Rick Springfield, July 13 at the Pacific Amphitheater

I wouldn't have gone to see Rick Springfield if Alicia hadn't invited me. And I certainly wouldn't have gone to the O.C. Fair if Alicia hadn't invited me to see Rick Springfield with her there. I've never had much of a positive experience at country fairs, especially ones in California, and I was fine living a life where I'd never have to go to another one. But my apprehension was unwarranted and the two of us had a great day at the event, with Alicia's sister and Alicia's sister's friend. The concert started just after dusk, early enough to go back into the fair for an hour or two after the show was done. Obviously the house-wives wanted to get back home early but it would suck for good rock bands like Blondie (who also played at the fair that summer) to have to play so early. Springfield puts on a fine show, playing to the over-the-hill ladies in the front row and anyone who has known of him over the years, though there was a refresher course on video that played on the screens before the show in case anyone didn't know that he was mainly known for being on TV. I wouldn't have advised the cover of "Jet" midway through the set, though I commend him for not dragging out "Jessie's Girl" as the set closer (leaving I-don't-know-what for the encore). Though he did drag out "Don't Talk To Strangers", another, much lesser, hit, to about 15 minutes, leaving him plenty of time to wade into the audience, held aloft by manic women who will never wash him off their hands. He was also shirtless for most of the performance, and if I look that good at 60 (or so he claims he is. I still don't believe it), I'll be shirtless more often as well. The show was overly practiced and a bit stiff and he would probably be bored senseless by it if it wasn't for the desperate women screaming his name and throwing bouquets of roses at him (which he would shred against his guitar, which I've never seen and thought was cool but it didn't really show appreciation). The day at the fair was better than the evening at the concert but it was still enough of a reason to go.

Rick Springfield's set-list:
"Mr. PC"
"What's Victoria's Secret"
"Affair of the Heart"
"Living in Oz"
"I Get Excited"
"IDEFY"
"Jet"
"Alyson"
"Venus in Overdrive"
"I'll Miss That Someday"
"Love is Alright Tonight"
"Crossroads"
"Don't Talk To Strangers"
"Love Somebody"
"Human Touch"
"Jessie's Girl"

"I'll Make You Happy"
"Kristina"