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Live Concert Review: I Want My 80s Tour (Rick Springfield/The Hooters/Paul Young/Tommy Tutone) at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, August 11, 2023, Grantville, PA – Written and Photographed by Sharon Sipple

Live Concert Review:  I Want My 80s Tour (Rick Springfield/The Hooters/Paul Young/Tommy Tutone) at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, August 11, 2023, Grantville, PA

Written and Photographed by Sharon Sipple

I admit my favorite era of music is the 80s!   I have been waiting all summer for this evening.    The Hooters and Rick Springfield were both staples of my playlists and I was fortunate to see both multiple times throughout the years.    Walking into the Penn Heroes Stage at the Hollywood Casino in Grantville PA., there was definitely an air of excitement and anticipation for the evening.    Some fans waiting from early morning until the venue opened around 5:00 to secure their spots up front.    As I watched all the acts that evening, it was evident that everyone of them was having a blast on stage.    What really impressed me was that Tommy Tutone, Paul Young, and The Hooters all went back to the merchandise tent after their set to greet fans and sign autographs.

View Full Gallery – Tommy Tutone and Paul Young

View Full Gallery – The Hooters

View Full Gallery – Rick Springfield

This is the most fun I have had at a concert in a long time.    It was almost like time had stood still for a few hours this evening and for me, transported me back to a period in time that I will always cherish.     Thank you to each of these bands for giving it your all and creating an evening of memories for all your fans.

There are still plenty of chances to catch the “I Want My 80s Tour” in your area.    Here are the remaining dates:

Aug. 19 – Lake Charles, LA @ L’Auberge Casino* Aug. 20 – Ft. Worth, TX @ Dickie’s Arena* Aug. 22 – Lubbock, TX @ Cook’s Garage Stage* Aug. 23 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Ampitheatre* Aug. 25 – New Haven, KY @ Log Still Distillery Amph** Aug. 26 – Bay City, MI @ Wenonah Park Shell** Aug. 27 – Decatur, IL @ Devon Lakeshore Amphitheatre** Aug. 29 – Maryland Heights, MO @ St. Louis Music Park* Aug. 30 – Omaha, NE @ The Astro* Aug. 31 – Aurora, IL @ RiverEdge Park Pavilion* Sept. 6 – Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park*** Sept. 7 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amp*** Sept. 8 – Airway Heights, WA @ No. Quest Casino*** Sept. 10 – Redding, CA @ Civic Auditorium+ Sept. 12 – Saratoga, CA @ Mountain Winery Amp*** Sept. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theatre*** Sept. 14 – Bakersfield, CA @ Mechanics Bank Theater and Convention Center*** Sept. 16 – Murphys, CA @ Ironstone Amp++ Sept. 16 – Fresno, CA @ Warnors Theatre***

Artists line-up:    *Rick Springfield, The Hooters, Paul Young, Tommy Tutone    **Rick Springfield, Paul Young, Tommy Tutone    ***Rick Springfield, The Hooters, Tommy Tutone    +Rick Springfield, The Hooters, The Tubes, Tommy Tutone    ++Rick Springfield, The Hooters, John Waite, Tommy Tutone

The Script – 10/1/2024 – Hersheypark Stadium – Hershey, PA-Photographed by Sharon Sipple

Concert Review: Bret Michaels Parti-Gras 2.0 – 9/14/2024 – Penn Heroes Stage at Hollywood Casino PNRC – Grantville, PA-Photographed by Sharon Sipple

Pnk summer carnival 2024 wraps the summer concert season at hersheypark stadium on october 1st – review and photos by sharon sipple, sheryl crow – 10/1/2024 – hersheypark stadium – hershey, pa-photographed by sharon sipple, pnk – 10/1/2024 – hersheypark stadium – hershey, pa-photographed by sharon sipple, bret michaels parti-gras 2.0 – 9/14/2024 – penn heroes stage at hollywood casino pnrc – grantville, pa-photographed by sharon sipple.

• Hollywood Casino
• Hollywood Casino at PNRC
• I Want My 80s Tour
• Rick Springfield
• Sharon Sipple
• The Hooters
• Tommy Tutone

'God, sex and death': Rick Springfield discusses the tenets of his music

Even 50 years into his career, Rick Springfield dreams in music.

