Shirts vs. Skins

I went to see Rick Springfield at Casino Rama a couple of weeks ago. I was really excited about it. I hadn't seen him since I was 12 or 13, when he played the C.N.E. and my mum took me, two years running. He was, if memory serves, the last show I saw like that: the last of the teen idols.

Brad came with me to the Rama show. He grew up with his sisters listening to Rick and kind of likes the power pop element to his songs. He can sing along with "Kristina"; it makes me happy. Sometimes we play Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet while we make dinner. Sure, we're both know a lot about music and have a ton we can choose from, but sometimes, Rick's power chords are enough.

Sadly, the joy I feel when dancing around the kitchen to "I've Done Everything For You" was only in moderate supply at the Rama show.

On the plus side, we had great seats. Centre stage, just a couple of rows up in the stands. I could see his face without looking at the screen. I heard some songs I love and, well, it was a fun, nostalgic rush. He covered Paul McCartney's "Jet", a song I've always loved.

However, the bad outweighed the good. Yes, he looks great for his age, but I wasn't there to see him shirtless or hear him talk about his 'weenie' (his word). It was frustrating that so much time was taken up with having audience members sing "Don't Talk to Strangers", but have many songs I really want to hear relegated to a crappy medley. Medleys are always crappy and just serve to remind people of good songs that they're not hearing. Also, I can't stand Eric Clapton, so to hear Rick (not exactly Clapton's guitar playing peer) do his version of "Crossroads" was excruciating. And I know that Rick wants to be more than a nostalgia act, so I didn't mind hearing some new songs, but that "What's Victoria's Secret" song is embarrassing and throwing a new, slow song into the encore is just poor showmanship.

So, it was a bittersweet night. I doubt I'll bother again.

Much more satisfying is the new split 7" by The Evaporators and Andrew W.K. , "A Wild Pear". Andrew takes one side, while The Evaporators take the other, covering songs by the fantastic Leather Uppers ("Don't Sell Hot Dogs Tonight"), The Subhumans ("Oh Canaduh") and French '60s band, Les Hou-Lops ("Oh Non"). There's a fun Evaporators original, too ("The Bombs in My Pants"). For my money, if Nardwuar the Human Serviette is involved, I'm on board. He's a great interviewer, a true believer in music and he puts on a great show. Andrew W.K. does an admirable job with his songs, too. Really, this is a fine bit of punk rock fun.