Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

In July of 2004, I was thrilled to be able to attend a show Rick Sprinfield put on at Outlaws in Calgary, Alberta. I was tired for two days after, but it was worth it. There were technical difficulties that caused the show to end early, but I spent the entire show staning within reaching distance of of my favorite singer and songwriter. This was the second time I'd seen Rick in concert. I hope I'll get another chance somewhere along the line. I set this thing up backwards and some day I'll rearrange it, but for now, the sequence of pictures starts at the bottom and works its way up to the top, so SCROLL DOWN and enjoy!
Ja
"May he ROCK forEVER!"

Signing Shock Team Shirts
The last we would see of Rick at this show. The equipment was shot.
Autographing everything people could get to him.

Belting out Jessie's Girl
Conducting the crowd? Playing the crowd? I don't remember!

Amusing the masses while trying to get things working again.
Rick has us sing Jessie's girl to the only guitar working at that moment - his!

This guy was TALL. I was nice anyway.
This was the moment that everything died. Rick said something to the effect that they "forgot to feed the hamsters." Whatever it was, it was the beginning of the end.

Here's lookin' at YOU kid! I actually figured he probably wanted to take my camera and throw it across the room. He could have if he'd really wanted to. I was that close.
The famous finger point, but I managed to "miss the point."

This close ladies! You can see the flower petals caught in the guitar. You can't ask for a better "seat" in the house.
You can feel the emotion in this one.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Rick chats up the crowd a little before moving into another song.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

See? This is just one bouquet!

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Rose bashing is a staple at Rick's concerts. Story is that years ago, some lady was standing in the front row trying to get his attention with a bouquet of flowers. Apparently, finally PO'ed with her flower waving, he grabbed them and thrashed them against the guitar stings while he was playing. The crowd went wild and he's been doing it ever since. It actually results in an interesting carpet of flower petals after the fact.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Sweet . . . How often does anyone get to be this close to their favorite performing artist while they are in concert?

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Madonna herself couldn't "strike the pose" any better.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

The Celtic Cross . . . was a tatoo Rick got that was a fairly recent acquisition at the time of the concert. Someone somewhere, again, more dedicated and/or obsessed than me, will know the significance of this symbol in Rick's life. Since I'm more interested in the music than the art, I tend to forget this details. Then again, maybe it really IS old age.

If you get a tatoo when you're older, does it mean that it will sag less as you age? Earlier today I heard someone say he told his daughter that what is a butterfly on the butt now, will become a dragonfly on cottage cheese later. I think I'll forego tatoos at my advancing age and cottage cheese-like consistency.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Hmmmm. . . the guitar smash. I don't get this, probably never will. It always makes me think of all the high school boys I know who would love to have a guitar and can't afford one. It's the only real negative I can think of when it comes to thinking about Rick Springfield's music. Again . . . how do you spell nuts? Do I detect a theme here?

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Rick has boundless energy while up on the stage. The show was live at Outlaws.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Eh? What's not to love? The guy comes on stage, plays his new songs, plays his old songs and plays his crowd like a personal fiddle. You know it and you love it anyway. Tell me again how you spell nuts?

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

My daughter went to this show with me. We drove 6 hours, waited in line for 1 hour and stood on the floor near the stage for 4+ hours before the show started. We both thought it was worth it and she wasn't even a fan. How do YOU spell nuts?

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

There's nothing to say. The guy looks good from any direction. Would that someone could take MY picture from the rear at the age of 55 and have it look like that.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

I've been a Rick Springfield fan for around 25 years now. I got hooked early on in my 20's and really never stopped listening. My interest really perked up again when I discovered Rick's fan site on the web back in 1998.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

It's been a year since the concert, so I've forgotten some of the non-verbal stuff and which songs it goes with. Though I am a pretty solid Springfield fan, there are those more possessed than I who would shudder to think I could admit to such forgetfulness. Old age, I guess.

Rick Springfield in Calgary July 2004

Ah yes, Rick Springfield - Alive and Kickin' IN ALBERTA! Yeah! This is the first of a series of pictures of Rick performing at Outlaws Nightclub in Calgary, Alberta - July 2004.