Rick Springfield. Photo by Chyrisse. CPT_9259- — Rick Springfield. Photo by Chyrisse.

By Wendy Hunter, Journalist, and Chyrisse Tabone, Photographer – Rock At Night, Tampa

II Want My 80s Tour – Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and John Cafferty – Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, Fla – May 28,20252I

Rick Springfield received a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in ’82 and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Artist in ’83. John Waite received a BRIT Award for Best British Mail Solo Artist in ’84

Put on your acid-wash jeans, fluff up that Big Hair, and get out your cassette tapes of your favorite bands! Those memories sparked that ‘80s feeling at Ruth Eckerd Hall when Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and John Cafferty hit the stage. Each band offered a perfect setlist of ‘80s joy. When entering the lobby, I couldn’t help noticing adults of every age were milling about and chatting while awaiting this concert. We all wanted to be transported back by the best time machine in the world: music. American rocker John Cafferty, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, unleashed his charisma tonight and was backed by Rick Springfield’s band. Cafferty gifted us with several ‘80s songs and his distinctive baritone voice. The song “Hearts on Fire” set us ablaze with adrenaline as Cafferty took it to the end with an exceptionally strong finish. Kudos to the lead guitarist, who played like there was no tomorrow. Cafferty’s well-received song, “On the Dark Side” is a tie in to a film of the same name which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his Beaver Brown Band in ’84. The song stayed at No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart. Cafferty skillfully wrapped up the set with the über fast tune “C-I-T-Y” where his smooth voice and those drums were exceptionally on point, bringing the listeners to their feet, clapping and cheering.

Nick Feldman and Jack Hues of Wang Chung. Photo by Chyrisse.

Up next was Wang Chung, an English New Wave band that found worldwide success, which continued tonight in Clearwater, given the concertgoers’ reactions. With six albums under their belt, Wang Chung is an integral and unique part of pop culture with their music featured on television, film, commercials, and video games. The song “To Live or Die in L.A.,” from the soundtrack of the same name, exhibited exceptional keyboard, vocals, and guitar work while a colorful video screen displayed the younger Wang Chung. During the concert, the huge screen also displayed the words “Wang Chung” on a cathode-ray tube (CRT – remember those?) sitting on a pile of burning CRTs, which added to the ambiance for this band. Spontaneous joy of dancing erupted with the listeners when the top hits “Let’s Go Baby,” “Dance Hall Days,” and “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” ensued. Everyone was definitely Wang Chung-ing!

Next on stage was Englander John Waite who previously was the lead vocalist for British bands “The Babys” and “Bad English” prior to his solo career. Every song performed by Waite and his tight band was a joy. Of note is Waite’s voice, which has been described as having a sweeping range as well as impeccable timing. The songs “Change” and “Midnight Rendezvous,” both had simple yet powerful guitar leads and a driving form. Then there were the heartfelt love songs “When I See You Smile,” “Every Time I Think of You,” and “Head First,” all enhanced by Waite’s distinctive tone as well as the romantic lyrics. Waite took control by asking the listeners to stand up, and then prompted them to sing along on several songs. The concert goers were overjoyed to do so. The final song, the Led Zeppelin cover “Whole Lotta Love,” set the crowd on fire with screams. Waite’s incredible voice, along with perfect guitar, bass, and an intense drum solo, made for a grand set by this ‘80s favorite.

The much-anticipated multi-talented Rick Springfield and band were next on stage. Springfield is Australian-born (now an American citizen), an accomplished musician, songwriter, record producer, a New York Times best-selling author, and actor who was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Springfield’s music varies from different rock genres (pop-, hard-, and power-), and his discography consists of 22 studio albums, 12 compilation albums, five live albums, 34 singles, and 11 music videos. What a record! When the energized Springfield burst onto the stage with a big smile and singing “I’ll Make You Happy,” the crowd rose, applauded, and cheered. When playing “I’ve Done Everything for You,” (Sammy Hagar cover), Springfield paused and said, “Thank you for being here,” then continued to thrash his guitar, occasionally with live flowers against the strings. Red flower petals spilled onto the stage, giving us that wow factor. The video screen flashed with Springfield’s image as the hard beat of the catchy tune “Living in Oz” rocked on. The slow-building and poignant song, “World Start Turning,” composed by Springfield and my personal favorite, was introduced as a tune about depression. I felt it was one of the best songs of the evening, with Springfield’s strong tenor voice and power delivery showing his tenacity and journey through life and reminding us that good mental health is so important. In ’81, Springfield had a No. 1 hit on the Top 100 with “Jessie’s Girl,” which also rose to the top in his native country. That final song roused the standing crowd tonight with a sing-along, screams, and clapping as Springfield’s guitar hit all the notes in the right places. What a great way to wrap an ‘80s concert!

This tour was a fun way to time travel back to the ‘80s decade when fashion ruled and music hit high notes. Personal Computers were a thing, electronic and alt rock bloomed, and good ol’ rock, pop, and hip hop were here to stay. This was a fun concert that is guaranteed to bring back memories as well pure musical joy!