Latest news with #RickSpringfield
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Rick Springfield, Wang Chung, Excite As ‘I Want My 80s' Tour Continues
MURPHYS, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Rick Springfield performs during the "I Want My 80's" tour at ... More Ironstone Amphitheatre on September 16, 2023 in Murphys, California. (Photo by) Over the course of more than five decades, rocker and actor Rick Springfield has sold more than five million albums, tallying record sales in excess of 25 million worldwide while charting a whopping 17 singles in America. They say everything is cyclical and the 2025 concert calendar reflects that, with 80s and 90s acts experiencing a renewed resurgence. Featuring Springfield alongside fellow 80s acts John Waite, Wang Chung and Paul Young, the 'I Want My 80s' tour stands as a perfect example, with the chart topping collective crisscrossing the country into early August, a run set to wrap up August 10, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada. 'We went out with Rick last night…' mused Waite midway through a Friday night performance in New Lenox, Illinois (about 45 miles southwest of Chicago), part of the village's annual summer concert summer series (one which has featured acts like Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow and ZZ Top since its inception). 'He took us out to dinner, the whole crew - and it's a fabulous crew,' he explained. 'And we got wrecked. Just wrecked,' said Waite with a smile. NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO - AUGUST 09: Paul Young performs during the "I Want My 80s Tour" stop at OLG ... More Stage at Fallsview Casino Resort on August 09, 2023 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (Photo) Following an appearance by country act Chris Young earlier this month, the New Lenox concert series wraps up in August following a performance by pop singer songwriter Andy Grammer on Saturday, August 16. 'Come on, stand up!' implored co-founding Wang Chung guitarist and vocalist Nick Feldman. 'Let's have a dance!' While temperatures soared toward 90 in the Chicago suburbs, Wang Chung offered up a rewarding set despite the heat, taking to the stage with virtually no break following a quick set from English hitmaker Paul Young, who finished up with his take on 'Every Time You Go Away.' While Hall & Oates failed to release the track, from their 1980 album Voices, as a single, Young took his cover to #1 in America five years later, an early highlight Friday outside the Windy City. Out of early cuts like 'Rent Free,' 'To Live and Die in L.A.' and 'Let's Go,' Wang Chung quickly hit their stride. CEDAR PARK, TX - AUGUST 23: Musicians Jack Hues (2L) and Nick Feldman of Wang Chung perform onstage ... More during 'Lost 80's Live'' at the HEB Center on August 23, 2018 in Cedar Park, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage) Lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Hues cupped his left ear with his left hand as Feldman leaned into him, with tracked sax ringing out during the group's performance of 'Dance Hall Days.' 'You gotta help us out with this next song!' said Hues excitedly. Putting their spin on 'Should I Stay or Should I Go,' a 1981 hit for U.K. punks The Clash, Wang Chung reworked the song's familiar chorus as the suburban faithful took over lead vocal. 'If we're gonna have some fun tonight, should we wang or should we chung now?' asked the singers rhetorically of the near capacity crowd. 'We drove a million miles - to get to New Lenox tonight,' joked the vocalists, continually reworking lyrics as they egged on the Chicagoland crowd, moving deftly into their biggest hit 'Everybody Have Fun Tonight' (a #2 hit in 1986 from the group's gold fourth album Mosaic). Over the course of about an hour, singer songwriter John Waite took a unique look back, touching upon everything from The Babys to Bad English throughout his set on stage in New Lenox. 'These guys have been my friends for decades!' said Waite, introducing his all-star band. INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 30: Singer John Waite, former member of The Babys and Bad English, ... More performs onstage at YouTube Theater on August 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by) Out of a sparse intro, Waite's group, featuring longtime Matchbox 20 guitarist Kyle Cook and drummer Alan Childs (David Bowie), slowly built to an all hands jam during 'When I See You Smile,' a 1989 smash #1 for Bad English, which found Waite handling lead vocal on a Diane Warren-penned track featuring Journey members Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain and Deen Castronovo. Continuing the hit parade with his own 'Missing You' (a #1 from his sophomore studio effort No Brakes in 1984), Waite looked back upon The Babys, a British rock act which found Waite performing again with Cain as well as drummer Tony Brock (Close Enemies). 'Come on, stand the f–k up!' implored Waite, arms held triumphantly aloft as the group worked up 'Back on my Feet Again,' putting their spin upon Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love' as Waite's set entered its final moments. 'Hello!' said Springfield to rapturous applause on stage in New Lenox. 'Good lord. We went out last night - all of the bands,' he explained, picking back up a story begun by Waite about a half hour earlier. 'Any time I get together with John Waite, I always drink too much,' continued Springfield, echoing Waite's sentiment. 'But we're very happy to be playing with these guys! We're big fans.' Springfield, 75, spun a whirling dervish during 'I'll Make You Happy,' shredding a bouquet of roses as he windmilled away ala Pete Townshend on the opening number. STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 06: Rick Springfield performs at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre ... More on August 06, 2023 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. (Photo by) 'Warning: Loud Noise' read the drumhead accurately as Springfield tore into 'Affair of the Heart' from his platinum 1983 album Living in Oz. Engaging in a choreographed sway with bassist Siggy Sjursen, Springfield spun his guitar over his left shoulder as the energetic cut drew to a close, following up with the Sammy Hagar-written 'I've Done Everything for You.' An early medley hit upon megahits like 'Jessie's Girl' and Eddie Money's 'Two Tickets to Paradise.' But Springfield was saving a poignant message. 'I figure our job is to give you a few hours of freedom from the monkeys in your heads that tell you bad things. It does the same for us,' he explained, striking a resonant chord for a moment on stage Friday outside Chicago. 'My little PSA every night is that I deal with depression,' Springfield continued candidly. 'I talk about it,' he said. 'Because you're not alone and you can't keep it inside - because that's when it does its damage,' said Springfield, shining a needed light on the importance of mental health in 2025. 'I try to turn it into a positive. I write. And this is the first song I wrote about that,' he said, introducing 'World Start Turning.' 'It's a lifelong thing - deal with it the way you want,' advised Rick Springfield midway through Friday night's 'I Want My 80s' tour stop in New Lenox, IL . 'But this is how I deal with it," said the rocker, returning to form.
