Springfield turns back time for rock fans

CANTON -- Talk about a time warp. Up onstage was Rick Springfield, youthful, frisky and trim, executing spins and high kicks and singing all those familiar ’80s hits.

We should all look so good at age 50.

A tightly packed crowd of fans, many of them women who adored their Rick the first time around, jammed Market Avenue S Thursday night for Springfield’s concert at the Hall of Fame Festival Ribs Burnoff.

The show was a 90-minute crowd pleaser, from the opening volley of “Affair of the Heart” and “I’ve Done Everything for You,” through the set-closing “Jessie’s Girl” and the blazing final encore number, The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.”

Springfield was playful and cocky, putting a rose between his teeth, venturing out to slap hands with delighted fans and tossing out the occasional wisecrack. After a garment landed onstage, he remarked, “I think there’s a few less training bras than there were in the ’80s. Life is good.”

The show also included such early ’80s hits as “State of the Heart,” “Human Touch,” “Love is Alright Tonite,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers” and “Love Somebody.”

Perhaps the most devoted fan on hand, Kayle Anderson, staked out her spot early in the morning. She’d driven up from Dayton for the occasion with her 16-year-old son. “I follow him around,” she said proudly. “I’ve seen about 80 shows in the last two years.”

Marcy Brown of Barberton rolled her eyes as she confessed, “I used to have (Springfield’s) picture in a frame on my desk at work!”

Happily, the thunderstorm that seemed inevitable at 6 p.m. Thursday had cleared out by 7 p.m., allowing the Burnoff’s two fun concerts to unfold as planned.

Just a few blocks down the street from Springfield, The Romantics rocked their way through a punchy set of ’60s-flavored rock ’n’ roll on the South Stage.

Best known for its ’80s hits “What I Like About You” and “Talking in Your Sleep,” the Detroit-based band blends British Invasion and Motor City influences with an almost punk energy. The band is about guitars, drums and attitude.

Although respectable in size, the crowd wasn’t nearly as tightly packed as for Springfield. In a perfect world, The Romantics and Springfield would’ve played on the same stage. Their ’80s-rooted pop-rock sounds are complementary.

The Springfield show was presented by Mix 94.1. The Romantics were presented by the New Z 92.5.

Just a thought: Think there’s any chance ’N Sync might play the Ribs Burnoff in, say, 2019?