Howard Jones @ Maverik Center 07.29.2026
Concert
It’s been a week of nostalgia that began with Sunday’s Totally Tubular Festival and continued into the Howard Jones concert. Whereas the Totally Tubular Festival attempted to squeeze seven bands into four hours, Jones’ show trimmed the lineup to four acts over roughly the same amount of time. That extra breathing room translated into a couple more songs from each band, while the breaks between sets were filled by the New Wave champion and DJ Richard Blade, who spun through the top five songs from each year of the 1980s.
The night kicks off with Modern English, who serenade the crowd with a six-song set dominated by material from their celebrated 4AD era. Classics such as “Gathering Dust,” “Someone’s Calling,” “Swans on Glass” and “Hands Across the Sea” are joined by “Long in the Tooth,” a welcome selection from the band’s 2024 album, 1 2 3 4. The set naturally builds to the group’s signature hit, “I Melt with You,” prompting the inevitable audience sing-along. It’s a strong performance that leaves the crowd wanting more — even if the set feels all too brief.
The Beat starring Dave Wakeling are next to take the stage with a hit-filled set that opens with a spirited cover of “I’ll Take You There,” gathers momentum with General Public’s “Tenderness” and reaches full throttle with “Save It for Later,” “Ranking Full Stop” and “Mirror in the Bathroom.” Wakeling, now 70, may not be as spry as he once was, but his unmistakable voice remains remarkably intact. Antonee First Class handles the toasting duties admirably, though comparisons to the late Ranking Roger are inevitable. Then again, who could truly fill those shoes?
I don’t know that Wang Chung wants to be taken seriously, but there’s no denying they’re an incredibly polished live act, capable of conjuring a party atmosphere no matter where they perform. I don’t own any of their albums, yet I know every one of the five songs they play tonight. Not that I’m the singing-along type. “To Live and Die in L.A.” provides the evening’s lone breather before “Let’s Go,” “Dance Hall Days,” a cheeky detour into “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” keep the audience on its feet — and more than a few beverages splashing onto the floor.
That brings us to Howard Jones. For those unaware, if Jones has an unofficial hometown, it is Salt Lake City. He acknowledges this throughout the night, but it is most notable when he says that he has played Salt Lake City more than any other city in the world. While that is certainly due in part to an extended residency that he did at the Egyptian in 2020, it is still a remarkable bit of trivia that underscores Jones’ long-standing relationship with Utah.
This is my first time seeing Jones with his recently revised live lineup, which retains longtime collaborator Robin Boult while welcoming Doug Yowell (electronic drums), Rory Harvey (bass and bass synth) and Phil Jones (keyboards). The new personnel also bring a handful of fresh arrangements. Even the more guitar-driven take on “You Know I Love You… Don’t You?” never strays so far from the original that the crowd can’t immediately embrace it.
Aside from the recently released single “Stand Up,” the set is essentially a tour through Jones’ greatest hits, including “New Song,” “Like to Get to Know You Well,” “The Prisoner,” “The One to Love You,” “Everlasting Love” — complete with a playful “Twist and Shout” outro — “No One Is to Blame,” “Life in One Day” and “What Is Love?” “Things Can Only Get Better” closes the evening with the club-style outro that Jones has incorporated into the song over the past few years.
As someone who has seen Jones perform several times over the years, I appreciate the subtle rearrangements. They rarely drift too far from the spirit of the original recordings while offering longtime fans something new to discover. “Stand Up” slips comfortably into the set alongside Jones’ classics, leaving me even more eager to hear what he has in store when the new album arrives in 2027.
Read more concert reviews by Ryan Michael Painter:
Totally Tubular Festival 2026 @ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre 07.26.2026
The Human League, Alison Moyet, Soft Cell @ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre 06.11.26
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