Sunday, October 25, 2009

Rick Springfield-TV listing update

Updated TV listings for the week of Oct 26-Nov 1st


BIO
Linda Blair-Biography
Mon Oct 26 9am & 3pm est
In honor of Halloween, BIO is airing Linda Blair's biography. Catch Rick talk about his first love.




Syndicated
Fri Oct 30th
Rick Springfield is scheduled to appear on Ellen to discuss his appearances on Californication among other things. Check your local listings on www.tvguide.com

Sunday's
(check your local listings)


SHOWTIME

Californication

Rick's guest appearances continue on Showtimes's highly rated Californication. It looks like his next episode will be Nov 1st but you never know so tune in each week!

Friday, October 23, 2009

New Tour Dates For Rick Springfield

Rickspringfield.com
announced new tour dates today:

March 26, 2010
Harris, MI
Island Resort & Casino

March 27, 2010
Harris, MI
Island Resort & Casino

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Rick Springfield in TV Guide

Check out Rick Springfield in the
Oct 26 - Nov 1 issue of TV Guide.

On page 42 Rick discusses his
new role on Californication.

Rick Springfield Rocks Canada!

Rick Springfield
Juice Newton
St. John’s – Oct 14, 2009
Mile One Centre
Review by: Daniel Martin

Whether the dramatic build-up to Rick Springfield’s explosive 90 minute set last night at Mile One Centre was the result of chance or not, it worked perfectly. Minutes before surprising warm-up act Juice Newton & the Regenerators took the stage, a local radio host was up there announcing there was a slight problem. The 2,500 or so in attendance gasped in unison, then uttered a sigh of quasi-relief as the MC advised them not to worry, it was only a minor delay. RickSpringfield had decided that morning to accept an invitation to appear on Oprah – an invitation that, admittedly, no one can decline – and had taken a late flight into the Newfoundland capital. We all knew the weather was too bad for a flight to land at St. John’s airport. So what had happened? Dr. Noah Drake’s flight was re-routed over 3 hours away to Gander. The star of the evening was in a taxi en route to Mile One Centre. We collectively worried about the nasty weather –snow, sleet, high winds – and the ever-present army of moose lurking roadside.

Not to worry we were told, we would be well entertained whilst we waited for the arrival of Rick, torch bearer of the great lost art of the straight-ahead pop rock, that was a force on the charts in the early portion of the 1980’s.

Shortly thereafter, an unrealistically young looking Juice Newton took the stage with her incredibly tight and rock solid, if mainly motionless, band of mostly heavy-set, grey haired dudes. The set opened with a pair of more recent songs that didn’t get the crowd overly enthused but were good nonetheless. Her amazing teal colored DanElectro guitar was eye catching in the early moments. The show really took off minutes later when she performed a 2-ballad medley of “Hurt” and “Break it to Me Gently” that featured shockingly powerful vocals. She still has the voice. The crowd was instantly won over. The momentum waned only slightly over the next 2 or 3 songs but the crowd warmed up to her, thanks in part to her slightly loopy in-between song banter. But at this point one had to wonder if she wouldn’t be better off playing those two big hits everyone came to hear and just getting it over with. Only that’s when she pulled out the unexpected 1-2 punch of “Cheap Love” and “Love’s Been a Little Bit Hard on Me”. Well, well, she DOES have other great songs. A fast-paced block of 5 songs followed and featured more jaw-dropping vocals. She totally had the audience in her back pocket by the time she closed out the opening set with “Angel of the Morning” and an inspired, high-energy version of
“Queen of Hearts”. The crowd was on its feet, their anxiety appeased, perhaps willing to wait a bit longer for the main event of the evening.

