New Tour Date for Rick Springfield

Confirmed on www.rickspringfield.com

December 05, 2009
Kansas City, MO
The Midland

Birthday Bash for Rick Springfield in IN

8/22/09
Michigan City, IN
Blue Chip Casino Stardust Even Center
Review by: Darla Gerken
Photo by: Mike Gerken

On the eve of Rick’s 60^th birthday, the show started with a huge stage rush with everyone wanting to be as close to Rick as possible. Rick began the full throttle show with Mr. PC and What’s Victoria’s Secret. The new white guitar came out for Affair of the Heart, which included two beautiful rose explosions. Someone threw a blow up doll on stage during I Get Excited. Rick commented about it being a nudie doll and set it on one of the speakers, where she sat all night.

Rick said that it was the last night he would be 59 and that his birthday was tomorrow. He thought that we should get it out of our system and sing Happy Birthday, which we all did. Someone up front held a “Sexy 60 Springfield” sign; that’s kind of tongue twister.

We were treated to Jet, I loved that song and the crowd energy that it brought. By this time, Rick was really starting to sweat and preceded to open a few buttons on his shirt, screams erupted. Rick grabbed a sign from the crowd and teased that it said, “We love Rodger”, but it really said Jesus Saves. Rick asked if there was any white trash in the audience. That was a great sign because they did sing it and also included a Rick jump. The jump was pretty good for a man who was only hours away from being 60.

The “yeah drill” and Rick saying that he was still sexy at 60 lead into Venus in Overdrive. I love that song and it included a sexy sigh at the end. After VIO, someone brought out a birthday cake with candles for Rick, we sang Happy Birthday again, he blew out the candles and ran his finger across the frosting and licked his finger and asked if we wanted some cake. After the cake, he needed a drink, which he got a mouth full and spit it into the crowd. Showers anyone?

By now things were getting hot and wild. The shirt came off and he sang Wild Thing. For a moment I thought we were going to get the “moon”, because he gave his pants a tug at the zipper. I’m thinking OMG, but it didn’t happen. George brought him a shirt with a cool spider graphic on the shoulder, he pointed to his nipple and laughed about it standing out.

The first lady he asked to sing DTTS, said Happy Birthday Rick, instead of DTTS. He got a couple security people to also sing. Human Touch turned into a mob scene, Rick had a hard time moving through all the people, falling numerous times. He didn’t get too far into the crowd before the song was over. When he got back on stage, his shirt was torn, so that will be the last time the spider shirt goes on tour! Rick said it was about time for Jessie’s Girl. We got to hear the extended version, I think over the years the song has evolved and keeps getting better.

Since his shirt was ripped, when the encore started, he came back on stage wearing the vest that he started the show with. At this point I thought he had enough energy to go on for the rest of the night. Unfortunately he only sang Crossroads and Kristina, and then it was all over. Great show and Happy Birthday Rick!!!!!

Set List:

• Mr. PC
• What’s Victoria’s Secret
• Affair of the Heart
• Living in Oz
• I Get Excited
• I’ve Done Everything For You
• Happy Birthday
• Jet
• Alyson
• Jesus Saves
• Venus in Overdrive
• I’ll Miss That Someday
• Love is Alright Tonight
• Happy Birthday – 2^nd time
• Wild Thing
• Don’t Talk to Strangers
• Love Somebody
• Human Touch
• Jessie’s Girl
• Crossroads
• Kristina

8/14/09
Wisconsin State Fair

Milwaukee, WI

Review by: Amy Krueger (and a thanks to Lynn Miracola for helping me get it right)

Photos by Marilyn d’Entremont

This was a new venue for me, but I was excited to be there with my mom and my girls (and my best friend). We were lucky enough to be close to the stage and had a great view of Rick and the boys. (thanks, Lynn!) The weather was warm and there wasn’t a lot of breeze, but that didn’t matter once Rick and the boys took the stage. The energy was high, in the crowd and on stage. Everybody seemed to be having a great time.

Rick came out in a sleeveless gray shirt that very quickly was wet. If we were hot in the audience, I know the guys had to be sweltering.

At one point, somebody handed Rick a bottle of beer. He used it to play the guitar as a slide. Then he got a second one (or maybe it was the same bottle) and he waved it back and forth, with the beer splashing those close to the stage. He then said, “What is up with all this pretty girls up front giving me beer? Where were you when I was 15?” Which then drew a huge cheer from the crowd.

Rick said there would be a guest for “Crossroads”. The band Asia (remember them from the 80’s) was playing the next night. He let their guitarist help out. During the verse that has the line “I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees” Rick got down on his knees on the little extended part of the stage.

