Rick Springfield not only has a Twitter account, he actually posted! If you'd like to follow him go - http://twitter.com/rickspringfield
We have an account too, but ours won't be nearly as interesting as his. But if you'd like to join go - http://twitter.com/RSandUS
A fan blog for all the latest news
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation
Another Way to Help!
Shelter Challenge
Click on the above link and participate in The Animal Rescue Site Shelter+ Challenge. Lots and lots of prizes awarded to the qualifying petfinder.com members.
If you'd like to help out the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation (and the great thing about this is that its free), click on the above link, type in the shelter's name (Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation) and change the state to CA. The site will prompt you from there.
Shelter Challenge
Click on the above link and participate in The Animal Rescue Site Shelter+ Challenge. Lots and lots of prizes awarded to the qualifying petfinder.com members.
If you'd like to help out the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation (and the great thing about this is that its free), click on the above link, type in the shelter's name (Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation) and change the state to CA. The site will prompt you from there.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Rick Springfield aproaching 30x2
As many of you know, this is the year that Rick turns the big Six 0 (that would be about 8.5 in dog years, I believe). As you also might know, Ally and her peeps over at the RS4 Yahoo group have been doing a fundraiser every year to honor our favorite birthday boy. Details are forthcoming, and we will update here as soon as full details are announced. We do know that the money that is collected will go to the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation. This was a request made by Rick. There is also a message posted on the rickspringfield.com message board relaying this information. Here are the details from the message board: Sending a message out for help for Linda Blair's Worldheart Foundation. Linda and I have been friends for over 30 years (wow) and she has saved my own ass several times.
I would like to encourage any birthday gifts for my, um, 30th birthday (Okay, it's 30 twice) to be a donation to Linda's sanctuary for her sweet mutts. She even saved dogs from Katrina. She is fully committed and has spent all of her own money saving these animals from certain and cruel deaths. She needs help and would welcome it in any of its forms. I know times are still economically tough but if you are even thinking of buying me a birthday gift (even a Starbucks card...and that is definitely a sacrifice for me.. hahaha) please send the money instead to Linda's place up in the high desert where dogs are getting a second chance.
Love to you all.
Thanks to Ally for this idea.
Rick
I would like to encourage any birthday gifts for my, um, 30th birthday (Okay, it's 30 twice) to be a donation to Linda's sanctuary for her sweet mutts. She even saved dogs from Katrina. She is fully committed and has spent all of her own money saving these animals from certain and cruel deaths. She needs help and would welcome it in any of its forms. I know times are still economically tough but if you are even thinking of buying me a birthday gift (even a Starbucks card...and that is definitely a sacrifice for me.. hahaha) please send the money instead to Linda's place up in the high desert where dogs are getting a second chance.
Love to you all.
Thanks to Ally for this idea.
Rick
Of course, anyone wanting to make a donation can do so at any time. If you'd also like to participate in the group effort to donate on behalf of Rick Springfield fans for his birthday, stay tuned.
Friday, May 22, 2009
CD Review: Rick Springfield "My Precious Little One"
CD Review: Rick Springfield "My Precious Little One"
CHILDREN’S
(Gomer Records/ DKE Records)
(Gomer Records/ DKE Records)
Pop-rock singer-songwriter Rick Springfield penned the 10 lullabies on "My Precious Little One” more than 20 years ago when his two sons were born. He recorded personal copies for his children and a few friends but never intended to release an album until rediscovering the old tape in a drawer last year.
Parents of infants and toddlers should be grateful for his change of heart, as Springfield’s lullabies are heartfelt and charming. The title track alone is worth the cost of the CD or a download, as Springfield earnestly expresses his love for his children as he watches them sleep.
Several of the songs take listeners on gentle flights of fancy.
"Dreamtime Faeries” conjures images of tiny fairies casting children into dreams about home runs, silver skates and new bikes.
"Sweet Dreams” offers up thoughts about unicorns, dragons, giants and other mythical creatures seen only in slumber.
Some of the rhymes in "Don’t Keep the Sandman Waiting” are a bit silly, but the song still has a magical appeal.
