The fall concert season brings a notable achievement for classic rock fans, as the gorgeous Mesa Amphitheatre prepares to host a major local anniversary. This Thur. Oct. 22, the “Amp” welcomes the official 40th Anniversary Concert for the Valley’s premier classic rock authority 100.7 KSLX.
The concert marks four decades of broadcasting for the station, which has served as a definitive soundtrack for many a rock fan since 1986. While it commemorates its 40-year birthday on the airwaves, the evening’s headliner is marking an even longer journey.
38 Special is currently on the road celebrating its 50th anniversary with the Legacy tour. Far from just a nostalgic victory lap, the veteran quintet is arriving to Mesa with something fans haven’t seen from them in over two decades: new music.
A new ‘Milestone’ for the road warriors
In Sept. 2025, 38 Special surprised its longtime fan base by releasing Milestone, their 13 studio album and first collection of new material since 2004’s Drivetrain. Co-produced by founding frontman Don Barnes alongside Survivor alum Jim Peterik, the album proved that the appetite for guitar-driven, hook-heavy arena rock hasn’t waned in the slightest.
Milestone went over reasonably well with the audience, debuting in the top 10 of Billboard magazine’s Rock and Independent Album chart and cracking the top 30 Album Sales chart as well.
Today, the current incarnation of 38 Special is driven by the aforementioned Barnes on guitar and lead vocals. He is joined onstage by a tight-knit veteran unit featuring keyboardist and vocalist Bobby Capps, drummer Gary Moffatt, bassist Barry Dunaway and guitarist/vocalist Jerry Riggs.
For Valley concertgoers, the show isn’t just an opportunity to sing along to foundational FM radio classics like Hold On Loosely, Caught Up In You and If I’d Been The One. It’s a chance to see a band operating with a totally renewed creative spirit, joined by special guests Foghat and Jefferson Starship.
To pull back the curtain, if you will, on how a modern radio station keeps its grip on a major metropolitan market for 40 years, I caught up via e-mail with program director David Moore.
Beneath a Desert Sky: With KSLX celebrating 40 years in the Valley, how fitting is it to commemorate this milestone at Mesa Amphitheatre with legacy artists like 38 Special, who are hitting their own 50th birthday?
David Moore: “It’s such an awesome, serendipitous occurrence with these anniversaries happening at the same time. We’ve been playing 38 Special, Foghat and Jefferson Starship for 40 years, so it’s very fitting that we have all three here to celebrate four decades of free classic rock for the Valley on 100.7 KSLX.”
BADS: What has it meant to the station to be the definitive soundtrack for countless classic rock listeners in Phoenix for 40 years?
Moore: “This music is certainly the soundtrack to people’s lives. It was created organically by real musicians, and that cannot be replicated by AI. We know how important this music and the artists are to the KSLX audience, and we take it very seriously.”
BADS: For fans looking to get those last-minute tickets for the show, what kind of unique birthday energy or station presence can they expect when the doors open that night?
Moore: “Our morning team, Dave and Mahoney, along with Audrey Drake will be there. Mid-day man LP will be there as well, and afternoon host Karen Dalessandro will be doing her show live on location. There is no better venue on an October night than the Mesa Amphitheatre, with three legendary artists playing their hits for all of us celebrating the 40-year anniversary of 100.7 KSLX.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: 100.7 KSLX 40th Anniversary Concert
WHO: 38 Special w/ special guests Foghat and Jefferson Starship
WHEN: This Thur. Oct. 22
WHERE: Mesa Amphitheatre 263 N. Center St. Mesa. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Showtime at 6:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $33.00 GA lawn tickets. Reserved seats between $48.00-$76.00. Available at mesaamp.com
