CONCERT REVIEW: Garth Brooks World Tour // Knox TN

There are few things in life that leave me speechless…

…but Garth Brooks did. 

Not once. Not twice. But THREE times.

When Garth Brooks announced a comeback world tour all of Knoxville waited for the day he told us he was returning. Well he announced it, alright. And all of Knox jumped for joy, tried to order tickets, broke phone lines and the internet, spent the best money of our lives, and waited patiently for the big day. With four shows [Thursday-Sunday] in Knoxville, anyone who knows a thing about country music had "Garth Brooks" penciled in on their agendas. 

While Thursday technically was the first show of Garth's Knoxville takeover, Friday was considered opening night and was the show I planned on attending. I purchased a set of tickets which I later handed over to my parents when Garth's team offered me two in their section. I was contacted about attending Garth's pre-show press conference a few weeks prior to the show and jumped at the offer. [you can find out about this experience PLUS find out about my one-on-one interview with Mr. Brooks in a later post].

Thursday night only brought out about 9,000 people but Friday night was sold out and packed to the brim. Thompson Boling Arena was loud, energetic, and ready for a Garth sing-along. 

Starting the night off was country singer/songwriter Karyn Rochelle who also doubles as a backup singer for Garth and Trisha. Because I thoroughly enjoy finding new artists and love me some tomatoes (shoutout to Keith Hill. Ha!), I was excited to see what Karyn brought to the table. To say I was impressed is an understatement. I left TBA and immediately bought her song Better Off.  Karyn performed this song along with Sunny Sweeney's  "From A Table Away" and Kellie Pickler's up tempo hit "Red High Heels". Karyn had a hand in writing both songs and performed them in a way that made me wish she had been the one to record them. She was humbled by the energetic response and welcome she got from the Knoxville crowd. After a quick shoutout to her momma and grandma, Karyn found herself receiving a well deserved standing ovation. 

This lady is super talented and has a bright future! 

Ms. Rochelle had the crowd warmed up and ready for the main event. Because Garth had mentioned that opening night would be slightly different than the previous night, the crowd honestly had no idea what to expect. Were we waiting for Trisha first? Or Garth? Or the two of them at the same time?

After a few minutes, the cat was out of the bag and the wait was over. In a dramatic fashion, Garth appeared on stage. Smoke. Machines. Garth. He was on stage and the crowd went crazy.

•• So prepare yourself for a war like you've never seen. This is man against machine. ••

Garth was back and Knoxville was on our feet.

From the first seconds on stage, I knew this would be an experience of a lifetime. Before long myself and an arena full of people found ourselves in awe of our favorite artist. When I tell you watching GB on stage is a once in a lifetime experience, I mean it. One second he was running to the left, then the right, then to the back, then on top of the drummers cage. Wow. Speechless.

We were witnessing a legend on stage and our eyes could not believe what we were seeing. We sang at the top of our lungs to every song he played. After performing "Two Of A Kind Workin' On A Full House" and "Beaches of Cheyenne", Garth decided to give the crowd a little test. He played some of his oldest songs and had the crowd finish the lines. At that moment, it was clear that he was as excited about Knoxville as we were about him. 

"It's a crime to do two slow songs in a row, but I have to switch it up here. I have to."

After hearing us sing along to every word of "If Tomorrow Never Comes", Garth broke out "Unanswered Prayers" just for us. These moments were pure magic. 

Unanswered prayers @garthbrooks #GarthInKnoxville pic.twitter.com/yglOgmPhqD

— Glenn Q100 (@Q100Glenn) May 30, 2015

Before we knew it, we were all awkward dancing and screaming the words to hit after hit. "Papa Loved Mama" and "Ain't Goin Down [Till The Sun Comes Up]" had us all belting out the words like we were the ones on stage. I'm not going to lie though, one of my favorite moments came when Garth played my favorite song: "Two Pina Coladas." That song had me dancing like I've never danced in public before.

We sang WITH Garth. And we sang FOR Garth.

"It doesn't matter if it's about drinkin', lovin', or workin'. Y'all react the same. I love it man, I love it."

Thunder. Flashes of lights. Smoke.

You guessed it, next was "Thunder Rolls".

But the real excitement struck when Ms. Yearwood made her way on stage with Garth. You've never quite seen a love like theirs. I've never heard "In Another's Eyes" sound so good. 

Now, came the moment I had been waiting for since the day I found out Trisha would be accompanying Garth on his world tour. While I initially bought the tickets to see the legend known as Garth, I found myself being more and more eager to see Trisha perform. Let's face it, I fangirled so hard. "Xxx's and Ooo's" and "How Do I Live" were the first two songs Ms. Yearwood sang. But the real magic occurred when she said "Ladies, stand up cause this one is for the boy!" When I was 13, my family and I went to the beach. The one song I sang over and over all the way to Florida was being performed just feet from where I stood. I had to take a moment and dance like no one was watching to "She's In Love With The Boy." But to my surprise someone WAS watching ; it was Ms. Yearwood herself. 