Since my “regular” show is Potawatomi, it was nice to see some kiddos in the audience, and Rick obviously enjoyed it as well.

Before he came out into the crowd for DTTS, he said that there were probably people thinking “This isn’t Noah Drake”. Then, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, took it off and said, “Why yes it is”. (Huge cheer from the crowd) He pointed out some people who had the words in Swahili on large poster boards. He said something to the effect that they had been to way too many shows. He tried to read it and I’m sure was nowhere near right.

(This may have actually happened later in the song, it’s kind of blur in my head)

He worked his way out into the crowd and had a few people singing. He then said the guys were outshining the women so he did a “battle of the sexes”. All the guys vs all the girls. While he was out in the audience, he spotted a cute little girl and asked if she wanted to go up and sing. On the way to the stage, he spotted another little girl and he took her up too. Rick tried to get them to dance, but I think they were too scared staring at all the people. Rick said they were at a cute age - when kids could become instant friends without even knowing each other. Then he teased “Wow…you have shoes. I have shoes. Let’s be friends!” He said as you get older its more like “Yeah, sorry, I’m just not taking any new friends at the moment”. (But we all know if Rick wanted to be our friend, we’d say YES!) He asked names and ages (Sarah – 6 and McKenna 3 ½) McKenna got a big “Awwww” from the audience and Rick. McKenna, at one point, could be heard without a mic. Rick said he wanted to take them home but then told them to get off his stage and told us “they would be available at the merch stand after the show”.

Rick put on the wireless headset/guitar for “Love Somebody” and walked along the front part of the stage but then took it off after he said “I’m coming out there.” I didn’t see their faces, but I’m sure they looked at the sea of people and thought “WTF?” They earned their money that night for sure. The chairs were all zip tied together, so Rick was walking on the chairs, and actually came our way. My mom got a little Human Touch when Rick used her shoulder to hold himself up. (She’s offering the shirt for sale if anybody is interested…just kidding!)

During the encore song, two of Rick’s guitar strings broke pretty early in the song but he kept on playing. We only got a one song encore, instead of two, due to the broken guitar strings, I think. But it was okay.

Overall, the show was great, the energy was high, and my 10 year old’s first comment after was “I forgot how much I love Rick Springfield shows!”

Set List:

Mr PC
Affair Of The Heart
IGE
WVS
Ive Done Everything For You
Jet
VIO
I'll Miss that Someday
Love Is Alright Tonight
Crossroads
DTTS
Love Sombody
Human Touch
Jessie's Girl

Encore:

Kristina

Rick Springfield on Californication

Set your DVRs - well, it's probably a little too early for that yet, but mark your calendars! According to rickspringfield.com (and we quote) - Rick is set to guest as a "twisted version of Rick Springfield" in four episodes of Showtime's hit show, 'Californication', staring David Duchovny. The show begins its 3rd season on Sunday, September 27th and airs each Sunday on Showtime at 10:00 pm. Rick's first appearance will be in episode 3, which is scheduled to air on Sunday, October 11th. Rick's character, loosely based on himself, is a down-on-his-luck ex-celebrity and has some wild and over the top behavior involving "tasteful nudity".
Heres a preview clip from Showtime.

TV LISTINGS FOR RICK SPRINGFIELD

Dying to Dance
LMN

Fri Aug 21st 2009
4pm est

Rick Springfield....hot and hotter in IL

August 13th 2009
St Charles, IL

Arcada Theatre
Review by: B Dahl
Picture by: Cyndi O'Hora

* There was an opening act, Frank and Dave, a local acoustic duo, who play weekly at the restaurant owned by the theatre owners. They were actually very good - good vocals and harmonies- but, of course, once Rick took the stage, all about their performance was forgotten. Also, in what has become an Arcada tradition, Johnny belted out "New York, New York" right before Rick took the stage. Johnny is a theatre employee who Rick requested to sing his first year at this theatre, after Rick was talking with him on the ride from the airport and discovering his big voice.

* The venue is an older vaudeville theatre that was refurbished and reopened for concerts and theatre shows in 2005 - but I think they forgot to add air conditioning, because the theatre was sweltering hot before Rick even took the stage. The benefit of this for fans was that Rick spent most of the concert shirtless!

* I never get tired of hearing Rodger beat on those drums to open the concert, with the lights flashing on him. It really sets the tone for a high energy concert.

* IGE without a girl under the guitar. After the first verse, Rick paused briefly, and looked at the band; I thought maybe some fans might rush on stage at this point, but no one did. (Though there had been a big rush to the front of the stage at the start of the concert.)