Despite the whimsical lyrics and soft sounds of marimba and bells, Springfield’s lullabies actually are pop songs with interesting chord progressions and lovely melodies. For parents, they hold up to repeat listenings better than many children’s songs.
Plus, "My Precious Little One” passes the most important test: It put my toddler to sleep and kept him resting peacefully all night long.
— Brandy McDonnell
Published: May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Rick Springfield in TX
05/15/09
Richardson,
Set List:
Mr. PC
What’s Victoria’s Secret?
Affair of the Heart
Living in Oz
I’ve Done Everything for You
Alyson
Venus in Overdrive
I’ll Miss That Someday
Love is Alright Tonite
I Get Excited
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Crossroads
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie’s Girl
-encore-
Wasted
Kristina
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Rick Springfield's final night in Milwaukee
May 9th 2009Milwaukee, WI
Review by: B Dahl
photo by Laura Hoppe
“Is it over already?” That’s what Rick said at the end of tonight’s concert. Here's the set list from the final night in Milwaukee: Saturday, May 9th, followed by comments and observations. The usual set list with three rockin’ songs from the SDAA album thrown in.
Mr. PC
What’s Victoria’s Secret?
Affair of the Heart
Will I?
I’ve Done Everything for You
Alyson
I Get Excited
Venus in Overdrive
I’ll Miss That Someday
Love is Alright Tonite
Who Killed Rock ‘n Roll
Crossroads (Cream/Eric Clapton)
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Love Somebody (with Here Comes the Sun intro)
Human Touch
Jessie’s Girl
-encore-
Wasted
Beautiful You
* Before the beginning of the concert, they showed a promo video for the upcoming cruise again. Then, the manager of the theatre and Rick’s manager, Rob Koz, came on-stage to apologize for having to cancel the charity softball game this morning on such short notice. They bantered back and forth about who would have won and then Rob Koz announced that they were hoping to reschedule the game for when Rick was back in Milwaukee this August at the Wisconsin State Fair. (This is the first I have heard about this concert date. It hasn’t been listed on the tour schedule, though I see WCD has posted about Access pre-sale tickets going on sale Monday!)
* The concert began with the video retrospective of Rick’s career –followed by “Nothing Is Ever Lost” – then Rodger banging it out on his drums as the lights flash and Rick walks on-stage.
* No guitar girl for “I Get Excited” – he just went on to the second verse himself. The part where he usually does the back bend with the girl under the guitar seemed strange to see him play it alone.
* Surprised to hear no Beatles tunes tonight (except for the “Love Somebody” intro), as the past two nights he has done at least one. “Crossroads” was the cover song tonight. He sat on the stage speaker to sing this, and put the mic stand on the table in front of him. He had a girl at the table hold the mic stand so he could sing into it, and as he described how she should hold it, he made it sound very pornographic. Naughty boy!
* For “Don’t Talk to Strangers”, he first picked a girl who said she couldn’t sing because she was hoarse. Rick said, “Horse? I didn’t know they let animals in here!” He has such a quick sense of humor! Then, after she sang (and sounded terrible, because she was very hoarse) Rick asked George to swab the mic with alcohol before he had anyone else sing into it, because he didn’t want to spread her cold around. (She said she wasn’t sick, just lost her voice from screaming the past two nights.) He found a table of some guys from Scotland, and he had a fun time having them sing (and asking them what they were wearing under their kilts). The past two nights, when asking the audience to chime in with “Don’t Talk to Strangers”, Rick has said to sing it softer, then softer, then “Sing it in Swahili”. Well, tonight, some girls actually came prepared with the “Don’t Talk to Strangers” refrain in Swahili – which Rick tried to sing.
* Rick only stayed out into the audience for “Human Touch”, sans guitar and with a handheld mic. He made it up into the balcony again tonight for a quick run across the front row.
* He did the repeated pauses during “Jessie’s Girl” again. I think I like this version of the song better than when he was doing the heavy breathing bit.
* A two-song, shirtless encore again.
* Again, there were lots of interesting guitar intros to familiar songs. He just sounds better every time I hear him in-concert.