The MC came out to inform us that the headliner was on his way, safe, but not yet arrived. We were then treated to a brief set from a local cover band. Their name was Blue Eyed Blonde but on this night they were the Gap Fillers. They did a respectable job but this wasn’t their night and as such, the high point of their set was when they announced, “We’ve just been told we have one more song…you know what that means!” Just over 20 minutes after that, the stage was ready and the house lights went down. But Sir Rick was not done creating tension in the room. We stood through an entire song on the PA system and a brief montage of song clips and sound
effects until HE finally took the stage.

Rick Springfield is exactly 60 years old. This fact alone is astonishing as he first appears before our eyes. They guy looks no older than 38. No hair loss, very few wrinkles, and a slim yet buffer physique than in his early 80’s heyday. He’s been hitting the gym pretty hard and if he’s had any work done on his face, the surgeon did a fantastic job. It looks natural. He easily still fits into his old stage attire and no, he hasn’t changed his wardrobe in the least. Untucked button-up shirt with sleeves ripped off, fitted sleeveless leather vest, fitted black trousers and black shoes. Early 80’s rock dude in the house. But can he still play, sing? 30 seconds into the opening number, a recent track called “Mr. PC”, the answer is a resounding YES. Two things are apparent now: this is one surprisingly great song and man, Rick’s band is unbelievable. Is that Matt Bissonette on bass? Why, yes it is! Rodger Carter on drums? Again, yes! And though I don’t know the guitarist and keyboardist by name, they are equally virtuosic. Springfield is wise to surround himself with such a solid supporting cast. Their awe-inspiring 3-way backing harmonies allow the leading man to shine without blowing out his voice or over-straining. These guys replicate all the backing vocals from the recordings with amazing precision. And their playing is brilliant. This clearly adds to the overall concert experience.

After “What’s Victoria’s Secret?”, another solid selection from his most recent release, comes our way, we expect nothing less than a string of classic cuts. Dr. Drake delivers the goods, as first the instantly recognizable keyboard intro for “Affair of the Heart” booms through the big speakers. Great version. He follows with 82’s “I Get Excited”, introduced with “I bet when this song came out you were all too young to know what it was really about, but now you probably know”. Then ensues the unheralded Sammy Hagar classic to which Springfield gave new life, “I’ve Done Everything For You”, and the room is now ON FIRE. The already breathless crowd is floored by a fourth consecutive smash, “Allyson” from the “Living in Oz” album.

All the songs are delivered with incredible precision from the band and much passion from Springfield. I guess when the tunes are that good you don’t get At this point I’m expecting a break and a few tracks from his newest record, “Venus in Overdrive”. But instead he introduces, “A song written by somebody else, someone we really love.” The band then bursts into a stunningly powerful rendition of the McCartney & Wings classic “Jet”. The lead and back vocals are sickeningly good and the band sounds HUGE.

We are then treated to a pair from the aforementioned new release. He knows that’s not what we’re there for and he acknowledges, “We have a new album and any song we play tonight that you don’t recognize is, well, from that one.” Just before the energy level starts to dip the band breaks into an uber-heavy version of “Love is Alright Tonight”, the opening track from the 1981 classic “Working Class Dog”. The roof almost blows off the arena and it is unclear whether it’s the tornado-level winds outside or this 5-man rock machine on stage The evening wouldn’t be complete without a healthy dose of gourmet cheese and Springfield delivers as he sits on the edge of the stage, surrounded by screaming ladies, pounding out a bluesy solo with, at times, impressive fretboard dexterity (you mean to tell me he looks that good, can sing really well, write pop rock classics AND shred on guitar?!), followed by a short cover version of Crossroads”. Does Clapton do this song? I bet Springfield’s guitar playing is better. It’s less boring for sure. The bluesy interlude is thankfully short-lived. However, at this point all in attendance have taken such a liking to the ultra charismatic frontman, with his perfect mix of rock god poses and goofball antics on stage, that he can do no wrong. I can walk the walk, talk the talk, but I don’t take myself that seriously.

