Howard Jones keeps upgrading his touring game. Here in DC, he leapfrogged from performances at The Hamilton Live and Howard Theatre a decade ago to headlining the 9:30 Club. And now, with a little help from his friends, he brought his extravagant Things Can Only Get Better Tour to The Anthem, where a packed house thoroughly enjoyed every note from every band.
The bill included Howard and his trusty backing crew, Wang Chung, The English Beat, and Modern English. Each performed a substantial set of five or six songs — Howard played 11 tunes — and each received the full attention of nearly 3,000 largely Gen X and Boomer patrons who filled the venue in its seated configuration.
On Aug. 15, it was actually SiriusXM radio host Richard Blade, famed for his long tenure at Los Angeles radio station KROQ, who began the proceedings. A longtime friend of Howard, Richard has joined his tours for the past few years as emcee and trivia master, stoking the enthusiasm of the audience with countdowns and recollections. Richard is a great master of the moment: He keeps the audience engaged while allowing the show to keep moving rather than grinding to a halt between sets. People roared their approval as Richard counted down some of the top new wave songs of the ’80s.
Modern English were the first band to perform, with frontman Robbie Grey leading a spirited jaunt through several of the group’s most beloved numbers, including, of course, “I Melt With You,” the inescapable smash hit that keeps audiences coming back for more. Modern English played a pair of songs each from After the Snow (1982) and Mesh & Lace (1981), and I was particularly moved by a powerful rendition of “Swans on Glass” from their 1981 debut.
Amid a sustained burst of activity on the road and in the studio, Modern English released a new album, 1 2 3 4, in 2024. They presented one track from that record — “Long in the Tooth” — which won a warm reception. Until recently, Modern English toured with four founding members, a remarkable feat given the band’s busy schedule. All four surviving founders — Robbie, Mick Conroy (bass), Gary McDowell (guitar), and Stephen Walker (keyboards) — performed on 1 2 3 4. But their current touring configuration includes only Robbie and Mick, augmented by guitarist Gabriel Sullivan and drummer Ric Chandler. While this appears to be the new normal for the band, they remain an utterly entertaining ensemble.
Watch Modern English perform “Long in the Tooth” live for KEXP on YouTube:
Frontman Dave Wakeling followed Modern English with his California-based incarnation of The English Beat. Stationed stage right at the microphone and equipped with one of his majestic teardrop guitars, Dave looked and sounded great. He led his band through five numbers — English Beat staples along with fan favorite “Tenderness,” originally released by Dave’s late-’80s band General Public.
I enjoyed the relentless energy of Antonee First Class, who once again joined Dave as toaster and hype man. Antonee had free rein to cross the stage, drawing a physical line between saxophonist Wes Perry on one side and keyboardist Harun Bonnett on the other.
Dave was in high spirits and gave a commanding performance. Our photos capture him in a sort of mini-band configuration, with Wes beside him and keyboardist Andwele Coore stationed behind him. Together, the musicians wove strands of new wave, reggae, and ska into a compelling tapestry, putting their stamp on covers of “I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers and “The Tears of a Clown,” made famous by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. For my money, though, I’ll always take “Save It for Later” and “Mirror in the Bathroom,” two Beat originals that showcase the band’s new wave leanings. (Dave once told me the video for “Mirror in the Bathroom” was filmed at The Rum Runner in Birmingham, England, famed as the early home of Duran Duran.)
Watch the official music video for “Mirror in the Bathroom” by The English Beat on YouTube:
I was wowed by Modern English; I was thrilled to photograph The English Beat — they can be hard to wrangle for photographers — and I was particularly excited to see Wang Chung. I love ’80s neo-noir, and Wang Chung have pulled out all the stops over the past year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their soundtrack to William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A. Naturally, Wang Chung played the title track during their all-too-short set. The duo also released a 40th-anniversary edition of the soundtrack album only last month.
Toward the end of their set, Wang Chung had some fun with a cover of “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash, changing the refrain in the latter half to “Should I Wang or Should I Chung,” which inspired some zealous singalongs from the audience.
There are several great things about watching Wang Chung live. Guitarist Jack Hues and bassist Nick Feldman are both at the top of their game. Just as importantly, the two seem to be genuine friends, an element I think is missing from many bands. Jack and Nick share real warmth and chemistry; they perform as though delivering a one-two punch of musical notes directly to our ears — and they do it in style. I saw Wang Chung nearly a decade ago while Jack was on break, and while I liked that show, it was a far cry from what Jack and Nick bring to the stage together.
At The Anthem, Wang Chung also played several of the songs everyone wants to hear from them: “Dance Hall Days” and “Wait” from Points on the Curve (1984), and, of course, “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” and “Let’s Go” from Mosaic (1986). Jack and Nick were joined by Dave Schulz on keyboards and Josh Thompson on drums. For a few numbers, including the closer “Everybody Have Fun Tonight,” they were further joined by saxophonist Wes Perry, who earned big applause for his contributions.
Watch the official music video for “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung on YouTube:
Howard Jones arrived onstage in darkness to futuristic synthpop, cutting through the blackness with laser goggles! Dressed, as I like to say, in his “rock star garb,” he slid into place clad in a furry coat and glittery sneakers. Howard opened with a brand-new song, “Stand Up,” a newly released number that recalls his classic synthesizer arrangements. It serves as the lead single from his forthcoming 2027 album, Global Citizen.
The lights quickly came up, Howard brandished a keytar, and everybody got down to business. Howard was a breath of fresh air — friendly, optimistic, and easygoing. He moved through beloved hits including “New Song” (his first single, from 1983), “Everlasting Love” (well remembered for its music video featuring mummies, from 1989), and “No One Is to Blame” (a quieter but still powerful singalong, from 1986).
Howard builds upon his own musical foundation by surrounding himself with distinctive personalities who possess tremendous musical skill. His affection for longtime guitarist Robin Boult was plain to see. Robin looked like a cowboy who had wandered onto the stage to show everyone else how things are done. But really, he was a delight, and I noticed that many people who see Howard regularly seemed nearly as happy to see Robin.
The band also included relatively new addition Phil Jones, decked out in the “mad scientist” role of keyboardist extraordinaire at the synthesizer station behind Robin. The two make an odd-looking duo, but precisely the sort of pairing required to draw the full power out of Howard’s music.
After closing the main set with “What Is Love?” (1983), Howard and company returned for a one-song encore of “Things Can Only Get Better.” And for at least this moment in time, it very much rang true.
Watch the official music video for “Things Can Only Get Better” by Howard Jones on YouTube:
Howard has spent more than four decades proving that his songs can live well beyond the era that produced them. At The Anthem, he did more than revisit a catalog of enduring synthpop hits — he presented those songs as part of an ongoing story, surrounded by musicians and friends who clearly still inspire him. With “Stand Up” pointing toward what comes next, the evening felt alive. Things can only get better, indeed.
Here are some photos of Howard Jones performing live at The Anthem on August 15, 2026. All pictures by Mickey McCarter.
Here are some photos of Wang Chung performing live at The Anthem on August 15, 2026. All pictures by Mickey McCarter.
Here are some photos of The English Beat performing live at The Anthem on August 15, 2026. All pictures by Mickey McCarter.
Here are some photos of Modern English performing live at The Anthem on August 15, 2026. All pictures by Mickey McCarter.
And a big hello to Richard Blade! Here are some photos of Richard at The Anthem.
