened and the strobe lights pulsated across the venue.
Opening the show was 20-year-old Otsego singer Myron Elkins, with a subdued yet powerful, solo acoustic set. (He also fronts the band the Dying Breed.)
“I’ve never played in front of this many people,” the singer said, though you couldn’t tell.
His low, earthy voice lent itself to well-crafted tunes with a rootsy, country-rock style. “Leslie,” which he wrote about an older man he used to work with at a factory, was a standout, as was his imaginative cover of Elvis’ “Trying to Get to You.”
With a voice like that, Elkins will go far.
PHOTO GALLERY: 38 Special, Myron Elkins at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Derek Ketchum