* Rick didn’t stop to chat much, though he did mention that he had been to the Titanic Exhibit yesterday, and talked about what a Titanic freak he is and the Titanic memorabilia that he owns. The band was just sitting around while he was talking, and he asked if he bored them. Then he told George B. to “make some sounds”, and George barked like a dog. Rick laughed, and said he meant for him to play his guitar and start the next song.
* His singing voice seemed to be full-on again, and he sounded really good, though he said after singing three nights in a row he almost blew his throat out again.
* Rick’s energy level was still very high tonite, with lots of jumping and leg movements, and what’s up with the weird donkey kick off the drum stand? He didn’t break any guitars, or even throw any up into the air to catch. He seemed to have a problem with the guitars tonight, as he had to change several during songs. And there didn’t seem to be as many rose explosions tonight.
* Who was there: all the usual suspects - Rick on lead guitar and vocals, Derek on keyboards, Matt on bass, George B. on guitar, Rodger on drums, sound guy Mattie, guitar tech George II, and the still pleasant Dave at the merch table.
* What he wore: Rick came on-stage wearing his leather jacket with the checkered yoke, grey dress pants (looked the same type he has worn both previous nights), and his black high-top shoes with the sparkly embellishments. He took off the jacket after a few songs, revealing a dark grey sleeveless t-shirt with some sort of design on it. And it was a shirtless encore again tonight! The flash cameras went wild!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Rick Springfield Night 2 in Milwaukee
May 8th 2009Milwaukee, WI
Review by: B Dahl
Photos by Laura Hoppe
Here's the set list from Friday, May 8th, in Milwaukee, followed by brief comments and observations. As often happens in Milwaukee, the set list was changed up a bit and included some songs you usually wouldn’t hear in-concert.
Mr. PC
What’s Victoria’s Secret?
Affair of the Heart
I’ll Make You Happy
I’ve Done Everything for You
Jesus Saves
Kristina
I Should Have Known Better
Don’t Keep the Sandman Waiting (chorus and verse)
Venus in Overdrive
I’ll Miss That Someday
Love is Alright Tonite
Inside Sylvia
Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix)
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Lust (a cappella)
Medley:
-Bop ‘Til You Drop
-Celebrate Youth
-Calling All Girls
-Jessie’s Girl riff
-Don’t Walk Away
-State of the heart
-What Kind of Fool Am I
- I Get Excited
- Bop ‘Til You Drop (redux)
Here Comes the Sun (Beatles – one verse)
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie’s Girl
-encore-
Wasted
Twist and Shout (Beatles)
* Before the beginning of the concert, they showed a promo video for the upcoming cruise. It began with Rick lying shirtless in bed, inviting everyone to join him on the cruise (this part is also posted on multimedia section of the RickSpringfieldcruise website). Then there was Rick’s music playing with graphics and lots of photos and video clips from the cruise – a very nice promo package! At concerts where the video retrospective opens the concert, I wonder if they will be playing this promo, also….. Oh – the promo video announces the entire guest list of “friends” who will be on the cruise with Rick: Richard Marx, Doug Davidson (“back by popular demand”), Mark Goodman, Yannick Bisson (who played Rick’s little brother in the High Tide series), and Brandon Barash (who plays “Johnny Zachara” on General Hospital). Also news: one of the on-board concerts will be the Working Class Dog album in its entirety.
* The concert began with a video retrospective of Rick’s career – I never tire of seeing this, and hope they decide to put it out on something sometime so fans will have it to keep. After seeing all these vintage video clips, it’s only appropriate the “Nothing Is Ever Lost” plays. Then Rodger begins the drumming intro to "Mr. PC" – and another high-energy evening of rock has begun!
* There were none of the usual cover songs again tonight, but a couple Beatles tunes and a Jimi Hendrix tune that showed off Rick’s amazing guitar talents. And knowing what a Beatles fan he is, it’s always cool to hear him sing some of their music.
* Rick pulled out the harmonica again tonight, this time to play “Love Me Do”.