* Rick mentioned a couple times about it being his birthday soon, and that he would be 30 twice. He led the audience in singing "Happy Birthday" to him, with lots of arm movements directing and pointing to himself.

* Two cover songs: "Jet" - which Rick really screams out on!, and "Crossroads" - that really highlights his guitar playing abilities. No freakin’ medley.

* While introducing "something from the new album - and not the lullaby record", Rick mentioned that Les Paul had died today, so he was dedicating this concert to him. He asked how many people even knew who Les Paul was, then said it was "a guy thing", and how Les Paul had invented the greatest guitar of all.

* No "YEAH" guitar for "Venus in Overdrive" - but the audience did a good job chiming in when time anyway. When he sang the line about love not being kismet, "you don't choose it, It chooses you", he grabbed his neck, as if being choked by love.

* 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.

* At the beginning of the guitar solo introduction to "Crossroads", Rick took a small fan that someone in the audience had, and used it like a slide on his guitar - which made a weird buzzing sound.

* Rick didn’t spend too much time trying to get people to sing during DTTS. He started with some girl who had been yelling at him earlier, whom he couldn't hear at the time; he had warned her he would get to her later with a mic so she could tell the whole audience what she was trying to say. She wanted him to take a photo with her friend who was celebrating her 30th birthday (which he did, but not on stage, as she had requested). Then Rick pulled a cute 6-yr-old girl onto the stage to sing with him, and mentioned how obnoxious boys were, always so loud! He asked her if she minded his sweat - she didn't seem to fazed by it.

* As George was putting the wireless mic and guitar on Rick for “Love Somebody”, Rick relayed what George was telling him - that the movie "Hard to Hold" won for best picture, best actor, best song. Even with the wireless, he stayed on the stage to sing, then took off the mic and guitar and grabbed a hand mic to come out in the audience for ‘Human Touch”. He didn't go too far out into the audience, only to about the fourth or fifth row, but across both sides of the theatre.

* “Jessie’s Girl” had some changes/additions of guitar music, that sounded very good. I like the different ways Rick changes this classic song to keep it fresh. With the additional guitar music, this is one of the best renditions of the song I think I've heard.

* A two-song encore – and it was shirtless!

Nothing is Every Lost intro

Mr. PC
What’s Victoria’s Secret?
Affair of the Heart
Living in Oz

I Get Excited
I’ve Done Everything for You

Happy Birthday (led audience in singing)

Jet
Alyson
Venus in Overdrive
I’ll Miss That Someday
Love is Alright Tonite

Crossroads
Don’t Talk to Strangers
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie’s Girl
-encore-
I'll Make You Happy
Kristina

Welcome back to MI Rick Springfield

Aug 8th 2009
Dearborn, MI
Dearborn Homecoming Festival
Review & Setlist by: Brian Bidinger
Photo Courtesy of Rickspringfieldandus- Picture Spotlight-Cyndi O'Hora

Rick Springfield appeared as the headline act of the 2009 Dearborn Homecoming Festival. His concert started right on time at 8:30pm, with the recorded intro music of "Nothing Is Ever Lost" from the Venus In Overdrive CD. In his prior introduction of Rick, Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr.mentioned that he had attended Rick's concert at the Ford Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on 2/23/08 and had visited with RS backstage afterward. Having been so impressed with his show, he asked Rick if he would be willing to come back and play at their annual "Homecoming" that Dearborn hosts. He also mentioned that Rick even agreed to reduce his price, in order to be able to make it happen.

RS at Dearborn, MI Homecoming Festival 8/8/09

Mr. PC
What's Victoria's Secret?
Affair Of The Heart
Living in Oz
I Get Excited
I've Done Everything For You
Alyson
Jet (Paul McCartney & Wings cover)
Venus In Overdrive
I'll Miss That Someday
Love Is Alright Tonight
Cross Road Blues (Robert Johnson cover)
Don't Talk To Strangers
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie's Girl (extended version)

encores:
I'll Make You Happy
Kristina

Rick Springfield returns to NY!

August 7th 2009
Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury
Westbury, NY
Picture & Review by Dancy Zahn

Circle of Life or Vortex of Doom?

For many of us east coast fans, it’s been a 4 month long dry spell between shows. Finally our man is coming to entertain us, but the anticipation is bittersweet. Yes, it is the dreaded Westbury theatre in the round. True, there are many more front row seats to be had. Also true, only half the ‘face time’ with Rick. Navigation of the Long Island Expressway is also a factor in the madness. Enough of the negativity…I’ll get to the good stuff.