Witness: At one point, he mentions that it might be cold as hell outdoors, but it’s getting damn hot up onstage. The guitar tech then runs out with a sleeveless t-shirt and Springfield asks the ladies in attendance to close their eyes while he changes. It was just an excuse to reveal a chiseled upper body. Seconds later the black sleeveless T is slipped on and the show rolls on.
Then comes a laid-back version of “Don’t Talk to Strangers”. For this song only, the band shifts into a looser mode, yet they are so good they can toy around with this crowd favorite without diminishing it. This is when the audience-participation portion of the show begins. Rick is down in the crowd trying to coax a 70-year old lady to sing along with him. He says, “This lady is like, who IS THIS GUY? Is that Noah Drake?……..Yes, it is.”

Another massive keyboard intro. It’s the opening notes of “Human Touch”. During the extended version of the ’83 single, he roams through the entire audience, up rows of seats and across the floor on chairs. At one point he passes only a couple of rows up from us and that’s when I get visual confirmation that he is a freak of nature. He looks like a kid, even from real close. After a series of female embraces, he makes his way back to the stage to finish the song and blasts into “Love Somebody”, the last major smash single of his early 80’s chart You can sense that the set is coming to a close and the inevitability of what comes next is palpable. “Is it that time yet?”, he interjects, as he chugs out the opening riff for “Jessie’s Girl”. The crowd is going completely berserk. I liked how tight the song was performed, how faithful it was to the original. The most highly anticipated moment of the evening was delivered with the utmost respect. The band pours every ounce of their high level of skill into these few minutes.

The house lights don’t come back up so we know we’re in for an encore. Dim red lighting covers the stage and ambient sounds emanate from the PA. Rick returns for a so-so rendition of “Wild Thing”. Admittedly not the most inspired choice of covers, but at this point we don’t care, we’ve already gotten our money’s worth and then some. He closes with a monster rendition of “Kristina” from 82’s “Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet”. No, apparently it hasn’t. On this bitterly cold and slushy October night on the East Coast, Springfield and his bandmates delivered in a huge way. They came to rock and we are grateful.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Rick Springfield in Rhode Island


October 16, 2009
Lincoln, RI
Twin Rivers Casino

Let me first say I have never been to a show quite like this. Rick and the band did everything they are supposed to do and the music was great. Security was the issue and I will get to that later. They showed the cruise video and retrospective video as people were entering the venue. The lights went down and Rodger appeared and things got a bit crazy. The stage was rushed but security quickly sent everyone back to their seats. Slowly during the rest of the show we in the front row were pushed further toward the stage. Fine with me as long as my great unobstructed sight line was not effected. LOL

Rick was wearing black pants with a white shirt and black vest along with the bedazzeled black converse. The vest was the first to go then later in the show the sweaty white shirt was replaced as well with the spider shirt, Rick enjoying his little strip tease. Rick talked about the upcoming Californication episodes and the cruise. Mentioning how he was going to play keyboards for Richard Marx and Richard was going to do something during his set as well was met with loud cheers. He talked about his treacherous trip in Canada the days before and how he saw a Moose for the first time.

Rick and company launching into Fire was a nice surprise in the set list. Right before DTTS the atmosphere in the venue totally changed for me and my perfect show was over. Before that it had been the perfect show for me. The six security guards keeping the people back from the stage abandoned those posts and proceeded to feel that 6 on them needed to guard the equipment box set up in front of the mic for Rick to come into the audience. Rick, I think could see the ensuing chaos that resulted in this and chose to choose his DTTS victims from the abundance of security assembled in front of the stage. The first one wouldn't sing, just plan refused, Rick then brought another one on stage who obliged. He never singled out a fan for this and then moved on with the show. They had lost all control of the crowd at this point. A woman manged to sneak into the area by me and security and proceeded to flash Rick. Yes her top came down! Why people think this is attractive I will never know. Rick was ready to make his way into the crowd soon and I have no idea how he came back alive! Two of the several security guards guarding the "box" went with him. Good luck.

