REVIEW OF RICK SPRINGFIELD CONCERT

HUDSON GARDENS

8/2/2009

Ok ladies, do you remember the movie “Hard to Hold” where at the beginning of the movie, screaming fans tried to rip Rick’s towel off and he exposed his naked butt? Well, let me just say not much has changed in 25 years since this movie came out. Yea, yea, I know critics trashed it, but I kind of liked it, and maybe it’s because it reminds me of my youth and when I had a major crush on Rick Springfield when I was 12 years old. After being a part of Mr. Springfield’s concert on 8/2, I can honestly say that he still has the same, crazy, screaming fans he did in the movie (which was supposed to be fiction). Although the fans now are a bit older and quite a bit scarier. It was a really hot day at Hudson Gardens, which is beautiful. You would never know it as you drive up a busy and commercial Santa Fe Blvd. to get to a quiet, park like botanic gardens nestled off the busy street. We waited for the concert to begin. I already had a glimpse of the craziness that was to occur, as I noted the fans ready with their painted signs saying “I LOVE YOU RICK” and their many bouquets of roses.

When the concert began (a general admission show), the ladies rushed to the front of the stage. By about the middle of the concert, all hell broke loose. The ladies, after what I assume were too many cocktails, started pushing and fighting. One attendee started a fight when her vintage Rick Springfield album was taken from her (by another attendee who was pissed because she could not see the show since the album was being held up in the air). Security came and broke up the fight. I overheard the security guard say he had never seen anything like this in his 20 years of law enforcement.

Rick did a good job by playing all his hits including Affair of the Heart, Love Somebody, Don’t Talk to Strangers, and of course Jessie’s Girl. At 60 years old, he looks pretty damn good too. It was a fun concert, but I recall the last time I went to a Rick Springfield show a few years ago, a fight broke out then too. I am not sure what it is with Rick Springfield that brings out the worst in these women. Maybe they too are trying to re-live their youth and the songs they remember as kids and young adults. I just know that the next time I go to one of his shows, I am bringing my mace and perhaps a pair of brass knuckles!

Here's the view of the crazies in the crowd...