* When beginning the intro for “Venus in Overdrive” by saying it was from his latest record, he corrected himself, saying that his latest record actually was My Precious Little One . Then he sang a bit of “Don’t Keep the Sandman Waiting”, after playing around with it to figure out the correct key and where in the song to begin singing. When he came to the lyric that says “hear his wings BUZZ”, he said something rude about the crew guy, Buzz.
* He dedicated “Inside Sylvia” to a fan from last night who had a sign up all night long requesting it. As always, this song sounded great in-concert.
* Rick found a woman at the front table who didn’t know any of his songs except “Jessie’s Girl”, and he choose her first to sing along with “Don’t Talk to Stranger”. It took him a while to teach her the lyrics and convince her to sing. He told her that the point of a sing-along is that singing with other people connects you. He also had a few other people sing: a girl he grabbed to his chest, three girls with name shirts (Sylvia, Alyson, and Kristina), and several others as he ran thru the audience.
* While out in the audience finding targets to sing “Don’t Talk to Strangers”, someone handed him the lyrics to “Lust”. He began singing it, a little weak at first, but he finished strong, not needing to read the lyrics anymore. He only sang a few verses, and without any musical accompaniment.
* He didn’t introduce “Love Somebody” with the usual “naked butt” line, but with the Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” fading into “Love Somebody”. I didn’t realize before how similar those songs sound. In the middle of “Love Somebody”, he even sang a bit of “Here Comes the Sun”
again.* Rick only stayed out into the audience for “Human Touch”, sans guitar and with a handheld mic; though he did make it up to the balcony tonight.
* I missed the repeated pauses during “Jessie’s Girl” that he did last night. That was an interesting change to the classic, and a change from the heavy breathing pause (which he didn't do tonight either).
* A two-song encore again – but strange to end with a song that isn’t even one he wrote.
* Again, there were lots of interesting guitar intros to familiar songs. One of my favorite things about seeing Rick in concert is watching him play guitar, and he shredded it tonight more than once.
* Rick wasn’t as chatty as he was last night, but he seemed to be singing with his full voice again, not as softly as he was last night. He did tell one bad KnockKnock joke – too ridiculous to repeat here; the whole audience groaned!
* Rick’s energy level was very high again tonite, with lots of jumping and leg movements. and this weird donkey kick off the drum stand. He didn’t break any guitars, but threw one up in the air and caught it twice. And there were several rose explosions, courtesy of the many bouquets bought by fans.
* Who was there: all the usual suspects - Rick on lead guitar and vocals, Derek on keyboards, Matt on bass, George B. on guitar, Rodger on drums, sound guy Mattie, guitar tech George II, and the always pleasant Dave at the merch table.
* What he wore: Rick came on-stage wearing his leather jacket, grey dress pants (looked the same as last nights), and his black high-top shoes with the sparkly embellishments. He took off the jacket after a few songs, revealing a grey striped sleeveless shirt with a cross pattern on it. The shirt was open to his chest when he got back on-stage from his foray up to the balcony during “Human Touch”; I don’t know if it was ripped open by fans up there, or if Rick opened it himself on his way back to the stage. No shirtless encore tonight; he came back on stage wearing the Gomer baseball jersey.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Rick Springfield's annual Milwaukee fest begins!
May 7th 2009Milwaukee WI
Review by: B Dahl
Photo by Laura Hoppe
Here's the set list from Thurs, May 7th- in Milwaukee, followed by brief comments and observations.
Mr. PC
What’s Victoria’s Secret?
Affair of the Heart
Living in Oz
I’ve Done Everything for You
Alyson
Speak to the Sky (first verse)
Twist and Shout (Beatles)
Venus in Overdrive
I’ll Miss That Someday
Love is Alright Tonite
I Get Excited
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Please Don’t Tease (Cliff Richards & the Shadows)
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie’s Girl
-encore-
Wasted
Kristina
* The concert began with a video retrospective of Rick’s career – always fun to see, as it brings back lots of memories - appropriately followed by “Nothing Is Ever Lost” playing from a recording before Rodger crashed into the drum intro to Mr. PC. The high energy of this drum intro combined with the flashing lights really sets the tone for the whole concert: you know you are going to be in for a rockin' good time!