Time Business News
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
3 Ways Having a Voice Call Center Helps Assist Customers
Providing a dedicated and trained team to handle inquiries, resolving issues, and offering support through phone calls are just three ways a voice call center assists customers. When taken as a whole, this helps improve customer satisfaction and loyalty by ensuring faster response times, proactive engagement, and personalized support. For many industries, excellent customer experience remains a key differentiator, and phone support continues to play a vital role in that. Many customers still prefer reaching out to customer care over the phone, even though the popularity of phone support is slowing among the young. The bottom line is that even in the age of social media, email, and chatbots, customers still appreciate the human connection, empathy, and immediacy that only a real conversation with a human can provide. The following represent the three major benefits a voice call center brings to the customer experience. For those old enough to remember, 80s sensation Rick Springfield sang about it in his hit 'Human Touch' – there's no getting around the fact that, as members of the human race, we need that person-to-person connection. It's easy to get lost in a sea of canned chatbot responses or frustratingly incomplete FAQs, and this is precisely why call centers continue to play a crucial role in customer service…even in today's world of AI. In fact, research found that 77% of customers expect to be able to interact with a human as soon as contact is made with a business. Indeed, speaking to an agent not only helps customers feel supported, but it can sometimes help de-escalate situations while retaining customers. Customers like speaking to an actual person because it helps them feel heard and that their challenges and frustrations are being dealt with by someone who can actually assist in getting them fixed. In a world where not all customer inquiries are alike, the key to exceptional customer service is being able to quickly, in an ideal world, automatically identify the issue and assign callers to the right queue. Call centers equipped with interactive voice response (IVR), intelligent call routing, integrated knowledge bases, and real-time reporting ensure that every customer is quickly connected to the right agent. In this scenario, agents can access customer preferences, histories, and previous support tickets instantaneously, yielding quicker, more personalized resolutions. By integrating with CRM systems, modern outbound call centers use real-time call analytics to personalize conversations, identify up-sell and cross-sell opportunities, and increase deal closure rates. Increased sales lead to streamlined operations, which are crucial in a call center to avoid long queues and frustrated customers; automation tools such as skill-based call routing, AI-powered chatbots, and auto-attendants eliminate repetitive tasks, freeing agents to handle more high-priority or complex issues. Phone support is more than just answering calls – it's about creating memorable experiences that drive growth and loyalty. The benefits of a voice call center are multi-faceted, given the fact that by implementing modern call centers, businesses can scale operations flexibly to meet evolving demands, make smarter decisions via real-time data, and deliver faster, more personalized service. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legendary '80s Rocker, 75, Stuns Fans With 'Smoking Hot' Shirtless Performance
Legendary '80s Rocker, 75, Stuns Fans With 'Smoking Hot' Shirtless Performance originally appeared on Parade. When we picture folks at age 75, we probably have an unfair stereotypical perception of how they'll look, act and move. Iconic musician and actor Rick Springfield will absolutely dismantle every preconceived notion you have about this age, and a fan's latest video can prove it. In the video, Springfield appears ageless in both appearance and sound, rocking out to the hit that catapulted him to fame in 1981 "Jessie's Girl." The star previously told Yahoo!Life last year he credits his ageless appearance to a rigorously healthy lifestyle. Cutting back on alcohol and working out every day are two key moves in his quest to remain youthful, along with a very healthy diet.'The hardest thing is looking in the mirror and going, 'Wow, that wasn't there when I was in my 30s…' and going, 'I look like my mom,'" he said of aging. 'So I never think of myself as a real 75.' Neither do his fans."Guys living his [third] life," commented one fan. "Saw him when he was 69. Looks just as good!" "Um, what is happening here? Where did he find the fountain of youth," asked another. The Australian musician and actor hit number one for two weeks in the U.S. on the Hot 100 singles chart after "Jessie's Girl" and received a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1981. While new music isn't confirmed to be on the horizon, Springfield is currently playing shows and making appearances. All in all, we bet "Jessie's Girl" has some major regrets. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Legendary '80s Rocker, 75, Stuns Fans With 'Smoking Hot' Shirtless Performance first appeared on Parade on Jun 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Axios