Bucket List: Get caught awkward dancing to "She's In Love With The Boy" by Trisha Yearwood

C H E C K

When Garth returned, he had more energy than when he left. He began this time with "Shameless." The first verse was solid. The second verse…a little bit flawed. After messing up, Garth stopped the song and turned to address his band. 

"Remember that time I said I'm always right? Well I just f***ed up…"

The crowd irrupted with laughter. Garth turned to us, asked permission to try again, and then started from the beginning. 

Garth's guitar. Ever wonder if he is really playing? Well he informed us it's never turned on during his shows. "I only have it to hide my gut…they only let me turn it on for one song…"

*Cue the "Friends In Low Places" chords and the rowdy audience*

I'm willing to bet TBA was at it's maximum sound during these next few minutes. Everyone knows the words, and EVERYONE sang along. 

Tennessee. We take great pride in ourselves. So how did we finish "Friends In Low Places?"

By singing a VOLS chant of course!

"I said it's GREAT. TO BE. A TENNESSEE VOL."

"The Dance."

I'm willing to bet some people only bought tickets so they could hear this song live. Garth credits "The Dance" for changing his career and his life. Hearing everyone sing along made for one of the highlights of the night. 

The Dance ... @garthbrooks #garthinknoxville pic.twitter.com/6mfdb9Ik4F

— Glenn Q100 (@Q100Glenn) May 30, 2015

"Why Knox? This is where it all began for us. And I'll tell you, flat out, Knoxville you are still the same. Except you've gotten bigger & you've gotten better with time."

How do you end a show when you are Garth Brooks? 

With an encore. No, two encores. Wrong again, THREE encores.

We got a taste of some new Garth songs plus a little throwback or two.

I found myself with chills all night long, but something about hearing Garth shout "God Bless Chris Ledoux" during "Much Too Young [To Be This Damn Old]" filled my heart with joy and made me realize that Garth Brooks is what country music is all about.

If you are questioning country music, go see Garth. He renewed my soul and made my love for music triple in size.

Thanks for the tickets, Garth, and thanks for a once in a lifetime experience.

xox

Morgan Hill Sellers

CONCERT REVIEW: Garth Brooks [Buffalo, NY]

I have been excited for concerts, anticipated the first glimpse at my superstars, craved the loud music and felt the vibes: but never like this.

Never could I have imaged the chaos or the magic in the air radiating from 18,000+ fans not-so-patiently awaiting the one and only, Garth Brooks.

As I strolled into the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, I was surrounded by crowds of people, young and old, cowboy boots and hats, high heels and dresses; it didn’t seem to matter who you were because at that moment WE were the Friends In Low Places.

Kicking off the night was one of Garth’s backup singers and long-time friend, Karyn Rochelle. The Nashville dweller took the stage with her guitar and charm. We listened to the sassy Jezebels, and the motivating ballad, Better Off. We even got a few of our favorites that Rochelle co-wrote like Red High Heels and From a Table Away.

Finally. The moment we were all waiting for. I was expecting a thrill, a scream-fest, a heart pounding moment of pure excitement. For a moment there was, but as the stage lit up and His voice read out the words to Man Against Machine, a figure appeared standing with his cowboy hat tipped down to the ground, guitar in hand. The thousands of screaming voice seemed to fade. There was a calm. Never had I imagined the moment Garth Brooks stepped on stage like this. Talk about awestruck. We were witnessing a significant moment in country music history.

As Garth’s voice broke over the crowd and loud music signaled the start of the show, a roar, the one we had been anticipating, filled the arena. From that moment on, we never quit singing, never let our hands fall from the air.

Side note: Garth’s favorite song to perform is Callin’ Baton Rouge. And let me tell ya, it was obvious.

I have seen the best of the best. I have shook their hands, sang their songs and partied as they rocked the stage. But in my entire 21 years I had never felt such raw moment at a concert that I shed tears; until this night. As the air filled with the sounds of The River, we were making our own. People cried as they sang, some even stood silently with tears rolling down their cheeks. It takes a true artist to move people the way He did. Lighters and phones began to shine like stars as Garth stopped singing, held his hands to his face, and listened to the voices around him singing as one. To see such an accomplished and talented man be so touched by something (even after hearing it night after night) was truly stunning.

The beautiful Trisha Yearwood didn’t disappoint either. How could you NOT love dancing and singing to She’s In Love With a Boy or X’s and O’s?! Holy flashback to my entire childhood. She left us breathless with her last performance of the night, Prize Fighter.

As an encore, Garth came back out alone. He picked his next songs by the titles he saw held up on signs in the crowd. He kept it personal. As only Garth could do.

From the classics, to the new songs, the chords that drive an audience mad, to the infamous third verse, Garth out sang even country music’s youngest and brightest stars. The legend doesn’t just live on; he thrives.

Until next time- keep the music playing,

Morgan McCarthy Warda

Notes:

I noticed my frequent use of the world never. And it’s for this reason: it was a bittersweet experience standing beside people that were 70+ years old and some that were just young teens…both watching what would probably be the last time they stood before Garth Brooks. I, myself, included in that mix. Maybe some would find enough luck to do it again. But If Tomorrow Never Comes, we have been blessed with the experience of a lifetime.

