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Steve Marcus
Entertainer Garth Brooks stands by Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn as they announce a deal during a news conference in the Encore Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel-casino Thursday, October 15, 2009. The arrangement will bring Brooks out of retirement for a series of special performances in the theater.
Published Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 | 9:21 a.m.
Updated Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 | 6:51 p.m.
We could talk of numbers such as “1,” where Garth Brooks ranks among solo artists in terms of total album sales in U.S. history by the Recording Industry Association of America. We could simply point to the figure of 128 million, the figure that places him ahead of such iconic artists as Elvis, Led Zeppelin and The Eagles and trailing only The Beatles.
But to measure the type of fan devotion Brooks enjoys, mere numbers do not convey the full story. Jennifer Hiller does.
A heart transplant coordinator from San Antonio, Hiller heard of the news conference in Las Vegas just Wednesday, and by yesterday morning had booked a flight on Southwest Airlines to attend that day’s news conference at Encore Theater announcing Brooks’ five-year residency at the 1,500-seat showroom. Hiller said she first saw Brooks perform in 1990 at the Central Park Mall in her hometown -- a venue since razed -- and has spent nearly two decades communicating with fellow Brooks fans online. She has long wished for a time when Brooks would return to performing, his 2001 retirement preventing any formal touring.
“We’re in a sisterhood, us Garth fans,” Hiller said. “We communicate daily. It’s an extension of family.” The Web site PlanetGarth.com is a popular clearinghouse for fans seeking Brooks data, but as Hiller said, “We’ve met over the years at shows and swapped information, and that’s how we keep in touch, in e-mail. I know a lot of people here today.”
Several hundred fans of Brooks filed into the theater yesterday for the news conference. When asked if $125 per ticket for all seats was a little steep for fans used to paying $25 to see Brooks on tour, Hiller laughed and said, “No problem. I plan to see as many shows as possible.” More than even statistics, she is to be believed.
No ‘Vegas option’ for family
After the news conference, I asked Brooks' wife, country singer Trisha Yearwood, if there was any serious discussion of the family moving to Las Vegas.
“No, no,” she said, standing near the lip of the stage. “We’re firmly entrenched in Oklahoma. Our lives are there,” she said. Brooks’ three teenage daughters and mother, Brooks' ex-wife Sandy, all live in Owasso, Okla. “We’re going to come here to hang out once in a while, is all. … I think (Las Vegas) is fun, I’ve played Vegas many times myself. It’s always a good time, it’s always a good crowd. You don’t really have to define it.
“Everything will be the same, except Garth will be coming to Vegas once a month, and how cool is that?”
Brooks said Yearwood would definitely be among the guest artists he brings onstage, “but not every night,” which drew some laughs from the audience.
A man and a guitar
“It’ll be a one-man show, so there will be a lotta disappointment after that first weekend,” Brooks joked (presumably), a comment that also prompted laughter. “It’ll be me and a guitar. It takes me back to the first days I played, when I was fortunate to play a place called Wild Willie’s in Stillwater, Okla., before I started touring. I’m the band.” Brooks said he would enjoy the flexibility of testing certain numbers “to see what people do and don’t like.” Accustomed to playing spacious arenas during his touring days, Brooks said, “I’ve never played in a place built for sound like this. I hear myself and I think, ‘Who the hell is that?’ I thought that when I first played here for Steve and 1,130 of his friends.”
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
I don't think a one man show by Garth will work. It would eliminate many of his songs.
Forget Brooks, Get Justin Timberlake...
I agree with mzidel on one thing... doing a 'stripped down' acoustic set will eliminate some of Garth's songs from these Vegas shows. However, I'm curious to know if this person has ever actually experienced Garth & his guitar, all by themselves, on stage? He has always joked that he tries to 'hide' behind as much music as he can, as well as stating that he can't really play guitar all that well and only uses it to hide his belly. But that's just the way Garth talks... any fan who has sat through an acoustic set will tell you that THIS is the way we really love Garth... he is amazing!!! It's not going to take long for word to get around, 'yeah, it's not Garth the way we saw him 10 years ago, in the arenas, but it is definitely a show worth seeing!' He will pull all sorts of 'material' out from under that cowboy hat (or baseball cap, depending on his mood) that y'all didn't even know he had. Just wait and see... and hear!!! :D
this slideshow is unintentionally hilarious.