* There were none of the usual cover songs and no freakin’ medley. The only non-Springfield songs were the Beatle tune (which didn’t seem to have been planned) and the song by Cliff Richards and the Shadows.
* Someone had given Rick a harmonica, which he said was in the wrong key to play any Beatles songs, but he was going to play one anyway, one that usually doesn’t have a harmonica part. That’s when he played/sang “Twist and Shout”. Rodger tried to end it sooner that Rick wanted, and he told Rodger that he was running the show, even though Rodger thought he was because he was tour managing now.
* Rick introduced “Please Don’t Tease” by saying that it was the first song he learned to play on the guitar. After playing the song, he said how you could hear the influence of this band on his early songs, and his “Springfield” sound.
* I always like hearing Rick sing “Speak to the Sky” in concert. It brings back memories of when I first heard that song all those years ago and first became a Rick Springfield fan. Who knew it would continue several decades later?!
* It seems like I’ll never get used to hearing “Love is Alright Tonite” in the middle of the set. I always get sad when I hear it, because it used to signal the end of the concert. Even with it in the middle of the set, I still felt that way.
* Yes, IGE was complete with IGE girl under the guitar. After the first verse, Rick asked who knew the words and chose the girl he said had her hand up first. She didn’t start singing them right away, but made Rick sing, too, and she joined in.
* Rick didn’t spend too much time trying to get people to sing during DTTS. And every time he tried to have someone sing, the mic wouldn’t work. Rick was blaming Matty (sound guy) for not turning it on, and asked the audience to give Matty a one-finger salute each time.
* Rick put on the wireless mic and guitar for “Love Somebody”, but stayed on the stage to sing. (And it was introduced with the usual “That’s a lot of young girls who saw my naked butt” line.) He then took off the mic and guitar and grabbed a hand mic to come out in the audience for ‘Human Touch”. He made it pretty much throughout the whole audience downstairs, but didn’t go into the balcony.
* During “Jessie’s Girl”, Rick sang the line “Where can I find a woman like that?”, and paused for a few seconds and then repeated it a few times. It’s always good to see the different ways Rick can change up this classic song to keep it fresh.
* A two-song encore – and it was shirtless! What more could you ask for to end a rockin’ night of music?!
* Rick said he had hurt his throat when performing in Vegas, and therefore he was singing a little softer than usual tonight. His singing did sound different – he didn’t seem to be screaming as much as he usually does – but it didn’t affect the performance of the songs at all. I wondered if that was why there were so many more guitar intros to songs than usual. Sometimes I wasn’t sure what song was being introduced, as Rick really played around with the beginning of songs. Whatever the case, watching/hearing Rick play around with the music was a great addition.
* He also seemed extra chatty tonite:
- - Rick said that being here was like playing at home, in his living room. He said he recognized about half the audience and “knew them personally.”
-- He mentioned being on Californication, and said he will play himself, with a twist: he will be a 1982 version Rick Springfield.
- - He ask who was going on the cruise, and said there had been more guests added, but he couldn’t say who and to wait for an announcement soon about Yannick Bisson.
- - He briefly said he’d be touring in Australia in the fall.
-- When introducing “Venus in Overdrive”, he called it "the new record - at least until the next one comes out, probably at the end of the year”.
-- He mentioned the charity baseball game on Saturday, and ask for someone to find out the details. (They did, and announced the time and place.)
*Rick pointed out Matt’s broken ankle (he was sitting on a stool to play bass), and told the story about how it was broken, trying to rescue his “puffy” dog from a coyote. I couldn’t even begin to relate the story the way Rick told it; he is a great storyteller, and he acted it out very dramatically and hysterically. (Yes, Matt saved his dog.)
* Despite – or maybe because? – of having to sing softer, Rick’s energy level was very high tonite, with lots of jumping and leg movements. He didn’t break any guitars, and didn’t even throw any up in the air to catch. In fact, he even seemed to lay them down lovingly on the floor. However, there were several rose explosions.
* Who was there: all the usual suspects - Rick on lead guitar and vocals, Derek on keyboards, Matt on bass, George B. on guitar, Rodger on drums, sound guy Mattie, guitar tech George II, and the always pleasant Dave at the merch table.
