Rick Springfield: My First Concert

37 Years Ago Today I Went to My First Concert

It’s my Rick-versary! 37 years since I screamed my scrawny self hoarse at my very first concert, Rick Springfield. Funny, Rick Springfield is also the latest (purposefully not saying “last”) show that I attended.

I saw him 3 times in a 12-month period, so pretty much anytime you have a shutdown (no more, please) he’s going to be the last musician I saw. What can I say? The man puts on a good show.

It Was 1983…

I was a scrappy kid, wearing down my Rick records, singing along in my curling iron. Then, the big news. Rick Springfield was coming to town.

This was a huge deal. The NW gets overlooked at times (not always) by bands touring. Seattle is way up north, and it just wasn’t the place to be yet. Once Seattle was “cool” in the ‘90s and people realized Vancouver and Portland were also awesome, more musicians came our way.

Rick Springfield with Quarterflash at the Seattle Center Arena. I couldn’t believe it! I’d get to see Rick in person. At a concert. It was so grown up. I can’t remember how I negotiated with my parents to get me tickets, or who got the tickets. We probably stood in line at Tower Records.

The night of the concert. I remember bits and pieces. The excitement. My virgin concert ears ringing. Pushing my way in the crowd. At some point I mini-fainted from the heat (and being a total concert newbie) but didn’t fall to the ground thanks to being completely surrounded by people. During Quarterflash Rick came out in a trenchcoat, matching the band, and when we made the realization “Rick’s on stage!” I went nuts. AHHHH.

My mom and her friend escorted us. I think it’s so great when parents recognize how important an event is to their child and fully support it. My mom and her friend had close-to-the-floor seats, we left our coats with them and ran as close to the stage as we could. Every now and then I’d go over to where my mom was sitting to check in with her. I was probably sweating hard for the first time in my life. During Rick’s set a band member came out with just a guitar on, and my mom’s friend lost it. “Drop the guitar!” she shouted. Complete opposite of her personality, which made it all the more fabulous. Concerts just do that to you.

The concert tee. Back in the day concert tees weren’t overpriced. You always got yourself a concert tee. I debated between the styles, went with the gray short sleeved tee. I put it over my outfit for the drive home. I wore it proudly the next day at school. I also wore it proudly in 1999 when I saw Rick at a local club and waited for him afterwards to sign it (And he did! A great story for another day).

Such lovely memories.

What We Can Learn From Our First Concert

Have some frickin’ fun! Until we can go to concerts again, try an online event, Zoom with your friends, join groups. Think of what makes you laugh and go make it happen.

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Who Was Your First Concert? Tell Us in Comments!