Jefferson Starship took us on a sentimental journey with a captivating performance in Temecula, CA

Jefferson Starship knows how to bring people together by stirring up fond memories with old-school classic hits. They came to the Pechanga Theater in Temecula, California, on March 14, 2026, to headline their 7th date of 25 on the Runaway Again Tour 2026, bringing with them special guests Atlanta Rhythm Section and Firefall.

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To begin our nostalgic musical journey, the show kicked off with 1970s soft rock band

Firefall. Fans eagerly joined in singing the hits such as “Just Remember I Love You” and

“You Are the Woman.” And the flute work during “Strange Way” was top-notch. I do love

a flute in a rock band.

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Atlanta Rhythm Section, a 1970s southern rock band, was next in the lineup and kept

reminiscing going with their hits such as “Spooky” and “So Into You.” The two guitarists

jamming during “Imaginary Lover” made their instruments sound like they were talking to each other and then with each other, perfectly in sync. The audience enjoyed it too, evidenced by the many fans giving a standing ovation.

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Jefferson Starship came on stage and meant business, coming in loud and strong. Each

musician (David Freiberg, Cathy Richardson, Chris Smith, Donny Baldwin, and Jude

Gold) play together as an impeccably cohesive unit. Freiberg and Richardson have

strong, incredible voices, both individually and combined. Frieberg brings with him a lot

of history and is a joy to watch. He projects happiness and light, and the band shared a

few short rock and roll tales about him.

There wasn’t even one song I didn’t know the words to, and seeing a lot of people in the

same boat was a strong reminder of how music unites us. From the first song, “Find Your Way Back,” the band set the tone and continued with a powerhouse setlist of their hits. “Sara” and “We Built This City” were crowd pleasers. The vocal harmonies in “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” were out of this world and gave me chills! “Jane” brought out the signature cowbell.

Richardson (who, by the way, is celebrating her 18th year with Jefferson Starship), sang

her heart out during “Miracles” and encouraged crowd participation toward the end of the song. Her vocals and stage presence during “White Rabbit” evoked intensity.

We got a special treat when China, the daughter of former Jefferson Airplane and

Jefferson Starship bandmates and rock icons Grace Slick and Paul Kantner, joined the

band on stage on tambourine and vocals for the last song, “Somebody to Love.”

The band is animated and full of energy from beginning to end and looked like they were having fun with each other. It was an unforgettable, nostalgic rock performance by all three bands that brought us on a comforting trip down memory lane with their beautiful and familiar music.

Photos and review written by Jill Rubino