The title track of his first new studio album since 2018, “Automatic,” seeped into his brain at 3 a.m., prompting Springfield to get up and write down the notes he heard in his head.

“There was no plan,” he says of not only the stomping rocker but also the ambitious 20-song album. “There was no deadline. No one is waiting for the next album from me. I just got to do what I love, which is why I got into music in the first place.”

The seemingly ageless Springfield – he turns 74 on Aug. 23, and aside from some artful gray hair streaks, looks remarkably unchanged – recorded the new songs as soon as he birthed them, joking that his “binge writing” led to a double-digit tracklist.

While “Jessie’s Girl” still follows him on every talk show appearance, Springfield’s 16 other Top 40 hits through the decades (“Affair of the Heart,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Love Somebody” and “Human Touch” among them) are staples in his live performances, which he has whittled to about 70 a year.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

On “Automatic,” Springfield’s thoughtfulness and versatility as a writer glows. He delves into recent personal losses, questions his spirituality and unwraps melodic frivolity with equal dexterity.

The musician/actor/author tells us more about the meaning ingrained in his new music, living with depression and why he appreciates fans making the effort to come to his concerts .

An '80s romp: Culture Club, Howard Jones and Berlin offer a night of fun and hits on summer tour

Question: You wrote "She Walks with the Angels" for your longtime engineer and front-of-house mixer Matty Spindel, who died last fall. What did you want people to know about him in the song?

Springfield: We used to call him the “Little Woman.” He had a very feminine vibe to him, although he was heterosexual and had lots of girlfriends through the years. But the “she” just felt right. I usually wait to write after someone I love dies. It took me three years to write “My Father’s Chair” after my dad died, but maybe I’m getting used to people dying. I knew Matty for 25 years. I spent more time with him than my wife. It was an incredibly hard loss and I still feel it, but we all feel his spirit.

The last song on the album, "We Are Eternal," is an intriguing mix of impending dread and hopefulness.

For anyone who hopes for an afterlife, it’s a mixture of dread and ecstasy. The great phrase is everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. That song is about Brett Tuggle (who played keyboards in Springfield’s band as well as with Fleetwood Mac and David Lee Roth). Weirdly enough we lost Brett and Matty within six months of each other (Tuggle died in June 2022). I wanted the song to be hopeful. I don’t like writing downer songs when we lose people. Both Matty and Brett were very similar. I don’t know why they take the good ones.

You’ve talked openly about your struggles with depression, and “When God Forgets My Name” is pretty lyrically deep. Is it difficult to be so open?

No. I don’t think about people judging (my songs) when I’m writing; I just think about sharing a feeling. I know myself better than anybody, and in most of the writing there is a kernel of truth somewhere. I don’t restrict myself when I write. There’s always a degree of spit and polish and sweat, and when it comes through, you almost have to get out of the way.

Do you find it harder to write when you’re depressed?

It’s difficult when going through a down period, but it is part of my drive, the darkness. I always need to prove myself to myself. That’s the upside to depression: It forces you to look inside, and that’s gold to a writer.

On a cheerier note, "Come Said the Girl" has a very fun vibe with horns and hand claps.

That one is all about sex, obviously. This album is about my three favorite things – God, sex and death. That’s basically what I’ve written about the last 10 years. I’m still searching for God, interested in sex and curious about death.

I often hear your SiriusXM show ( "Working Class DJ" on the ‘80s on 8 channel ). Do you like doing it, because it’s hard to tell sometimes!

(Laughs.) I love-hate it. I don’t take it seriously at all, which I think shows. I have fun with it. The shows are getting sillier and sillier, and I think people appreciate that I’m not taking myself too seriously. I’m a musician, not a DJ. I don’t even know what I’m talking about sometimes. I wasn’t listening to radio (in the ‘80s) because I was writing and touring.

Anyone who has seen you in concert recently knows that you’ve kept your voice and body in great shape. How do you do it?

I’m conscious of what I eat and I work out every day. I recently got a trainer. If I’m healthy, I’ll enjoy doing what I’m doing. I learned from my dad because he died early (in 1981) and it was diet-related. His heart stopped when he was 51 and they brought him back and he had brain damage and he died 10 years later. That hit me really hard and I started focusing on health. I didn’t realize it was a reaction to him, and it’s a habit now. I hate being sick. I want to stay active, even though I can’t kick as high as I used to.

