Garth Brooks Concert Review: A knee-slapping good time w/Garth Brooks

Justin Lafferty, TheDailyAztec

I know what you're thinking: "Garth Brooks? Isn't he country? What's a college student doing listening to that?"

When it comes to listening to Garth, I'm shameless. I grew up with country music and I've been a fan of his since I was 5, when he motioned for security to bring me on stage (my family and I were in the front row) during a concert in Oakland. He autographed his guitar and gave it to me. What choice did I have after that?

So when I saw that Garth was performing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last weekend, his first show in California in more than a decade, I figured an overdraft charge was worth it.
Before Friday night's concert, I was wondering how much energy he'd have left. Garth had done a show four hours earlier, broadcast live on CBS, and was part of five shows in two days to raise money for wildfire relief.

I figured it would be like watching Michael Jordan come back from retirement. There'd be a few extra pounds, the dunks wouldn't be as electric, but you'd still know you were witnessing greatness.

When the concert started with "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," a wild honky-tonk song, I knew that Garth hadn't lost anything. He came out running, showing the same energy he had before his retirement.

After that, he slowly let the tempo down a bit, performing early hits "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" and "Rodeo," before playing one of his newest ballads, "More Than a Memory."
It was during this song that I realized one of the best things about going to a concert - with tens of thousands of other people singing along, it doesn't matter how tone-deaf you are. It helped going with another friend who also loves country music, so I didn't feel as dorky for knowing all the words.

There were a couple of surprises, as Garth's wife Trisha Yearwood came on to perform the duet, "In Another's Eyes." He then played guitar as Yearwood sang her 1993 song, "Walkway Joe."
After he jokingly reminded the crowd just whose show this was, he started to make the packed house feel like they were watching him at a little country bar. Throughout the show, he introduced his band members and talked about how much he wanted to do this for the firefighters. After he saw that a couple spectators made signs for fiddler Jimmy Mattingly and drummer Mike Palmer, Garth said he'd "drop the bomb" on them. Out came Huey Lewis to perform "Workin' for a Living." I kept thinking about what the next surprise would be, hoping he'd announce that a round of beers were on the house.The funniest part of watching Lewis was when the screen showed a pack of cute girls standing by the stage with a look of "Who is that guy?" on their faces.

But the true essence of the concert came during the encore, when Garth showed what inspired him to make his kind of music. He played the songs of some of his biggest influences, such as Bob Seger, George Strait, George Jones and Cat Stevens.

Garth ended the emotional show with "Unanswered Prayers," which had the crowd matching him word-for-word. For the last chorus, he stopped and smiled, letting the sold-out crowd sing the end.

Garth closed the show by dropping to his knees with his arms extended. As he stood up, he took off his hat, wiped a flood of sweat off his forehead and said, "I will never - never, ever - forget this night!"Neither will I.

Q&A - Garth Brooks - Smithsonian

Retired country star garth brooks donated a collection of mementos to the American History museum, including his trademark cowboy hat, an acoustic guitar, a gold record and a handwritten lyric sheet.

By Jess Blumberg
Smithsonian magazine, February 2008

How does it feel to be in a museum with legends like Patsy Cline and Duke Ellington?It's funny being the person that's in here because never ever do you measure up to the people that already are. My dad always told me "time is a friend to all things good." So all I can hope is that time turns these things into something as cool [as those] that are already here.

One of the items you donated is a repaired guitar that you smashed in 1991. You're a country singer, so why do you perform like a rock star?When I talk to the band before we perform, I tell them to always keep it entertaining. Don't feel bad if you try something and it doesn't work out. It's just doing things that people hopefully remember that stick you in a place and time in their mind. When you talk about my career, when they show a highlight reel, they're never going to show it without me smashing that guitar.

You are the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. Why do you think Americans appreciate your music?Before you were born, there was [Merle] Haggard and [George] Jones, the guys I was raised on. They sang about a blue-collar lifestyle and digging yourself out. Men and women today are thinking that way. Our [music] deals with spousal abuse, acceptance of people for whom they love, freedom of speech, these kinds of things.

Why were lyrics to "Beaches of Cheyenne" part of this donation?I write lyrics on everything: pieces of napkins, on walls, anything that I can. So this might be the only one with the full lyrics all on one piece of paper.

What are you working on now?I'm getting ready to go back to doing what I did when I retired—and that is screenplay writing. It's what I love to do.