I then turned around to check out the band as there was no way to see Rick if I had wanted to. The band was having a blast on stage and Matt & George B were jamming and goofing around. I could see from the big screens that Rick was attempting to make his way back to the stage and once he did and launched into Jessie's Girl I witnessed the most rude and unprofessional behavior ever by two older security guards. In all the shows I have been too, general admission included I have never witnessed behavior like I did in Rhode Island that night. Off the stage he went for a brief break and back for what is becoming the norm, a two song encore. A shirtless encore at that! Rick got a kick out of the toy robot that was given to him during the encore and watched it walk around the stage before picking it up to admire it.

Set List:
Mr PC
WVS
Affair of the Heart
Living in Oz
Allyson
IGE
I've Done Everything for You
Jet
Fire
Venus In Overdrive
I'll Miss that Someday
Crossroads
Love Is Alright
DTTS
Love Somebody
Human Touch
Jessie's Girl

Encore:
Wild Thing
Kristina

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Rick Springfield on Oprah!

Just confirmed on www.rickspringfield.com,

Rick will be appearing on Oprah on Monday 10/19!
Check your local listings for exact time in your area. www.tvguide.com

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Rick Springfield Covers "Jet"



















Rick Springfield's cover of Paul McCartney's "Jet" recorded live in Nashville will be available for download on Amazon on October 20, 2009.


http://www.amazon.com/Jet-Live-in-Nashville/dp/B002RPVEYM/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

Friday, October 9, 2009

Rick Springfield on Californication



Sunday Oct 11th 2009 10 pm est
(check your local listings)


SHOWTIME

Californication

Rick's 4 episode arc (to be aired throughout the season) starts this Sunday! Be sure to tune in!!

Rick Springfield To Bare Butt On "Californication"
by: SANDY COHEN -Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Rick Springfield will bare his backside when he guest stars on Showtime's "Californication."

"It's not full-frontal, but it's pretty much full on," the 60-year-old musician-actor says. "As long as it's for the part, I'm cool with it. And it's funny. It's not done to be particularly sexy."

Springfield will appear on four episodes, and he sheds his clothes by the end of the season. His first episode airs Sunday. He plays a washed-up movie star who wants to rebuild his career.

He says his character, also named Rick Springfield, is a "very twisted, warped version" of himself.

Springfield appeared on the daytime soap opera "General Hospital" in the early 1980s, when his hit song "Jessie's Girl" was a radio staple. He's made guest appearances on the show in recent years.

He bares his backside during a party scene featuring show stars David Duchovny and Evan Handler. "I've got a sore back from carrying this naked girl around," he said.

Springfield said "great writing" drew him to "Californication," adding that his character could return next season.

Meanwhile, he's busy with other projects, including recording a new rock album and writing a children's book and autobiography.

"I'm amazed at how much I remember," he said, "and I've had a really interesting life so far."

Springfield will also perform and party with fans on a cruise to Mexico next month.

"I never used to be fan-friendly," he said. "Back in the '80s, I thought it was all about me, mistakenly. Now I realize it's actually all about them."

Showtime is owned by CBS Corp.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/09/rick-springfield-to-bare-_n_314963.html

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Rick Springfield in People

Look for Rick Springfield in the October 9th, Special 35th Birthday Issue.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Rick Springfield Rocked The California Theater

