Take me out to the ball game! Rick Springfield in Milwaukee!

Potawatomi Casino
Milwaukee WI
May8 th 2008
Review & Photo by Carey Bartosch

Take me out to the ball game! Yes, you heard right. Rick and his crew against the Potowatomi Theatre staff in a grand slam battle Thursday afternoon at the ballpark!! Rick and Crew destroyed the home team, and had the bumps, bruises and sore muscles to prove it. Still, the band played on giving another mind-blowing performance!!

The show opened once again with two songs from "Venus in Overdrive". "One Passenger" and "What's Victoria's Secret" (I'm addicted to that song I swear and I've heard it all of 4 times Haha) rang thru the theatre as pictures of the day's baseball game were shown on the screens. Rick came on stage and began the set with WKRNR, then brought back "Will I ?" to a receptive audience. Rick played thru till DTTS, including a red hot performance of "Red House".

A few fans once again participated in the DTTS sing along, including Wayne an unsuspecting gentlemen who would later raise "HIS right hand" in that certain spot for the song "Gloria" encouraged by the practical joker Rick himself ! Rick also acknowledge the two birthday girls in the room, one turning 40, the other was Joanna, a lovely lady from England turning the big 5-0 ! We all sang "Happy Birthday" together, and Rick said that from that point the crazy's were not in charge of the house anymore! Rick also found two anxious , nervous fans who he wanted to sing. He asked if they knew who he was, saying, " You thought you were coming to see Bruce Springsteen,but i'm much better looking!!" "It's no wonder she doesn't know who she's seeing she drinking this funny blue drink"." And we haven't even gotten to the NAKED part of the show". AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!

The band was joined by a few "charter members" during the regular part of the set list. Rob K. filled in for a few moments for Matt B., and "The Rodger Carter look-alikes" crashed a cymbal or two! When Rick brought the girls on stage, he mentioned that he had seen people dress like him, but NEVER like Rodger and laughed!

Rick then went on to perform "Gloria" adding his own flare and style to the song with his guitar, including a lil "kick" action on the floor to keep the one guitar going as he was hand another (show off hehe)! During the part when he's in "the bathtub, naked"., a yellow baseball was thrown on stage, commemorating the days game.Rick sings, "So Gloria looks in the tub and says, "My what big b*****you have!" and throws the ball back. Rick then asked everyone to raise their right hand. Now those who have heard this performed live knows what happens next, but Wayne was unaware. So Rick encourages him to ALSO raise his right hand, only to go on in the part of the song where "Gloria"(ie us fans with our right hands in the air), "reaches down in the tub, and "pulls the plug" and we all start laughing!! Rick apologized to Wayne saying, "They (us fans) knew what was coming and didn't say anything".

Next, Rick announced they were playing some songs that had not played in a while, and may need help with them from the audience. He strummed the heart strings of the fans as he broke into "Beautiful You", "Souls", and "Inside Sylvia" . Switching gears, he then played a quick diddy of "Shakin All Over". Then, switching gears AGAIN , a fan requested and he played "My Father's Chair " which even brought tears to the eyes of this Rick fan.

Rick came back into the crowd, donning his wireless gear to perform, "Love Somebody", and "My Generation", stopping at tables and a few rose explosions. Someone then gave Rick an air freshener in the shape of "the finger" that Rick proudly displayed on the end of the guitar. Rick grabs a phone to make "the call" but is stopped by a cut on his finger. "Anybody got a band aid?" You get a backstage pass if you bring a band aid in 5...4..3.. " He is handed 2 yellow colored band aids with the words" Crime Scene Do Not Cross" written on them! One broke while he tried putting it on, which Rick acknowledged it had his DNA on it as he tossed it aside to put on the other one.

The phone call was to 411 and Rick asked for Springfield, MO when prompted by the computer voice. After it could not find a listing, Rick got a real person who asked for the name, to which Rick answered, "Rick Springfield" and everyone screamed. The person on the other end hung up. Boy for people in directory assistance, they sure weren't very helpful LOL!!
Rick acknowledge the "girls from Japan" were in the audience, then told of a "brief encounter" with a Japanese girl when he was 23, which led into"Human Touch" . He FINALLY made it to the balcony seats during the end of the song and most of "Jessie's Girl". He came back out for the encore to perform , "Love is Alright" only, before giving the signature "hug" and exiting stage right.

One can only imagine what the weekend shows will bring, but Rick's enthusiasm is definitely contagious!

Set List as follows:
WKRNR
Will I ?
Affair of the Heart
Alison
IDEFY (with lot's of pointing haha)
Rock of Life
Red House
DTTS
Gloria
Beautiful You
Souls
Inside Sylvia
Shakin All Over
My Father's Chair
Love Somebody
My Generation
Jessie's Girl
Love is Alright Tonite