The Squirts! I was so happy to hear they’d be opening. Matt joked that this was their last show. Not funny, Matt! Turns out our good friend and cruising buddy Mark Goodman was in the audience. He reprised his role as Mr. Tambourine Man during First Time. Mark commented that he couldn’t discuss his first time because his daughter was in the audience, also. Ok, that’s understandable, but perhaps during the cruise Q&A we could revisit this topic? Ok, maybe not. Anyhow, the Squirts were just as amazing as they always are…three of the most talented performers out there. A helper from the audience walked around selling their cds until she had none left.

After a short intermission, the theatre fills back up and the intro music starts. By now a little of our trepidation has been overshadowed by the excitement of the band coming on stage. We finally see our man, looking truly fine in a black sleeveless shirt, under a black vest. Nice arms! Looks like he has been pumping some iron lately. And apparently also purchased the Buns of Steel dvd since I saw him in Milwaukee.

Now, for the show! He opened with the customary Mr. PC, an apparent crowd pleaser. Affair of the Heart was next, followed by Living In Oz. By this point, everyone had had a turn with Rick in front of them, so the happiness was taking over the frustration. Lucky me, I Get Excited was played right in front of me, with a crotch grab. Nice! I’ve Done Everything For You came next, followed by Rick prompting us to sing Happy Birthday to him. Then the moment I was waiting for, a cover of Jet! I know they’ve been playing it lately but it was the first time I’ve seen it. I loved it! The band is really on top of this song. Rick’s vocals were fantastic, but the backing vocals and really every single instrumental contribution from the band made this cover a new favorite of mine.

Continuing with the set list…Alyson, Venus In Overdrive, I’ll Miss That Someday, Love Is Alright Tonight, and Crossroads led to the moment in the show that strikes fear into the hearts of many…Don’t Talk To Strangers. Fortunately, I was looking at the back of Rodger’s drum kit at this point and could breathe freely. There were a few victims across the theatre, before a couple of adorable little girls were led onstage. Rachel and Alexandra, ages 9 and 6, dressed in orange Jessie’s Girl shirts. Rick commented on their footwear, noting that at a certain point in his life the white bobby socks and mary janes would have been very exciting to him. O-kay….anyway, they sang like angels before leaving the stage, and DTTS came to a close.

Rick stayed onstage for Love Somebody, ventured out for Human Touch, and came back onstage for Jessie’s Girl. No medley, and honestly I didn’t miss it. Rick introduced the guys and they left the stage. At this point, you can tell people are visually calculating whether they will be facing Rick for any of the encore. Good thing it was a two song encore! I’ll Make You Happy was a pleasant surprise, especially since the set list we saw under Derek’s keyboard said “Wasted”. The show closed with a nice, loud Kristina, a good way to end the night. The stage had been littered with rose petals, underwear, and a sombrero. All signs of a good party, at least in this case.

Ok, I know I did some venue bashing early in this review. I am not a big fan of theatres in the round, for the obvious reasons. I’m choosing to see the silver lining in this somewhat dark cloud. The varying views had their perks, we got to take pictures from different angles, and got to see the band do their thing a little more. Most importantly, we are reminded that we enjoy seeing Rick do his thing from the front, from the side, and from behind. I’ll stop right there.

Setlist

Mr. PC
WVS
AOTH
LIO
IGE
I’ve Done Everything For You
Happy Birthday
Jet
Alyson
VIO
I’ll Miss That Someday
Love Is Alright Tonight
Crossroads
DTTS feat. Rachel and Alexandra
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie’s Girl

Encore
I’ll Make You Happy
Kristina

Rick Springfield CD signing at Borders in NYC

My Precious Little One CD Signing
Aug 6th 2009
Borders, NYC

Rick came to Borders on Park Ave in NYC to sign copies of MPLO. It took place on the bottom floor of the store and I am sure all that were there will agree with me on how hot it got down there. There was a nice size crowd there to greet him as well. Those of us with kids were allowed to sit on the floor in the front with a nice view and Rick enjoyed seeing the signs the kids brought. He noodled around on the guitar for a bit, made comments about how is Grammy award winning sound guy didn't have it right, but "this Grammy award winner" would fix it.

Set List:
Oh Well
IGE
State of the Heart
Sandman (from the MPLO cd)
Love Somebody

After his performance he took pictures with the professional photographers that were in attendance and then the CD signing started. Borders was a bit unorganized but the line started to move and everyone got their moment!

Rick Springfield - links to recent appearances

Links to appearances - CW, Today, WCBS, Strategy Room, Borders

(photo - Rick Springfield in Front of The Today Show Studios - photo by Michelle Tellier)