Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Graham Russell (left) and Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply deliver an electrifying performance during their concert at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Independence Park, on Saturday. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

It was a night of pure magic, as Air Supply delivered an unforgettable performance to the packed audience at the National Indoor Sports Arena last Saturday.

The Air Supply One Night Only Concert wove a web of romance, passion and love over the enthralled gathering.

A precursor for the Jazz and Blues festival coming in January, the sold-out concert gave a taste of the musical excellence promised every year. The first half of the show featured some of Jamaica's best new and established acts such as Tessanne Chynn, Alaine, Taurrus Riley and Richie Stephens.

Chynn delivered a few of her hits but it was Hideaway that really got the crowd singing along to her powerful voice. Taurrus Riley brought a conscious vibe with some reggae music.

Alaine brought a slightly different flair, sparkling in silver top and red pants. She performed a dancehall medley. Towards the end, she slowed down her pace with No Ordinary Love, but it was Richie Stephens that had the ladies screaming out for the first time all night.

Instead of his usual jumping and dancing antics on stage, he stuck with love songs to the delight of the crowd. Dressed in a red suit, he was the embodiment of romance, singing Lonely Teardrops, Sexual Healing, Take Me Away and more.

After a brief intermission, the tension mounted as fans waited with bated breath for the act of the night.

The highly anticipated Aussies ushered in Sunday morning and were greeted by a frenzied audience when they entered the stage. Fans jumped up and down in their seats screaming, as the arena erupted.

Persons in the VIP section ran to the front of stage eager to get closer. The first notes of You Are My Lady hit the audience with force, sending some into instant raptures.

Love songs live on forever

Smiles shone from the faces of the patrons as Air Supply proved that love songs live on forever. As the high-pitched voice of Russel Hitchcock went into the Power of Love and Just As I Am, patrons young and old couldn't seem to help but sing word for word.

Although it was their second time here for the year, the reaction was not tempered, as one of the lead singers proclaimed, "it's great to be here, to see all these beautiful, smiling faces. Everyone is full of love."

For more than two hours the group supplied hit after hit, even at one point urging the crowd to just close their eyes and feel the music.

Towards the end of the act, the two lead singers went into the midst of the crowd singing, "Here I am, the one that you love". Persons craned to see them, camera phones were whipped out, flashes blinded most, and everyone clamoured for a picture or simply to touch one of them. Towards 1 a.m. the show began to wind down, yet the crowd wanted more, as one woman exclaimed, "it soon finish? That should be the first half, we want more!"

A sentiment that was unanimous, as when the act left the stage the arena chanted "we want more! We want more!" Patrons stomped, emphasising their demand for more. The keyboard played the notes of Nothing At All as Air Supply gave in to an encore.

With a sigh of release, the patrons left the National Indoor Sports Arena undoubtedly satisfied. At the end of the night Air Supply more than delivered.

Patrons having a fun-filled time at Air Supply In Concert.