* What he wore: Rick wore a grey sleeveless shirt with a black vest, grey dress pants (which made his look extremely thin and tall), and his black high-top shoes with the sparkly embellishments. Midway thru, his shirt was soaked and he changed into a baseball jersey (with Gomer and a numeral 1 on the back) – but only after performing IGE with guitar girl while he was shirtless. He was also shirtless for the encore.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Rick Springfield's Sold Out Tacoma Concert, Rocked!
Rick Springfield's Sold Out Tacoma Concert, Rocked!
Rick Springfield
4/24/09 Tacoma, WA
Emerald Queed Casino
Review and pictures by
Susan Fortune
Rick Springfield played at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma Washington on 4/24/09. When Rick was being introduced the crowd was informed that it was a sold out show. And the crowd went wild and never stopped!! The announcer from the Casino asked all the veterans to stand to be recognized, a nice gesture that I have seen here before. Several of my friends are veterans one, is still on active duty and I know one fan brought her husband who is home on leave from Iraq, so this was very special.
The show began with an awesome video retrospective of Rick's life from his childhood with highlights of Rick's career from the 70's, 80's, 90's, until today. It is fun to hear casual fans who are in awe of all the things Rick has done, many had never known about the amazing length of his career. As the video ends the spot lights come on to drummer, Rodger Carter bashing on the drums .... and then Rick belts out Mr. PC an awesome song from his current CD Venus In Overdrive. Rick was on fire, he was totally energized by the sea of people. Rick left the leather jacket at home and wore a gray striped sleeveless shirt, blue jeans and his cool new sparkle studded converse type tennis shoes. After Mr. PC, Rick played "What's Victoria's Secret" another great song off of VIO.
The crowd was next treated to the full version of I Get Excited. Rick hasn't sang this as a full version at a regular concert in quite some time, the crowd usually hears it as part of the Medley Rick sings. In the past Rick has brought people up on the stage when he did this song, it was very nice to see it done with just Rick on the stage. Next came another surprise song that is not on standard set list, Rick played a crowd favorite Jesus Saves from his Shock Denial Anger Acceptance CD. If possible this fired up the crowd even more. Rick continued on with old favorites I've Done Everything For You and Alyson.
Then Venus in Overdrive and I'll Miss That Someday both from VIO. Before he started Venus In Overdrive he coached everyone to sing "Yeah, Yeah" with him on the chorus, he had Yeah x 2 written on the back of his guitar. He made everyone one sing it a few times until they got it right and told everyone they did a good job! Then he sang two old favorites Love is Alright Tonight and Don't talk to Strangers.
Don't talk to Strangers is an audience participation song where Rick gets people to sing the chorus. He pulled out the two mics and had one girl sing then he told Matty to turn the mic on ..... He said Matty is the sound guy and he is a good engineer but he has trouble with knobs haha! He said you need to turn the volume knob up, then he had the girl sing again and said he was mistaken turn it down lol. He was looking for a security guard to sing but they all ran away ..... he has performed at the EQ enough times that the security guards knew he would be coming after them. Rick told them they were chicken sh*t lol. He had a few more people sing and then went to an older woman in the audience who was sitting down, Rick stood on her chair saying you know where your head will be if I stand on your chair and you are sitting in it ..... "see". Then he tries to get her to sing and she won't ..... and Rick tells her "we don't take No's here"! I'm going to scoot a little closer, which he does and then she finally sings. Rick had a couple more people sing including a friend of mine to whom Rick commented "doesn't anyone around her know how to sing??" lol. When he was headed back to the stage he finally managed to get one of the security guards to sing without much effort.
Next Rick said that they were going to do a new song they had been playing around with at Sound Check but had never played in concert before. (A side note Rick had seen Paul McCartney in concert the week before and was wanting to do something of his or the Beatles. At Sound Check Matty, the sound guy had asked Rick to play "Jet" because it had been running through his head all day.) They launched into "Jet" and did an awesome job. You couldn't tell that they had never played it before. It was a special treat to be the first hear something new.