You’re heading out with The Hooters, Paul Young and Tommy Tutone for the I Want My ‘80s Tour Aug. 4. Since you’re on the road so much, do you ever get to catch any concerts?

Rarely. I was trying to see The Cure but (the timing didn’t work). I saw the (Rolling) Stones on their last tour. Honestly, it’s a pain to go out and see concerts. I don’t know how people do it. Fans will bring an old ticket for me to sign and I’ll see it was 12 bucks and I’ll go, “When did it get up to $60 and $90?” And then you have to park and get a sitter for the kids and have dinner. It’s a big deal. I always thank the audience because they put so much into being there.

Pink on tour: Check out the set list for the hitmaker's Summer Carnival stadium tour

• **Buffalo Concert History**

Rick Springfield And Company Kickoff I Want My 80s Tour

The I Want My 80s Summer Tour kicked off at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre Friday evening. The tour headlined by Rick Springfield also featured The Hooters, Paul Young and Tommy Tutone. The tour marked the Hooters first U.S. tour in 30 years. The long line at the merch booth was proof enough at how much a tour like this means to the fans. It was a great venue to kick the tour off on a fantastic summer night. Youngstown certainly did a great job with this venue which opened in 2019, creating a fantastic concert atmosphere.

Tommy Tutone was up first and played a 20 minute set that opened with their top-40 hit “Angel Say No” and concluded with the smash “867-5309/Jenny”. Vocalist/guitarist Tommy Heath warmed the crowd up in fine style. The lone downside was how short of a set the band played for.

Up next was English vocalist Paul Young. Young has had five top-40 hits over the years in the U.S. He used. Rick Springfield’s band as did Tommy Tutone which enabled Young to start his set the second Heath walked off at the conclusion of his set. Young also played an abbreviated 4-song, 20 minute set. The boisterous “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down” and chart-topper “Every Time You Go Away” were the standout tracks. Ditto on wishing we got a longer set from Young as well.

Then came The Hooters. For the first time in 30 years, Philadelphia’s own, The Hooters have embarked on a full scale U.S. tour. Singer/guitarist Eric Bazilian made mention and wanted to take it all in as he stood centerstage. It was good to finally get to see this band live. I had seen them once prior at Grand Slam 85′, a stadium show in Rochester, NY which was about a month following their historic performance at Live Aid. Time may have passed but these guys still sound great. As the band launched into some of their forgotten gems like “All You Zombies” and “Karla with A K” it was plainly evident that many in the crowd came to see these guys.

While the nostalgia part is all fine and dandy, the band had other ideas and came up with the great idea of releasing a new album Rocking & Swing. “Why Won’t You Call Me Back” was the track played to the crowd. The album has a ska, reggae and rock feel to it tracing back to the band’s early roots.

The band closed out their brief 45-minute set with a cover of Joan Osborne’s “One Of Us” which was written by guitarist Bazilian and also a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” which vocalist/keyboardist Rob Hyman co wrote with Lauper. Was there any doubt which song the band would end on? “And We Danced” was clearly the song everyone was waiting for and the band ended with a stellar version.

Seeing the band now as veterans as opposed to the seeing them in 85′ as youths, shows these guys still have a passion and desire to give everyone their all. So many band’s go through the motions. Bazilian and Hyman may have been the primary writers but equally important is drummer David Uosikkinen, who also has been there from the beginning. Rounding out the band were guitarist John Lilley, bassist Fran Smith Jr. and guitarist Tommy Williams. Let’s just hope this is not a one off thing and we see more touring down the road.

Headlining the whole affair was Rick Springfield. Hard to believe by month’s end that he will be 74 years old. He does not look like it or act like. His performance was the calibre of someone have his age. Simply amazing. He tore through an hour set featuring many of his hits.

Springfield appears to be a workaholic as he also released his latest album Automatic which coincidentally came out this same day as the opening night of the tour. Automatic features 20 brand new songs as it appears Springfield doesn’t know when to stop as he put it.