What I wore: Tribe Kelley midnight bells didn’t fail me as I danced all night

CONCERT REVIEW: Garth Brooks

The Triple W & O (when, where, who & outfit):

2.8.15

Consol Energy Center: Pittsburgh, Pa

Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood

Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots

Brooks, Garth Brooks.

That is right I achieved a bucket list item by going to see Garth Brooks live in concert & it was everything I hoped it would be with a lil extra zing.

When I was finally able to purchase the tickets for this concert I am “Shameless” in saying that I did a happy dance & felt like “Callin’ Baton Rouge”, if I had known anyone there.  However, I kept it a secret long enough to surprise my sister with a ticket for her to also come along with me as a Christmas present.  It was a long wait until the concert in February. The day before I thought “If Tomorrow Never Comes” I am going to go crazy.

When we got to the venue some people mentioned they thought we were “Much Too Young” to really know Garth Brooks & like his music, ABSOLUTELY NOT!  That night I did not want to be anywhere else, not even “The Beaches of Cheyenne”.

I have never walked into a concert venue & felt all of the audience buzzing with excitement like I did walking to my seat at Garth Brooks, & talk about an assortment of fans that had braved the cold weather to see the icon!  There were grandparents with grins on their faces, all the way to young children who were all struck by all the hoop-la they were in the middle of.   No matter whom I walked past though, I noticed that everyone seemed to have a twinkle of excitement in their eye waiting anxiously for what we all had heard was going to be one of the best concerts we would ever see.

Right out of the gates Garth went full force.  There was no holding back.  This show was the last one of his time in Pittsburgh & he went out with the gas tank on E.  He was constantly running to different areas of the stage to engage a different part of the crowd, laughing with the band or the back up singers, making sure the audience knew he wanted nothing else that night but to be there on that stage singing the hits we love.

Boy, oh boy were the hits sung.  Before the concert I knew I loved Garth, I grew up listening to him.  But when he kept playing hit after hit that I could perfectly remember the lines to, I realized how influential he really has been.  There have been many concerts of today’s upcoming/current stars I have gone to & they have done a cover of a Garth song.  It normally turns into one of the loudest parts of the show because so many people can sing along.  Garth has captured the imagination & hearts of so many artists that has then lead to some of today’s great music.  I understand & appreciate this now after witnessing it for myself.  If I could carry a tune in a bucket, I would want to try to achieve the dream Garth is living.

After being transformed into a world of the “Rodeo” with “Two Pina Coladas” one for each hand, & remembering that some of God’s greatest gifts are “Unanswered Prayers”, Garth left the stage for an intermission.  But the show did not stop while he took a breather.  Trisha had a different idea in mind.

That is right, Trisha Yearwood took over the stage & continued to blast the venue with hits.  Through the years I had forgotten how much I loved Trisha’s songs.  “She’s In Love With a Boy”, “XXX’s and OOO’s”, “How do I Live”.  She busted out a new song too that is called “Prize Fighter”.  Although the hits were fun & kept the party going, I think the highlight of Trisha being on stage was when she asked us all to join her in singing Happy Birthday to a certain birthday boy.  Garth’s birthday was the day before, but the celebration was far from being over.  Not many people can say they have sung Happy Birthday to Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood.

 

After the audience serenaded him, Garth stayed on stage and started part 2 of the hit rockin’ fun.  By this time in the show the crowd completely had the attitude of we “Ain’t Goin Down ‘Till the Sun Comes Up”.  We were ready for more.  Garth delivered.  So far Garth had done “The Dance” around his 1 big hit that everyone in the place was waiting for.  Sure, all the hits are fun & take us back to certain times in our lives, but there is that one Garth hit that gets everyone get up on their feet, throw their cares aside & sing at the top of their lungs.  Know which one I am talking about?  That is right, “Friends in Low Places”.  This was hands down the highlight of the entire show.  There were 15,000 people singing along, confetti flying through the air, smiles from ear to ear on everyone & of course that secret live 3rd verse.  It was a concert moment that will forever be a highlight.

Garth finished out the show with not 1, no not 2, but 3 encores.  He truly put on a show that demonstrated how much he loves what he is doing, appreciates the hard working people that fill the venues, & loves the people that help him to make a show that the fans love.

Going to a Garth Brooks concert will remind you why you fell in love with country music in the first place.  It brings people together, helps you cope with difficult times in your life, & reminds you to always enjoy life.  There is a reason his shows sell out almost instantly, there is a reason people travel far distances to attend, & there is a reason people keep going back multiple times. 

So move this bucket list item up closer to the top of your list while he is touring. 

I am on the look out for when I can go again. 

Until the next good time,

Allison Pettit

P.S. facts you would only know from going to the show:

-This was the first time Garth had been back to Pittsburgh in 17 yrs

-Garth has some pretty fancy footwork on moving treadmill like sections that are on the stage

-His Birthday is February 7th

-Trisha loves the city of Pittsburgh

-Garth admitted he cannot really play the guitar, most songs it isn’t even plugged in