Then Rick sang a Medley of songs from the 80's and then put on his cordless mic and guitar before starting Love Somebody he asked how many people were under 16 when they saw Hard to Hold ..... several people (not me lol) raised their hands and Rick yells that's alot of underage girls that saw my naked bu**!! and then he launched in Love Somebody which is always a crowd pleaser! Then he wandered out into the crowd for Human Touch without his guitar. At one point he fell back because some people didn't know they need to help him as he walked on the chairs, luckily some people caught him and he told them "I dig you guys" ..... the crowd was as rowdy as I had ever seen at the Emerald Queen, girls would stand on their chairs to hug (grab) him ..... Rick was coming down our row when the girl next to me jumped up on her chair and Rick promptly crossed over into the next row and the girl still grabbed him anyway. I have seen him go nearly to the back of this venue but from what I could see he was really getting mauled and didn't make it back too far, before running back to the stage .... literally.
Finally he launched into his new version of Jessie's Girl where he pauses at the Chorus. This totally Rocks especially when you have a fired up crowd it is hard to make something old new again but Rick totally succeeded at revamping Jessie's Girl!!
For the encore Rick started off with Wasted, always a pleasure to hear and a huge favorite of the fans. And then he finished up with Kristina a Rocking song that leaves you wanting more. Rick totally blew away the crowd, as I was walking out of the venue everyone was raving about how the show Rocked and what an amazing performer Rick was. I know I am looking forward to Rick's return to the Northwest in August!!
Emerald Queen Set List:
Mr. PC
What's Victoria's Secret
I Get Excited
Jesus Saves
I've Done Everything For You
Alyson
Venus in Overdrive
I'll Miss That Someday
Love is Alright Tonight
Jet
Don't Talk To Strangers
The Medley
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie's Girl
Encore:
Wasted
Kristina
Rick Springfield
4/24/09 Tacoma, WA
Emerald Queed Casino
Review and pictures by
Susan Fortune
Rick Springfield played at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma Washington on 4/24/09. When Rick was being introduced the crowd was informed that it was a sold out show. And the crowd went wild and never stopped!! The announcer from the Casino asked all the veterans to stand to be recognized, a nice gesture that I have seen here before. Several of my friends are veterans one, is still on active duty and I know one fan brought her husband who is home on leave from Iraq, so this was very special.
The show began with an awesome video retrospective of Rick's life from his childhood with highlights of Rick's career from the 70's, 80's, 90's, until today. It is fun to hear casual fans who are in awe of all the things Rick has done, many had never known about the amazing length of his career. As the video ends the spot lights come on to drummer, Rodger Carter bashing on the drums .... and then Rick belts out Mr. PC an awesome song from his current CD Venus In Overdrive. Rick was on fire, he was totally energized by the sea of people. Rick left the leather jacket at home and wore a gray striped sleeveless shirt, blue jeans and his cool new sparkle studded converse type tennis shoes. After Mr. PC, Rick played "What's Victoria's Secret" another great song off of VIO.
The crowd was next treated to the full version of I Get Excited. Rick hasn't sang this as a full version at a regular concert in quite some time, the crowd usually hears it as part of the Medley Rick sings. In the past Rick has brought people up on the stage when he did this song, it was very nice to see it done with just Rick on the stage. Next came another surprise song that is not on standard set list, Rick played a crowd favorite Jesus Saves from his Shock Denial Anger Acceptance CD. If possible this fired up the crowd even more. Rick continued on with old favorites I've Done Everything For You and Alyson.
Then Venus in Overdrive and I'll Miss That Someday both from VIO. Before he started Venus In Overdrive he coached everyone to sing "Yeah, Yeah" with him on the chorus, he had Yeah x 2 written on the back of his guitar. He made everyone one sing it a few times until they got it right and told everyone they did a good job! Then he sang two old favorites Love is Alright Tonight and Don't talk to Strangers.