Rick Springfield plays the California Theater,
Oct 1, 2009
Review & Photo by Laurie Bennett
The California theater is a historical landmark, and a gorgeous theater built in 1928, with ties to Vaudeville and Will Rogers. The architecture and detailing inside was simply stunning. The seats were theater style with a slightly angled floor and a balcony as well. The place wasn't full, probably because the show was on a Thursday evening. The stage was a perfect height for a concert and all seats were good ones.
Rick came out wearing grey pants (looked like jeans, and I think they were actually tiny black and white checkers, so the whole fabric looked grey), grey sleeveless button down collared shirt and a vest, and the cool "bedazzaled" black shoes. All of the band were in attendance, as well as Wife Barbie (!) and Mom Eileen, who both watched the entire show from seats on stage left.
The set list was the same or similar to what Rick has been playing lately - check out recent blogs/reviews for info. He did have lots of challenges with the lyrics to What's Victoria's Secret - a bit surprising to watch and quite funny for Rick himself to experience as he struggled through the song, laughing at himself. Guess his mind just wandered somewhere else. There were lots and lots of rose explosions, many more than I've seen for a long while; I especially liked the few small bouquets that were both red & white roses. Sometimes I think Rick likes to smash them standing over the fans, just to watch all of them cover up from the fall out. While in the audience, Rick noticed a woman with a dozen red ones, and asked her if she was going to hold on to them all night or actually give them to him?! (There was no space between the rows, and unless you were on an aisle seat, you were locked in place during the show). He finally got them from her, feigned a "for Me???" look, and hugged them, in award recipient type style. Too cute. Then he said, roses don't get to live long at Rick shows. This is where they come to die.
He did no guitar smashes, but was having plenty of technical issues with the new guitars. He had two broken strings only about 5 songs into the show, on two different guitars - a white one and a black one, both with the new RS logo on them. George II couldn't rotate them out fast enough, and there were more guitar changes than I think I've seen before. Roger even lost a cymbal off the drum kit. During Crossroads, Rick didn't like what he was hearing, threw the guitar towards George and it slid side stage as if sliding into home. Rick looked to the audience, mouthed a cuss word, and then said If I had a guitar right now, I'd be playing an awesome solo at this part!
He talked about his mom being there, teased her about her age, and how she was a tough parent and so forth. He didn't talk about Barbie but at one point mentioned his two very good looking sons. He apologized every time a cuss word flew (more maybe to Barbie than to the audience), and was cute once when he said something in front of a ten year old - then pointing directly at her and saying Don't you ever cuss!
He took off his vest and change into a sleeveless t-shirt mid-show, asking us all to close our eyes while he counted 1-2-3 and magically had changed. Of course he teased those of us who grabbed our cameras fast, saying how could our flashes be going off if our eyes were closed??? Early in the show he needed not one but two band aids, both for his right thumb, making it quite difficult to play the strings on the guitar. He commented that only the die hards know to bring band aids to the show (they were offered up from 2 fans towards the front quite quickly), saying when you go to a Rick show, you don't bring wine, you don't bring dope, you don't bring (?), but you do bring band-aids!!! He asked us all if we knew how hard it was to play guitar while wearing a band aid. Then he said, to reply to himself, it was really hard. Yes, really hard. Everyone started to giggle, and so he changed his verbiage - it's really difficult.
He talked briefly about his upcoming stint for Californication, and that we'd be seeing more of Rick Springfield than we probably ever wanted to... During DTTS, instead of "how's life in the big city" he said how's life in the where the &*^$D# are we??? Although still in Los Angeles county, we were on the edges/outskirts and it felt like closer to no where. It is in a very bad area of town, so he told us all to be careful not to get mugged on our way home! Out in the audience, Rick leaned far enough back that he was almost horizontal, (I was hoping the audience would surf him back to the stage, but it didn't happen) and so he commented on how beautiful it was to check out the ceiling, etc. The show was very fast paced, seemed to be over in a blink. When he started Jessie's Girl, he asked, is it that time already??? so maybe he even felt it. He had security guard Ray sing, teasing him because he wasn't even born in the 80's, and yet, the little girl close by who was only 12 knew the words! The show ended with a shirtless and wearing eyeglasses two song encore.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Rick Springfield To Appear On Ellen


Rick Springfield is scheduled to appear on Ellen October 30, 2009. Rick will be discussing his appearances on Californication among other things. Check your local listings!