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Richmond's Allianz Amphitheater: What to know before you go
Allianz Amphitheater — Richmond's newest, 7,500-seat music venue — opens this weekend. Why it matters: We got a sneak peek into what concertgoers can expect at the 30-plus shows planned through October, starting with Rick Springfield on Saturday. The big picture: The general admission entrance is off Fifth Street, where you'll walk down a long-ish bridge before entering the venue. The bathrooms are immediately to the left, and the first line of bars, which are stationed throughout the amphitheater's perimeter, are to the right. The entire venue is cashless, and doesn't have wristbands for people 21 and up — which means you'll have to show ID every time you get alcohol. Zoom in: The bars are stocked with liquor including Tito's Vodka and Grey Goose and will offer canned wines, beer like Modelo and Michelob Ultra — and local ones from Starr Hill — and White Claw and Smirnoff seltzers. You'll also have the chance to get a shaker cup cocktail, such as a cherry bourbon lemonade, strawberry vodka lemonade and a watermelon chili marg. Some NA options include: a sparkling ginger peach iced tea and a watermelon Red Bull with strawberry lemonade. If you go: Drink prices vary depending on the event, per organizers, but beers will start at $5. The food: There will be 12 different food trucks cycling in and out throughout the season, a spokesperson tells Axios. They'll include Goatocado, Smokie Joe's BBQ, Timber Pizza, Four Brothers, Scoop O Dough and more. Getting there: The Amphitheater has a map of places to park that are within a 15-minute walk of the venue. Per the organizers, the closest Pulse bus stop is a 13-minute walk away, but the GRTC has a stop at Second Street and Brown's Island via Route 87, which runs every hour. We'd personally Uber (drop off at the Seventh Street roundabout by the CoStar building) or park across the bridge in Southside and walk over. What's allowed: Clear bags smaller than 12" by 6" by 12" Non-clear bags smaller than 6" by 9" Small blankets Factory-sealed water bottles What's not allowed: Weapons, empty containers, aerosols over 5 ounces, outdoor food or drink, hula hoops, flashlights, music instruments or outside chairs (you can rent one for $15). What we're watching: Most of the shows are around sunset, but after the community preview Wednesday night, people took to social media to critique the lack of shade. They also wondered whether the bathroom situation would work during a sold-out show. Fun fact: Mayor Avula tells Axios if he wasn't going to be out of town when Counting Crows (July 12) and Dave Matthews Band (July 15 and 16) perform, those are the concerts he'd get tickets to.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fun to Do: Comedians, Yo-Yo Ma, waterfront concerts and more
Looking for something to do during the next week? Here are just a few happenings in Hampton Roads. Comedian and actor Kevin James brings his 'Owls Don't Walk' tour to the Oceanfront. 7 p.m. Friday at The Dome, 400 20th St., Virginia Beach. Tickets start at $30. To buy online, visit 'I Want My '80s' will feature full sets by Rick Springfield with John Waite, Wang Chung and John Cafferty. 7 p.m. Friday at Portsmouth Pavilion, 16 Crawford Circle. Tickets start at $30. For more information or to buy online, visit An afternoon with cellist Yo-Yo Ma: 'Reflections in Words and Music,' presented by Virginia Arts Festival. 3 p.m. Sunday at Chrysler Hall, 215 St. Paul's Blvd., Norfolk. Tickets start at $172.75, which includes fees. For more information, visit Comedian, director and producer Nate Bargatze brings his 'Big Dumb Eyes' world tour to Norfolk for two shows. 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Scope arena, 201 E. Brambleton Ave. Tickets start at $52.55, which includes fees. To buy online, visit Ynot Wednesdays returns for the summer season, featuring various artists weekly from 5-9 p.m. June 11 through Aug. 27 on the outdoor plaza at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St., Virginia Beach. The performances are free. For more information, visit Celebrate Juneteenth across Hampton Roads with events, ceremonies and festivals Sunset Thursdays: Concerts on the Water will feature various artists for the summer from 6:30-9 p.m. June 12 through Aug. 28 at Festival Park, 16 Crawford Circle, Portsmouth. For a weekly schedule, visit Events may change. Check before attending. Want more information about what's happening around Hampton Roads? Sign up for our Weekend Scoop newsletter. Patty Jenkins,
