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)