How does it feel to be in a museum with legends like Patsy Cline and Duke Ellington?It's funny being the person that's in here because never ever do you measure up to the people that already are. My dad always told me "time is a friend to all things good." So all I can hope is that time turns these things into something as cool [as those] that are already here.

One of the items you donated is a repaired guitar that you smashed in 1991. You're a country singer, so why do you perform like a rock star?When I talk to the band before we perform, I tell them to always keep it entertaining. Don't feel bad if you try something and it doesn't work out. It's just doing things that people hopefully remember that stick you in a place and time in their mind. When you talk about my career, when they show a highlight reel, they're never going to show it without me smashing that guitar.

You are the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. Why do you think Americans appreciate your music?Before you were born, there was [Merle] Haggard and [George] Jones, the guys I was raised on. They sang about a blue-collar lifestyle and digging yourself out. Men and women today are thinking that way. Our [music] deals with spousal abuse, acceptance of people for whom they love, freedom of speech, these kinds of things.

Why were lyrics to "Beaches of Cheyenne" part of this donation?I write lyrics on everything: pieces of napkins, on walls, anything that I can. So this might be the only one with the full lyrics all on one piece of paper.

What are you working on now?I'm getting ready to go back to doing what I did when I retired—and that is screenplay writing. It's what I love to do.

Garth Brooks concert available to millions this Friday

In response to helping the fire victims of California, Garth Brooks and Celine Dion will be holding a charity concert in LA this Friday. This exciting hour long event will not only be available to the select few that ordered tickets within the first 59 minutes prior to sell-out; this concert will also be broadcast live on CBS this friday evening for all of us to enjoy.

Garth Brooks portion will air live on Jan 25th, and Celine Dion will perform and broadcast on Feb 15th.

Live concerts could potentially be a new trend beginning for top artists to gain more publicity; even though this particular concert is for the sole purpose of raising money for charitable causes.

AllGarth is excited to see Garth Brooks continuing his gracious charitable contributions which already includes Garth's Teammates for Kids organization where 100% of proceeds help todays youth with special needs. We are happy to see someone so blessed giving back to the community in such great ways.

God bless the fire victims of California.

Joel McLaughlin
AllGarth.com

Crook & Chase Show Launches with Brooks & Jones

1/9/2008

Stephen L. Betts - Countryhound

Country music icons Garth Brooks and George Jones are slated to be the first guests on the premiere episode of the new Crook and Chase Show, debuting on the RFD-TV Network Thursday, Jan. 17 at 9:00 p.m. (ET). The show will also include a special performance by Georgette Jones, daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette.

“We wanted to start the new year and the new show with a bang, and I believe we have accomplished that,” say co-host Charlie Chase. “Garth and George are two of the most popular and legendary artists in the business. We wanted to set the tone of our new show right off the bat -- that we're here to bring the entertainment world's brightest and best into the homes of our viewers-- from the legends and superstars to the new up-and-comers.”

“With the special friendship between George and Garth, and the fun relationship Charlie and I have enjoyed with both of them over the years, we are looking forward to sharing an entertaining show with our viewers," adds co-host Lorianne Crook.

The weekly one-hour show, produced by Jim Owens Entertainment, will be taped in front of a studio audience at Studio A in Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. The premiere episode will tape Thursday Jan. 17 at 3:00 p.m. (CT). For ticket information, call 1-888-677-9256.

The show will premiere Thursday evenings at 9:00 p.m., then repeat Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. (all times EST).

RFD-TV, currently available in 30 million homes, is the nation's first 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America. Programming includes shows focused on agriculture, equine, rural lifestyle and traditional music offerings.

5 questions with... Garth Brooks

January 10, 2008

Reid Spencer - Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Multiplatinum country music recording artist Garth Brooks appeared Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway to announce his efforts in promoting NASCAR Day, the largest single charitable endeavor in support of the NASCAR Foundation.

Brooks created his own foundation, Teammates for Kids, a decade ago and since has enlisted cooperation from a variety of major professional sports to support health, education and inner-city programs for children. He sees his efforts to promote NASCAR Day as a logical step in the process.

Brooks is married to country music star Trisha Yearwood, and her visit to Kyle and Pattie Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp helped spark the couple's interest in NASCAR and its charities.

Brooks has performed very little since announcing his retirement in October 2000. He agreed to a series of concerts in Kansas City as part of his exclusive distribution deal with Wal-Mart, and he'll do five shows in two days (Jan. 25-26) at Staples Center in Los Angeles in support of wildfire relief efforts. Brooks said there are no current plans for performances in conjunction with the NASCAR Day promotion, but he didn't rule out the possibility.

