Tommy Mann, Jr.The Orange Leader
Never say Rick Springfield’s popularity has waned since the ’80s because several hundred screaming women at Friday’s concert would prove you wrong.Springfield rocked a sold out crowd from start to finish Friday night inside the event center at Delta Downs Casino and Racetrack in Vinton, La. From the moment he hit the stage, there was little doubt this show was going to be something extra special.The first two opening numbers found the packed venue roaring with approval, especially the song, “It’s Always Something,” which merged nicely into the beginning of popular “Affair of the Heart.”Springfield wasted little time in dishing out the hits he loyal following had come to hear, such as “Alyson,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Rock of Life,” and “Inside Sylvia.”Showing his versatility, Springfield even pulled out a couple of cover songs such as “Down at the Crossroads” and “Wild Thing,” while also taking some time to interact with the audience by letting members of the crowd sing, or, in some cases, attempt to sing, the chorus of “Don’t Talk to Strangers.”With so many hit songs to his credit, it left one to wonder how in the world Springfield would find time to fit them all into a 90 minute set.His answer was a medley of tunes which sent the energy level of the venue up another level, and included songs like “Bop ‘til You Drop,” “Celebrate Youth,” “Calling All Girls,” “Don’t Walk Away,” “State of the Heart,” “What Kind of Fool Am I,” and “I Get Excited,” before concluding with the latter portion of “Bop ‘Til You Drop.”Springfield still sounds as good as ever, and he has always been one to get up close and personal with his fans, and he made sure not to disappoint those in attendance on Friday.During a three song stretch, Springfield swapped out his microphone for a headset mic and made his way into the crowd and cover nearly every square inch of the floor while singing “Love Somebody,” “My Generation,” and the mega-popular “Love Somebody.”Obviously, Springfield enjoys getting up close and personal with his fans, but even he commented on how wild the women of the concert were when he returned to the stage and most of the back section of his shirt had been ripped away.He closed his main set with “Jessie’s Girl,” before returning for the encore portion of the show which ended with “Love is Alright Tonite.”Whether you are a fan of Springfield’s music, his acting, or just plain rock ’n roll in general, if you were not at Friday’s show, then you did yourself a great disservice.
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