Don't talk to Strangers is an audience participation song where Rick gets people to sing the chorus. He pulled out the two mics and had one girl sing then he told Matty to turn the mic on ..... He said Matty is the sound guy and he is a good engineer but he has trouble with knobs haha! He said you need to turn the volume knob up, then he had the girl sing again and said he was mistaken turn it down lol. He was looking for a security guard to sing but they all ran away ..... he has performed at the EQ enough times that the security guards knew he would be coming after them. Rick told them they were chicken sh*t lol. He had a few more people sing and then went to an older woman in the audience who was sitting down, Rick stood on her chair saying you know where your head will be if I stand on your chair and you are sitting in it ..... "see". Then he tries to get her to sing and she won't ..... and Rick tells her "we don't take No's here"! I'm going to scoot a little closer, which he does and then she finally sings. Rick had a couple more people sing including a friend of mine to whom Rick commented "doesn't anyone around her know how to sing??" lol. When he was headed back to the stage he finally managed to get one of the security guards to sing without much effort.
Next Rick said that they were going to do a new song they had been playing around with at Sound Check but had never played in concert before. (A side note Rick had seen Paul McCartney in concert the week before and was wanting to do something of his or the Beatles. At Sound Check Matty, the sound guy had asked Rick to play "Jet" because it had been running through his head all day.) They launched into "Jet" and did an awesome job. You couldn't tell that they had never played it before. It was a special treat to be the first hear something new.
Then Rick sang a Medley of songs from the 80's and then put on his cordless mic and guitar before starting Love Somebody he asked how many people were under 16 when they saw Hard to Hold ..... several people (not me lol) raised their hands and Rick yells that's alot of underage girls that saw my naked bu**!! and then he launched in Love Somebody which is always a crowd pleaser! Then he wandered out into the crowd for Human Touch without his guitar. At one point he fell back because some people didn't know they need to help him as he walked on the chairs, luckily some people caught him and he told them "I dig you guys" ..... the crowd was as rowdy as I had ever seen at the Emerald Queen, girls would stand on their chairs to hug (grab) him ..... Rick was coming down our row when the girl next to me jumped up on her chair and Rick promptly crossed over into the next row and the girl still grabbed him anyway. I have seen him go nearly to the back of this venue but from what I could see he was really getting mauled and didn't make it back too far, before running back to the stage .... literally.
Finally he launched into his new version of Jessie's Girl where he pauses at the Chorus. This totally Rocks especially when you have a fired up crowd it is hard to make something old new again but Rick totally succeeded at revamping Jessie's Girl!!
For the encore Rick started off with Wasted, always a pleasure to hear and a huge favorite of the fans. And then he finished up with Kristina a Rocking song that leaves you wanting more. Rick totally blew away the crowd, as I was walking out of the venue everyone was raving about how the show Rocked and what an amazing performer Rick was. I know I am looking forward to Rick's return to the Northwest in August!!
Emerald Queen Set List:
Mr. PC
What's Victoria's Secret
I Get Excited
Jesus Saves
I've Done Everything For You
Alyson
Venus in Overdrive
I'll Miss That Someday
Love is Alright Tonight
Jet
Don't Talk To Strangers
The Medley
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie's Girl
Encore:
Wasted
Kristina
TV Appearances for Rick Springfield
Posted on www.rickspringfield.com:
Look for Rick in this weekend's (5/2) edition of Access Hollywood.
Check your local listings for air times and station.
http://www.accesshollywood.com/
www.tvguide.com
Look for Rick on The Today show on 5/11 in the 9am hour. (9 to 10am)
NBC (not sure if this is a live appearance or a taped one)
Look for Rick in this weekend's (5/2) edition of Access Hollywood.Check your local listings for air times and station.
http://www.accesshollywood.com/
www.tvguide.com
Look for Rick on The Today show on 5/11 in the 9am hour. (9 to 10am)NBC (not sure if this is a live appearance or a taped one)
New Tour Dates for Rick Springfield
New Tour Dates:
Confirmed on www.rickspringfield.com
August 28, 2009
Grand Ronde, OR
Spirit Mountain Casino
August 29, 2009
Beaver Creek, CO
Vilar Perf. Arts Center
Confirmed on www.rickspringfield.com
August 28, 2009
Grand Ronde, OR
Spirit Mountain Casino
August 29, 2009
Beaver Creek, CO
Vilar Perf. Arts Center