Q: How did you get involved with the NASCAR Foundation?
A: In our Teammates for Kids program, we work with professional athletes, and NASCAR is definitely one of the programs you want to work with because of the demographics of the athletes. They're very giving. We've been lucky to work with Jeff Gordon's crew -- switch out things for their auctions and our auctions. They're good people. It makes sense to be here.

Q: Do you plan to visit the Victory Junction Gang Camp?
A: Miss Yearwood came back just singing its praises and saying we've got to get out there. So we're going to get out there at some point. I don't know when that is, but I've heard nothing but good about it.

Q: NASCAR has Preseason Thunder and the Chase. You had a No. 1 hit called "The Thunder Rolls" and an album named "The Chase." Did you realize you and NASCAR had so much in common?
A: It's cool, because it's just about entertainment, and (NASCAR drivers) get to do it through athletics, along with technology. That's kind of like our thing, too. Our thing is technology, and if you've ever been to one of our shows, it's just fun -- it's kind of out there, and it's loud. So there are a lot of similarities between the two.

Q: Are you a NASCAR fan?
A: I was never raised up around it, but we went down to Atlanta Motor Speedway to shoot a video with Huey Lewis, and when those cars started going around the track, it's just crawling all over you, and I said, "Oh, my God, I get it!" We're definitely going to get out and see (a race) this year.

Q: You experienced a "ride-around" at Atlanta. What was that like?
A: It was good, but it just beats you to death. I did it for three laps -- and some of these races are 500 laps, or whatever. It's crazy. I don't know how the guys do it.

Garth Brooks joins NASCAR Day effort

Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --

Country music superstar Garth Brooks has joined the NASCAR Foundation's efforts to provide charitable support for those who need it most.

Brooks will be involved heavily in the promotion of the fifth NASCAR Day, an annual event that has raised more than $5 million for charity. Celebrated on the third Friday of May (May 16 in 2008), the success of NASCAR Day enabled the NASCAR Foundation to donate $500,000 last year to Victory Junction Gang Camp founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty.

The Home Depot also raised $400,000 for the NASCAR Foundation through its NASCAR Day efforts in 2007, a portion of which benefited KaBOOM!, a national non-profit whose mission is to provide safe play places within walking distance of every child in America. The foundation also donated $250,000 to Speediatrics, motorsports-themed pediatric units at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

Brooks created his own foundation 10 years ago, Teammates For Kids, which partners with major professional sports to support health, education and inner-city services for children. To Brooks, the association with NASCAR is a logical extension of his charitable activities.

Brooks will appear in print, radio and television advertising promoting NASCAR Day, with the campaign scheduled to debut during the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Brooks says no concerts are planned at this point but didn't rule out the possibility of performing in conjunction with the NASCAR Day activities."

If we would (perform), it would be something that (NASCAR president) Mike (Helton) and I would sit around and talk about," Brooks said Tuesday in the Daytona International Speedway media center. "We tried to do something for Daytona this year, but that didn't work out.

"Since I don't get to play much anymore -- my youngest (child) is 11, so I've got probably another 10 years of taking the kids to school and stuff (I doubt I'll drive her to college) -- we'll see. If we do get to play, it's for charity, which, truthfully, is what the gift was given to me for anyway. We don't have any plans at this time."

Fans can participate in NASCAR Day by donating $5. In return, donors will receive a "5th Anniversary NASCAR Day" collectible lapel pin. Pins and information about volunteer opportunities are available through nascar.com/nascarday and nascar.com/foundation.

Garth Brooks Is The Biggest Selling Act of The SoundScan Era

by Paul Cashmere - January 4 2008

Country superstar Garth Brooks has sold more albums than anyone else in the SoundScan era (1991-now).

In figures released today by Nielsen SoundScan, Brooks catalogue has sold more than 67 million units in the last 16 years.

The country superstar has sold more albums in the 90s and 00s than The Beatles (who make the list at No. 2)

SoundScan's biggest selling artists are:
1 Garth Brooks (67,402,000)
2 Beatles (55,695,000)
3 Mariah Carey (49,937,000)
4 Celine Dion (49,692,000)
5 Metallica (48,670,000)
6 George Strait (39,171,000)
7 Tim McGraw (36,413,000)
8 Alan Jackson (35,266,000)
9 Pink Floyd (34,453,000)
10. Shania Twain (33,531,000)