The article says "Garth will be coming to Vegas once a month".
How many shows a month will he be doing?
$125 per ticket is not cheap, but they will have no problem selling out. Even with tourism down, there's certainly enough to keep the Garth shows sold out. We will go to one for sure, maybe more.
$125 is pretty much the going rate for a show of this caliber.
Steve W. is a very smart businessman. I suspect Garth will work. I certainly hope for our sake here in LV that it does. We need continued "draw" to improve our economy. I'm just not a fan of Mr. Brooks ever since, after a concert in Chicago some years ago, he refused to allow admission backstage to a dying Make-A-Wish son of a friend of mine; it was the child's dying wish to meet Garth and it was not granted.
I can't believe that Trisha will let him come out and play anything cause when he was with Sandy he didn't worry about the kids than while he was locked up in the motel with Trisha they both will half to soew what they weep with adultry.Why didn't she stay behind with the kids cause shes worried what he did to Sandy with her he might do it to her . his portfolio he much broader than hers,he will mess up and play house again and Trisha should be ashamed of herself!!!!!!!
one article says " Wynn announced that Brooks would perform four weekend shows per week -- one show on Fridays, two on Saturdays and one on Sundays"
another article with the wife says ""Everything will be the same, except Garth will be coming to Vegas once a month, and how cool is that?"
tell me how he is going to be here probably 3-4 days a week for a total of 12-16 days a month,but yet your interview with trisha says once a month
please explain how this will work?
thank you
Here are the dates of performances; I believe Yearwood was speaking generally -- he'll be here each month. But the dates of the shows that go on sale on Oct. 24 are: Dec. 11-13, Jan. 1-3, Jan. 22-24, Feb. 12-14 and Feb. 26-28.
these dates further confirm the contradiction in the scheduling
4 weekend shows weekly does not equate in dec,jan or feb
no need for reply,,just stating there is confusion,,Is garth a weekly performer or bi weekly,as your statement reflects
Garrrth is ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE...and sooo 1993. Yes, he has a shrinking fan base but not one that will fork over a buck-twenty-five to see this headset wearing dork bounce all over the stage....with his "bow wow row row" lyrics.
doubledown_deadender you will in the very near future be eating your words with your bare hands. You've obviously never experienced Garth and if you have experienced Garth then you just didn't get it. Maybe he is still living in the 90's, but that's perfectly okay because he can still pull off the 90's and his fans will keep coming back for more. I don't know what rock you've been living under, but Garth's fan base is anything but shrinking. Garth could sell out the new Cowboys Stadium in probably 10 minutes, maybe even less. I've been fortunate enough to see Garth live 3 times and each time it was magical and full of energy. Garth in Vegas will prove to be one of if not the biggest Vegas shows of all time, you can bank on that. To all of those out there who are hating on Garth, give him a chance, go see him and his guitar and I promise you'll leave that theater with a much different perspective than when you arrived. You may not admit it, but I can promise that if you are a fan of music at all, you will experience one moment during his show that will give you chills.
How Serious Is This? I Live In Florida And Will Be Going To His Show.
$315 For Me and $315 For My Wife For Flight And Hotel. $125 For Me And $125 For My Wife For The Show. Watching The Greatest Country Singer Ever.... Priceless!
He doesn't look as though he's in very good shape. Hope he can go the distance.
True Garth Brooks fans do not care one iota that he's solo on stage. Speaking only for myself, I cannot wait until I can see him in concert. Although his previous concerts were full of excitement, this is another wonderful side of him that I really look forward to being a part of. It's more personal and gives a lot of his fans a chance to see him like he was when it all began! I'm gonna guess that being alone on stage is NOT going to hurt him a bit! I have NEVER been to Vegas and now, I have all the reason in the world - now, I just have to save up the money!!! Rock on, Garth!
I have seen Garth perform many times in different settings and back drops. Any one who thinks he could not do a great show with no band does not know Garth. He is a master entertainer. And as far as the Justin Timberlake comment went, they can not be compared. When he has the sales and following and the career that Garth has had. And has the title of No1 selling solo artist in American history then i will consider him a on the same level or better until then its Garth all the way.( Does Timberlake or any other of those pop wannabe showoffs have a multimillion dollar deal in one of the most high profile entertainment capital's in the world??? I THINK NOT!!!)