Howard Jones, Wang Chung, English Beat and Modern English
Northwell at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY
August 20, 2026
By Mike Perciaccante
When Howard Jones announced his curated “Things Can Only Get Better Tour” alongside Wang Chung, The English Beat, and Modern English, it promised to be a marathon of mid-’80s synth-pop and new wave. Mother Nature, however, had other ideas. Long Island was slammed by a destructive, powerful, windy and violent summer storm that turned the open-air theater into a literal flood zone. Rumors of a tornado touchdown in nearby Atlantic Beach hung heavy in the damp air, forcing venue management and the artists into a tight spot to get the music in before the weather completely shut down the evening.
Richard Blade was the evening’s emcee. The DJ, who is the voice of SiriusXM's 1st Wave, did an admirable job under difficult circumstances, keeping the energy up and piloting the crowd through a severely abbreviated evening. The scheduled “full sets” had to be severely trimmed to the absolute bone, turning the concert into a rapid-fire playlist of the bands’ hits. Blade was joined on stage later in the show by fellow 1st Wave DJ Larry The Duck and actor Lou Diamond Philips.
Modern English kicked off the damp festivities. Despite the raindrops slicking the stage, they brought a powerful energy that cut through the humidity. Their driving, atmospheric performance (in the driving rain) was highlighted by the timeless “I Melt With You,” triggering the evening's first massive, rain-soaked sing-along.
The English Beat were up next, and their signature 2 Tone ska revival was exactly what the crowd needed to shake off the chill. The band delivered an infectious, high-octane albeit very short performance. The band’s rhythmic precision transformed the venue into a dancing mass of soaked but ultimately happy stalwarts who stayed to brave the elements.
Wang Chung followed, with Jack Hues and Nick Feldman proving they haven't lost a step since their mid-’80s heyday. Their slick, groove-heavy new wave pop anthems were a highlight, as they tore through “Dance Hall Days” and closed out their truncated time slot with their biggest hit, the high-energy “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” Despite the bleak weather, the crowd danced and bopped while doing did exactly that.
Synth-pop master and headliner Howard Jones finally took the stage and despite the unrelenting storm, immediately put the soaked audience in a better and lighter mood. Jones has an extraordinary gift for crafting uplifting melodies, and his vocal delivery, even 40 years on, remains powerful, melodic, and strong. Backed by an array of synthesizers, he kept his truncated set tightly focused on his best known and most loved material. Opening with “New Song,” Jones made the soggy faithful not only smile but dance in the puddles and between the raindrops. “No One Is to Blame” was beautiful even though in the context of the evening it was somewhat ironic and even a bit sardonic. He brought the abbreviated night to an explosive close with “Things Can Only Get Better”—a triumphant anthem of hope that felt somewhat appropriate given the chaotic weather surrounding the theater.
While the rushed, rejiggered performance schedule due to the driving rain kept it from being the summer night that the fans had envisioned, the professionalism and attention to detail of all four acts shone through the challenging weather elements. Though it was an abbreviated, chaotic evening, those who stayed, were treated to a night of happy ‘80s pop and new wave.
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