34 years ago today, the band that melded Southern Fried Rock with Arena Rock in the Eighties played at the Civic Center in Portland

That band was 38 Specialthe outfit formed by childhood friends Donnie Barnes and Donnie Van Zant (Ronnie and Johnny’s Brother) in 1974.

This was their second time performing in Portland on their Strength in Numbers tour. It was July 8,1986 with Canada’s Honeymoon Suite opening the show.

Here's their fairly huge hit from that year, Feel It Again. It was on the album, The Big Prize.

And now back to our headliners....

38 Special made their first trip here on June 14, 1977. They were co-openers with Foreigner for the historic first and last Lynyrd Skynyrd (with the classic line-up) show at the Civic Center in Portland.

The second Maine show for 38 Special was at the Augusta Civic Center on July 24, 1984.

When they returned to Maine for a third time in July of '86, new songs Like No Other Night and Somebody Like You were blastin’ on the summertime airwaves of WBLM.

We heard ’em live for the first time at the CCCC that night. Of course they also played Hold On LooselyCaught Up In You, Rockin’ Into The Night and more.

Slick suit coats, heavy riffs with a little twang, soaring vocals, and TWO drummers…let's do this!

And while we're at it, crank this one up!

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