Rick Springfield brings wonderfully eclectic show to River Cree Casino

The River Cree Resort & Casino in Enoch Alberta (just outside of Edmonton) hosted 80s teen idol Rick Springfield but what the capacity crowd in attendance got was so much more.

The audience was treated to a wonderfully eclectic show with an array of music from his classic tunes, insane rock riffs, Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock, and some deep dark Blues off his last album, The Snake King. As a side note, if you happen to be in the Los Angeles area March 30th, he’ll show off more of his music metle when he launches his new album by performing with a full orchestra!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along with the wild array of music was an amazing video show on the giant screen behind the stage. It played through not only his videos, but several montages of movies, television, and visual effects – including his acting stints from his more recent roles on American Horror Story, Supernatural, all the way back to the the 80s and his first feature film, Hard to Hold. My inner geek was hoping for – but unfortunately didn’t see, footage of him from the original Battlestar Galctica or Wonder Woman.

 

But that kind of variety and longevity in the entertainment industry is rare and the fan base in the crowd surprisingly (to me) reflected the diversity spanning his career. Yes, there were the middle aged women being wooed and jockeying for position in the front (almost to the point of an actual fight breaking out if not for security’s quick actions!) … millenials (men and women) joining their parents and knowing the words better than mom while dad tried to remain stoic and unfettered while constantly getting busted for singing along.

 

There was a lot of antic and interaction both with his band and the audience – even the crew! The only “complaint” I heard from the crowd as the show wrapped, was that the show wrapped. The crew, in taking down the set afterwards offed up set lists, the band members threw out drum sticks and guitar pics but the crowd wanted more. Usually there’s a mad rush for the exit towards the end of a show … that didn’t happen with this one, despite the full house and one main road out of the venue.

 

He kept the audience on it’s feet for over 90 minutes … and the people working the merch table even longer!

Every seat had a great view … and most of those on the floor got a chance to get up close and personal when he hopped off the stage and went chair surfing through the crowd for “Human Touch”.

He literally threw out a mic into the crowd – more than once – to get it passed around for “help” singing “Don’t Talk to Strangers”.

A special shout out has to go to the venue … I’ve never come across a team of people more friendly, helpful, accommodating, and incredibly organized … what concert-goers take away from attending a show goes beyond what happens on the stage when the lights go down. River Cree provided a fun and welcoming environment for those on hand to have fun and on assignment.