Rick Springfield Night 2 from Milwaukee

Potawatomi Casino
Milwaukee WI
May 7th 2008
Review & Photo by Carey Bartosch

Wow! It's the best word to describe last nights concert that I can think of right now! Rick was pumped, chatty , funny and adorable !!

Once again two more NEW songs were played prior to the show. The harmonious ,"Nothing is Ever Lost", and an SDAA flavored, "I'll Miss That Someday" . And then..it began the biggest set list change in months !! WOOOOHOOOO!! Rick blasted onto the stage singing "I'll Make You Happy " , then right into "It's Always Something" . He then returned a little bit back to the regulars, not stopping to chat, and then hit the crowd with a surprise."April 24,1981". You could hear everyone gasp as he started into the lyrics. No sooner had that reflective moment began, Rick crushed it by jumping right into "Wild Thing" , and a few bars of "HELP!" by the Beatles! Talk about an emotional rollercoaster!

The concert continued with "Crossroads" and "Christina", before Rick decided to have a seat on the end of the stage and begin a nice conversation that would last throughout the show with a lovely lady named, Alice. Alice, was a 95 year old woman who came to the concert with I believe her daughter. Rick was amazed, saying she was the oldest person he's ever performed for! He tried to impress Alice by playing a few notes of a song from her younger days (Some Enchanted Evening) , and asked if there was something she might like to hear. He also said , "Do you know that you were born way before the electric guitar was even invented?" "You were what, almost 31 when it first appeared?" Wow! Someone suggested Rick play a "Sinatra" song, but Rick couldnt think of one off the top of his head. He looked back at the stage to ask Matt B. if he knew a Sinatra song, but Matt was not there! "Matt must of had to use the bathroom again" Rick chuckled, and mentioned that one time Lawrence Welk had owned publishing rights to his music! He then did a quick riff of "Jessie's Girl" Lawrence Welk style" !

Later in the show, he also mentioned that Alice was probably the only "legal" person in the audience to see his "naked butt" back when H2H was released. Good Times! Rick sprang back on stage after talking to Alice to sing Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock", before going out into the audience for DTTS. A Rick concert "virgin" was pointed out and he headed directly toward the girl standing next to me named , Heather. She was soo excited and happy to sing along, and on the way back to the stage Rick got Alice to sing it too!! Back on stage he went into the "Bop" Medley, then prepared for another round out into the audience. Before leaving, he was given a talking parrot that gave new meaning to "Polly wants a cracker."Rick said that thing swore more times than he had in the last 3 years, then said "No, that's a lie" and laughed!

Out into the sea of fans Rick went , playing "Love Somebody" and collecting an "I Love Gomer" pin, a hat and a lei . Rick then went into " My Generation" when his guitar and headset gear died. AHHHHHHH! George N. came to rescue the equipment, and pass Rick a working mic. Meanwhile, there was some brief butt grabbing that security tried to stop and Rick laughed off, and a fan handed Rick a bright red over- decorated thong! Rick displayed it across himself briefly, then threw it on stage, only to have George B. come out moments later actually wearing it! Everyone busted up laughing including Rick. Matt B. was MIA again for a moment, only to return with the "Sorry for the inconvience, but this restroom is temporary closed " sign from the bathrooms in the theatre and placed it on stage. Take that Rick!!

Rick stayed in the audience, despite his lack of a guitar, and started singing from sheet music handed to him, INCLUDING "What's Victoria's Secret" AND "Stand Up And Hold On To Your Dreams" , both done solo with only the wonderful sound of his voice echoing thru the theatre. Sigh. A few of us tried to holler out other songs for him to sing, but too much noise (or Rick's sudden memory loss) prevented him from understanding. He then proceed to tell a rather "sassy" joke he had heard from David Lee Roth which I would tell you only in a less public forum (But man was it funny!!)

The band started up playing "Human Touch" and Rick walked around the theatre givin it up to the fans. I myself had a rather stunning serenade from "da man" and that's all I'm gonna say here! Rick then returned to the stage and his guitar to play "Jessie's Girl".
The Encore for the show was "WKRNR" and ending with "Love is Alright". This night definitely topped the night before and it makes me wonder what more can this man deliver??

Here's the set list (and extras)
I'll Make You Happy
It's Always Something
Affair of the Heart
Alison
IDEFY
Rock of Life
April 24th, 1981
Wild Thing
HELP!
Crossroads
Kristina
Some Enchanted Evening (a few bars)
Jailhouse Rock
DTTS
Bop Medley
Love Somebody
My Generation
(solo) What's Victoria's Secret & Stand Up and Hold On to Your Dreams
Human Touch
Jessie's Girl
Encore:
WKRNR
Love Is Alright