“Who Killed Rock ‘n’ Roll?” In a musical landscape currently littered with corporate, mindless teen-pop and overproduced hip-hop, this was Rick Springfield’s opening salvo Friday night at Joe’s Bar on Weed Street.  Over a classic, driving power-pop rhythm and cranked power-chords, Springfield spit out lyrics any mourning, long-term lover of rock could relate to: “Rap put the bullet in rock ‘n’ roll’s head/Radio used her and left her for dead”. It was a high-energy opener that would’ve worked just as well in a stadium setting as in the more intimate confines of Joe’s.  Thankfully, the small-scale atmosphere also played to Rick’s strengths as a performer (even if it took the first two numbers for him to find his footing on the tighter stage).

Perhaps it’s the Malibu living, years of groupiedom, or maybe he has a very decrepit portrait hanging in his attic, but at 63 Springfield stands as a testament to the more rejuvenating powers of rock-n-roll. Touring behind his latest (and possibly strongest) album “Songs for the End of the World,” Rick has somehow managed to turn back the hands of time. Onstage, he still looks every bit the rock idol of yesteryear and, if anything, his voice actually sounded stronger on certain songs (the aforementioned opener and the new single “I Hate Myself”). This is a veteran performer who has known his share of highs and lows, but also still values his creativity and his audience.

He is also an underrated songwriter. Beneath the pop-idol image and sunny, sing-a-long choruses lay some dark lyrical observations on fame (“Living in Oz,” “Rock of Life”) and sexual obsession (“Don’t Talk to Strangers”).  Even songs of seduction and young lust, such as “I Get Excited” and “Love is Alright Tonite” have an air of accusation and taunting. And on “Our Ship’s Sinking” (one of two new songs in Friday’s setlist), he sings about his marital struggles. Anyone who’s read his uniquely honest (among celebrities) autobiography knows it hasn’t been an easy ride for Mr. Jessie’s Girl.

Sprinkled among the many pop hits (probably more than one remembers) were some energetic covers such as Wings’ “Jet” and Robert Johnson-via-Cream’s “Crossroads” (complete with impressive guitar work – even more so considering Rick was relegated to two fingers on his temporarily broken fretting hand). There were also several nods to the Beatles with the upbeat “Can’t Buy Me Love” as part of his encore and the classic “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” outro riff making an appearance at the end of “Jessie’s Girl”.

In the end, it was the ‘80s hits people came to hear (a fate he shares with many veteran hit-makers, even those with strong new material) and Rick delivered them with the same youthful enthusiasm he did during his initial, heady burst of fame. For “Human Touch,” Rick not only crowd-surfed, he got deep in the trenches, fully connecting with fans. And in-person, all of the songs had a heavier, driving guitar sound than on record, making the live versions punchier and, dare I add, a bit more “guy-friendly”. For musicians, there was much to admire in the interplay between Rick and his talented band members (standouts being Rodger Carter on drums and George Bernhardt on lead guitar). This was tight, concise, late ‘70s-style power-pop at its finest.   

By the time Rick and company arrived at the final encore of the evening (audience favorite “Kristina”), the nostalgic itch had been scratched, but for those paying closer attention there was every reason to believe in the Rick Springfield of today. He delivered what was expected, but remains creative and attuned to the present. Between writing strong new songs and promoting them in a fun way (his recent New York subway-busking appearance and the four different interactive CD covers), he is doing his part to make album-buying enjoyable again. And for a “sleeping” art form such as rock-n-roll, what more can you expect?    

Setlist:

1. Who Killed Rock ‘n’ Roll?
2. Affair of the Heart
3. Living in Oz
4. Jet (Paul McCartney & Wings cover)
5. I Get Excited
6. Medley: Bop ‘Til You Drop/Celebrate Youth/Calling All Girls/Don’t Walk Away/State of the Heart/What Kind of Fool Am I
7. I’ve Done Everything for You
8. I Hate Myself
9. Our Ship’s Sinking
10. Rock of Life
11. Love is Alright Tonite
12. Crossroads (Cream cover)
13. Don’t Talk to Strangers
14. Love Somebody
15. Human Touch
16. Jessie’s Girl

Encore:

17. Can’t Buy Me Love
18. Kristina

Review by Bruce Colón

www.joesbar.com

www.rickspringfield.com