Barry Manilow • July 14, 2025 • Maverik Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
The legendary singer, songwriter, performer, Barry Manilow, appeared at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on July 14. The show was billed as “MANILOW, The Last West Valley City Concert”. Does that mean it’s specifically his last stop in West Valley? Or was this his final tour stop in Utah? The 82-year-old performer showed little signs of slowing down. But I’d imagine he’s having to pace out his tours, and this could very well be the last time he performed in this state. We didn’t want to take the chance, so we made to to do what we could to cover this show. It’s almost impossible to know Barry Manilow’s music. So I knew I would know the songs at the concert. But I did not expect the concert to be quite the way it was.
Local Music Teacher Honored
I was invited to attend a special event before the concert. Barry Manilow, representing his charity, Manilow Music Project, presented Riverton High School Performing Arts Director Jason Weimer the Barry Manilow Music Teacher Award, which included a prize of $10,000. Manilow took some time to visit with Weimer, asking him about his music taste and praising him for his work in education. It was great to be part of the experience. It seems like music, art, and theater departments are the first to go when budget cuts come. Manilow’s charity attempts to keep the opportunities going for these departments, providing instruments and funds to underfunded departments.
Barry Manilow
The moment came when the huge red curtain parted, revealing a backlit Barry Manilow and his huge orchestra. The audience rose to their feet and roared. I did not anticipate the volume level of this crowd. I’ve been to some big shows with some energetic crowds. This audience matched so many of those shows. It was surprising to say the least. The Fanilows are not quite as spry as they once were. But don’t tell them that. They were up on their feet and dancing and clapping their hands to the opening songs, “It’s a Miracle” and “I’m Your Man.”
I kept expecting them to get to a point where they sat for the rest of the show. That didn’t really happen. Of course, we sat for the slow songs. But anytime there was an upbeat song, people were up and moving. The majority of the audience was elderly. So it was great to see them having so much fun and so youthful.
Speaking of sitting versus standing, there was a moment early in the show where I thought, “Am I going to see a fight at a Barry Manilow concert?” During the song, “Can’t Smile Without You,” most people were up. But there were a few people who I think were expecting to sit throughout this show. In the corner of my eye, I saw a man leap over the row behind me and poke a young man to my left. Barry is crooning away on stage, and the theater of the moment was beside me, where this man, who was at minimum in his mid-sixties, was chastising a young couple for blocking their view. They were standing, and I’m assuming this man couldn’t see past them. The weird part was that everyone in front of this couple was standing up.
I was impressed with the young man beside me. He never lost his cool. In fact he never lost his smile. He simply told the man yelling at him that he had also paid for a ticket and that he wanted to stand. He encouraged the man to do the same. Which did not make the older man happy.
In what was probably my favorite moment of the altercation, the younger Manilow fan looked at the steamed wishing to be seated fellow and said, “You know, I really hope you enjoy this show because I just ‘Can’t Smile Without You’.” Which clearly annoyed the man but somehow de-escalated the situation. The older man returned to his seat. I’m happy to report that later in the show, the older man returned to apologize to the young couple. They shook hands, and agreed that the music of Manilow should bring them together. Barry’s music to the rescue.
The concert was paced very well. Manilow told stories of his upbringing and career wrapped around music that took the audience back to some of their favorite moments. Songs like “Looks Like We Made It” reminded the audience of why they love Barry Manilow. Reminiscing about the golden era of American Bandstand took us to another time. Barry shows his musical chops with members of his band when they performed an a cappella version of “Guillaume Tell Ouverture”. A tune you might be familiar with as the title song to the Lone Ranger.
Manilow Music Project
Barry Manilow paused his show to tell the audience about his Manilow Music Project. He then told the crowd that the award winner, Jason Weimer, was in attendance. He asked Jason to stand up. The audience applauded, and some high-fived and fist-bumped Weimer. Everyone rose to their feet to celebrate the teacher.
One of my favorite moments was when Manilow performed a medley of “Dancing in the Aisles / Dancing in the Street / Let’s Hang On.” His backup singers were given an opportunity to shine with Barry singing the final song in the medley. The energy of this concert was way beyond my expectations. It was so much fun.
Everything was going splendidly. Then things rose to another level. We hit a stretch where Barry Manilow hit us with his biggest and most familiar songs. “A Weekend in New England” started this run of hits. At the event I attended before the show, Barry spoke so softly that I wondered if he wouldn’t sound quite like he once did. But during this song and really so many songs before it, I was pleasantly surprised by how strong his voice still is. He hit all the big notes with so much power. I could tell that others around me were wowed by his performance of this song.
I don’t know if I ever thought I’d get to see Barry Manilow in concert. So hearing him sing “Mandy” live was something else. Then singing “I Write the Songs” with over ten thousand people was as enjoyable as you might imagine. Fans young and old had huge smiles on their faces. People were singing so loudly. I was beyond impressed with the enthusiasm of these fans.
No more impressed than when “Copacabana” started. Again, a song I don’t think I ever thought I’d hear live. The Maverik Center became a huge dance club. Bright costumes and lights filled the arena and our eyeballs. I just shook my head and hips in amazement. I was having so much fun, despite knowing that we were at the end of the show.
The show was billed as “The Last West Valley City Concert.” That gives me hope that Barry Manilow has at least one more concert in Utah in him. If in fact this was his final time to step on a stage in Utah, what a way to go out. This concert was so much fun. Everything you’d hope to have at a Barry Manilow concert, we got. His band was incredible. He sounded fantastic. It was nostalgic and exciting. I completely get why this man is so beloved by so many people.