The big highlights of the night were the Sammy Hagar penned “I’ve Done Everything For You”, “Love Is Alright Tonight” and what Springfield concert is complete without the number one smash “Jessie’s Girl”. Springfield has had a marvelous career whether it be in music or acting. It seems everything he touches turns to gold. He shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Hopefully we get I Want My 80s tour for 2024 as well and make it a yearly kind of thing.

Rick Springfield Affair of the Heart I Get Excited Living In Oz I’ve Done Everything For You Automatic World Start Turning Medley: Bop Til You Drop / Bruce / 867-5309/Jenny / Jessie’s Girl / Don’t Walk Away Rock of Life What Kind Of Fool Am I Love Is Alright Tonite Don’t Talk To Strangers Human Touch Love Somebody Jessie’s Girl

Hooters I’m Alive Day By Day Why Won’t You Call Me Back All You Zo mies Karla With A K Drum Solo Satellite One of Us Time After Time And We Danced

Paul Young Some People I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down Come Back and Stay Every time You Go Away

Tommy Tutone Angel Say No Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels) Sylvia 867-5309/Jenny

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Rick Springfield Announces ‘I Want My ’80s’ Summer Tour

Rick Springfield has announced a new summer tour.

The I Want My '80s trek will begin on Aug. 4 in Youngstown, Ohio, and run through Sept. 16 in Fresno, California. Along the way, Springfield will be joined on select dates by guests the Hooters, Paul Young, Tommy Tutone, John Waite and the Tubes .

"What more could you ask for!" Springfield said in a press release. "Besides, you know, world peace, freedom from hunger and healing the earth of course. Admittedly they are the bigger stars but come along anyway. We will rock you and maybe save the world as a byproduct. Onward and upward!"

Tickets for the tour will be available starting May 5. You can see a complete list of show dates below.

Rick Springfield, 'I Want My '80s' Tour Dates 2023 Aug. 4 - Youngstown, OH @ The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre* Aug. 5 - Indianapolis, IN @ TCU Amp at White River Park* Aug. 6 - Sterling Heights, MI @ Amp at Freedom Hill* Aug. 9 - Niagara Falls, ONT @ Fallsview Casino* Aug. 11 - Grantville, PA @ Hollywood Casino Outdoors* Aug. 12 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Estess Arena* Aug. 13 - Lynn, MA @ Memorial Auditorium* Aug. 19 - Lake Charles, LA @ L'Auberge Casino* Aug. 20 - Ft. Worth, TX @ Dickie's Arena* Aug. 22 - Lubbock, TX @ Cook's Garage Stage* Aug. 23 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Ampitheatre* Aug. 25 - New Haven, KY @ Log Still Distillery Amph** Aug. 26 - Bay City, MI @ Wenonah Park Shell** Aug. 27 - Decatur, IL @ Devon Lakeshore Amphitheatre** Aug. 29 - Maryland Heights, MO @ St. Louis Music Park* Aug. 30 - Omaha, NE @ The Astro* Aug. 31 - Aurora, IL @ RiverEdge Park Pavilion* Sept. 6 - Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park*** Sept. 7 - Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amp*** Sept. 8 - Airway Heights, WA @ No. Quest Casino*** Sept. 10 - Redding, CA @ Civic Auditorium+ Sept. 12 - Saratoga, CA @ Mountain Winery Amp*** Sept. 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theatre*** Sept. 14 - Bakersfield, CA @ Mechanics Bank Theater and Convention Center*** Sept. 16 - Murphys, CA @ Ironstone Amp++ Sept. 16 - Fresno, CA @ Warnors Theatre***

Artists line-up:

*Rick Springfield, The Hooters, Paul Young, Tommy Tutone **Rick Springfield, Paul Young, Tommy Tutone ***Rick Springfield, The Hooters, Tommy Tutone +Rick Springfield, The Hooters, The Tubes, Tommy Tutone ++Rick Springfield, The Hooters, John Waite, Tommy Tutone

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A pop star who never lost his human touch revisits ‘Jessie’s Girl’

Not long after “Born to Run,” Bruce Springsteen’s exceptional memoir that was published in 2016, the rock icon was lauded for revealing that he has suffered from depression his entire life.

Rick Springfield admitted to being hampered by the same condition with his engrossing and revelatory biography “Late, Late at Night” in 2010.

