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Henry Diltz
Garth Brooks performs during his first weekend at Encore Theater.
Published Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 | 11:24 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 | 2:46 p.m.
There is no plug to pull in Garth Brooks’ acoustic show at Encore Theater, but he’s packing the guitar and heading out of Vegas.
Announced today is the final performance date for Brooks’ solo shows at the Wynn Las Vegas enclave: Nov. 17.
In a statement, Brooks said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wynn. Mr. Wynn told me that the Wynn audiences were some of the best in the world, and he was right. As for Steve Wynn, he is one of the smartest guys I have ever had the pleasure of talking to or listening to. He does everything top notch and is the easiest and best boss I have ever worked for … I just love him!"
Wynn was quoted as saying, "I have always thought of Garth Brooks as a brother, and this will always be a home for him. Personally, I've never stopped being amazed at Garth's talent, nor have I ever stopped admiring the wonderful balance that he has maintained as a father and a superstar. He is, to me, the rarest of all combinations: incredibly gifted and a man of great character."
The show is ending its run two years earlier than expected. When the show was formally announced in October 2009, the hotel and Brooks presented the partnership as a five-year commitment. Wynn officials have not yet given a reason why the show is closing after three years of what was expected to be a five-year run. In an e-mail Wednesday afternoon, a Brooks representative said the contract was written to last, at the most, five years. Brooks did three years and called it “good.”
Three years ago, Brooks was lured out of retirement by Wynn, who was eager to bring a superstar performer into a theater that had most recently staged “Monty Python’s Spamalot” and was the final performance stage for the late Danny Gans. Brooks’ warm, story-laden and stripped-down performance debuted in December 2009 and was widely applauded by fans and critics.
"In 2001, I retired to take care of kids at home," Brooks said from the stage at the announcement of his performances at the Wynn. “(Steve Wynn) came to me, and he didn’t throw money at me, but talked with me and my 17-, 15- and 13-year-old kids, how I'd be able to go to soccer games, to practice, all this stuff. Taking care of my children and family is so important to me, and that will be the same for the next five years, except I'll play music."
Wynn famously provided a jet to Brooks and his wife, country star Trisha Yearwood, so they could soar to and from Las Vegas from their home in Owasso, Okla. Yearwood frequently joined Brooks onstage at Encore Theater.
The Nov. 17 closing date means Brooks will pull out of town before this year’s National Finals Rodeo from Dec. 6-15, a period when Brooks’ show is at peak popularity, and also before his fellow country superstars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw open their 10-week “Soul2Soul” residency at the Venetian on Dec. 7.
Just a half-dozen dates and 12 shows remain for Brooks, now commanding $225 a ticket (absent fees) and with tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-65-GARTH. Show times are 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27 and Nov. 16-17.
In luring Brooks to Vegas, Wynn was clearly thrilled and heaped praise upon the country icon.
"On Dec. 1, 1965, I saw the Rat Pack at Sands, and never since then have I seen an artist create such love for an audience until I saw Garth Brooks," he said at the time.
Not announced was Brooks’ plans after his residency ends. He turned 50 in February and has stated that the shows in Vegas could serve as a sort of extended rehearsal period for an upcoming, full-scale tour.
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He's probably tired of playing to a crowd that wasn't representative of the people that made him the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history.
Garth sold out when he agreed to play for Wynn at what ended up being $253/ticket. He was great here in Vegas, but it's the most "un-Garth" thing he's ever done.
Hey here's a great idea: Lets invite Garth to Boston then stick him in a closet without his guitar; feed him peanuts and cheap pizza; rock-gut whiskey and just piss on him every time he leaves the closet. Then when he refuses to write any new songs we'll replace him with some young hipster who has lots of friends and no talent. We'll call it the Katz meow!
If only Frank Sinatra and Dino were still alive???
The only thing Wynn really cared about is that after the show-the large crowd headed directly into the Casino-Bottom Line. If that wasn't happening-Brooks would have been tossed 2 years ago.
Being a *slightly* cynical person I attended a Garth concert at the Wynn awhile back with a bit of trepidation. I'm a music love but not too fond of a "processed" (or Wynn-ified) concert I thought I was about to see.
Gotta say, though, it was one of the best events I have ever seen in my life. It wasn't so much a concert as a study of Garth, his musical influences and how those influences shaped his own music. It was like taking a Music 401 class on Garth Brooks taught by the singer himself.
Some people might have been disappointed if they were expecting to see a going-through-the-motions "Best Of Garth" show but I considered it an experience I'll always remember.
Garth does delve down several layers in his psyche so I could see where it would be tough to do that night after night (even though he didn't actually perform night after night) but if you get a chance--and can take out a title loan for tickets--it's worth a look-see.
Ever notice that the only major strip property not deep in debt, is also the only one that keeps coming up with new ideas to attract guests??
Thank You Steve Wynn and Garth Brooks for breathing life back into the Strip and Vegas tourism at a time it was badly needed...
Many of those who go to see Garth, are people who have never been to Vegas and had no plans to ever come here. But they did and they spent money all over the place, not just Wynn's casinos
It is sooooooooo sad that the show is off. I am Swiss and probably one of the biggest Garth fans, so I flew into Vegas from Switzerland and saw the show four times. Heck, I spent a whole lot of money and the more than $250 a ticket is insane. But it was worth EVERY dime. I would have loved to see him one more time maybe in 2013 or 2014. Hope they make a DVD... Thanks Garth, your the greatest!