Springfield, 74, detailed the ups and downs of a fascinating career throughout his memoir. “Depression has been something that I’ve had to deal with my entire life,” Springfield said while calling from Aurora, Illinois. “The lie of success is that it will fix what’s broken inside. Depression doesn’t go away if you become a big star.

But depression is just one of many things I’ve had to deal with. It’s not that I’m complaining but it’s been a fascinating career.”

A half-century has passed since Springfield moved from Australia to Los Angeles. Success was immediate but the problem for Springfield is that it had nothing to do with his music. Springfield became a sensation since he was featured in an array of teen magazines in 1973.

“I’ve had to battle the teen thing all my life,” Springfield said. “Yes, it’s a double-edged sword but not long after I arrived in America I was on the cover of these teen magazines and there were these stupid articles, which were like, ‘Cuddle up in Rick Springfield’s arms!’ I didn’t know what was going on because we didn’t have magazines like that in Australia. I was famous for nothing!”

Record company executives hoped Springfield would deliver innocuous, predictable pop songs like those crafted by teen idols of the day. “People thought I would be the next David Cassidy but that’s the last thing I wanted to be,” Springfield said. “When I wrote songs the record company wanted to know where ( a song like the Partridge Family’s) ‘Doesn’t Somebody Want to be Wanted’ was. I wasn’t going to write songs like that.”

Springfield agreed to star as himself in 1973’s ABC-TV Saturday morning cartoon series “Mission: Magic!” for which he wrote original material. “Years ago I ran into (writer-director) Quentin Tarentino and he said, ‘ “Mission: Magic!” – I love that show!’ But I didn’t feel that way. It was just a network xeroxed piece of crap.”

Eight years later Springfield hit the entertainment stratosphere. After appearing in such network hit television series as “The Six-Million Dollar Man,” “The Rockford Files” and “Battlestar Galactica,” Springfield landed the role of Dr. Noah Drake on the ABC soap “General Hospital” in 1981 and became a mega-star. Later that year Springfield experienced mind-boggling success after the release of his album “Working Class Dog” dropped.

The initial single “Jessie’s Girl” hit the top of the US pop charts. Springfield won the 1981 Grammy Award for best male rock vocal performance. “Working Class Dog” reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Another top 10 single from the album was “I’ve Done Everything For You.”

Like “Working Class Dog,” the follow-up albums, 1982’s “Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet” and 1983’s “Living in Oz” went platinum. Somehow Springfield toured behind the albums and remained committed to “General Hospital.”

“It was an incredible time,” Springfield said. “It was exhausting but it was an experience that was beyond my wildest dreams.”

More than a generation has passed since Springfield was at the top of the charts but fans can count on him to play the hits from his pop peak, such as “Human Touch,” “I Get Excited” and of course, “Jessie’s Girl,” when he performs Friday at Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

“I love playing those songs,” Springfield said. “I have no problem going back.”

Springfield has released 17 albums since “Living in Oz” and has acted in a number of films and television shows. Springfield particularly enjoyed acting with Meryl Streep in the 2015 film “Ricki and the Flash” and in the Showtime series “Californication.”

“Working with Meryl Streep was such a career highlight,” Springfield said. “She’s not only an amazing actress but she’s a really great person. We had so much fun working on that movie. Meryl would love it when I brought out the guitar when we weren’t shooting.”

Streep requested songs from her favorite band of all time. “Meryl is a huge Beatles fan,” Springfield said. “Meryl was at the Shea Stadium concert. It was great learning so much from her. I learned to be brave as an actor since no one is as brave as Meryl Streep.”

Springfield laughed about playing himself on “Californication.” “It was fun playing a perverted version of myself on that show,” Springfield said. “It’s funny since ‘Working Class Dog’ is all about sex but as I got older I started writing about more significant things. It’s been a great career that is continuing.”

“Automatic,” Springfield’s latest album, which was released last month, will be showcased when he embarks on a solo tour.

“I’m having such a great time with what I’m doing now on this tour,” Springfield said. “It’s such a great lineup with the Hooters, Paul Young and Tommy Tutone. It’s a look back at the ‘80s, which was such a great time. I get why people want to hear the songs from that era again.”

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