Review: Garth at Sprint, Day 1

Garth Brooks wanted no media at Monday's show, including photographers, so here's a stock photo from a live show. We'll have a photog at Sprint Center on Tuesday.

As he formally announced his sold-out, 10-day, nine-show tour at Sprint Center last month, Garth Brooks warned the media and his fans that these shows would be sloppy but lots of fun. It turns out he was half-right, by a country mile.

Monday night, he opened his Sprint Center siege with a show that lasted two hours and covered his 18-year career from beginning to present. And from the front of the stage to the back of the arena, the crowd of nearly 18,000 was either standing or singing along (or both) virtually all night long.

If the show suffered any sloppiness, few people seemed to notice. And if anyone noticed, they didn't seem to care. Instead, they rained a monsoon of applause and devotion all over a guy who somehow manages to let it inflate him and humble him all at once.

"Even in my wildest hopes it was never this good," he said right after a momentous run of "The Thunder Rolls," "The Beaches of Cheyenne" and "The River," which ignited the kind of evangelical sing-alongs you see on Sunday morning TV.

I must testify a little myself here: I've seen most of the legendary crowd-movers and -shakers, from Springsteen to U2, and Brooks is easily up there with any of them when it comes to riling a crowd. He didn't rely on any fireworks or acrobatics this evening; he let his songs and his showmanship do the work for him.

The crowd overall was a mostly women, but only slightly; and there were plenty of younger people in the place, like the young lady next to me, who was 22 and (like me) at her first Garth Brooks show. She sang along expressively to every song; during a few, like "The River" and "We Shall Be Free," she acted like she was engaged in some Pentecostal sacrament.

Brooks introduced every member of his band (seven musicians and three singers) individually and with some fanfare, and he cracked wise when he introduced his bass player, who is from Topeka (and whose name I missed). Even in Missouri, when Brooks said "Topeka, Kansas," the crowd went nuts, for about 20 long seconds. Then Brooks wisecracked again:, "That's a bunch of crap. Don't forget: This is a Garth Brooks show." He was joking but he wasn't kidding.

"We brought all of our old stuff with us tonight," Brooks said early and he meant it. And he saved the best for last. "Even though I use the guitar to hide my gut," he joked, "I can still play." And he began to. But before he'd picked the first three strings in the opening chord to "Friends in Low Places," the crowd went berserk. And the sing-along to that was like "Born to Run" and "Where the Streets Have No Name" all rolled into one.

He followed that with "The Dance," which prompted its own big sing-along. Before that, Brooks advised the crowd that these Sprint Center shows were it; he was still committed to raising his daughters before heading out again on a big tour. "If you wait for us," he said, "we'll be back."

He returned for two encores, first "Ain't Going Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)" and then a medley of solo-acoustic songs from his favorite songwriters.  That bit ended with his band re-joining him on stage and helping him lead the crowd in the chorus to Don McLean's "American Pie." That was quite the ironic choice, considering this was a night when someone's music came back to life.

A word about his accomplice: Brooks' wife, Trisha Yearwood is his opening act. Monday, most of the crowd was in place for her 30-minute set, which included some new songs off her upcoming solo album and several of her hits, like "She's In Love With the Boy" and "Xxx's & Ooo's (An American Girl).

Yearwood is an excellent singer, better than "that husband back there," as she referred to Brooks early in her set.  She can do the modern-country diva thing, as she did on "She's In Love With the Boy," or sound a lot like Bonnie Raitt, as she did during the bluesy "Wrong Side of Memphis." Get there early and watch her set, even if it changes every night. 

Trisha Yearwood setlist: Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love; She's In Love With the Boy; How Do I Live; Xxx's & Ooo's (An American Girl); Cowboys Are My Weakness; Wrong Side of Memphis; Perfect Love.

Garth Brooks setlist: The Fever; Good Ride Cowboy; Rodeo; Two of a Kind, Workin' On a Full House; The Thunder Rolls; The Beaches of Cheyenne; The River; We Shall Be Free; To Make You Feel My Love; Unanswered Prayers; Two Pina Coladas; That Summer; Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old); Papa Loved Mama; If Tomorrow Never Comes; Callin' Baton Rouge; Friends in Low Places; The Dance. Encore: Ain't Goin' Down (Til the Sun Comes Up); Medley: Fire and Rain, Sing Me Back Home, Night Moves, Unwound, American Pie.

Garth tidbits

If you're sitting in the upper deck, behind the stage some good news/bad news. The good news: You have a good view of the stage. The band news: As several people muttered while looking for their seats: "It's like straight down." Yes, the upper section has a pitch like the roof on a cathedral, so hang on.

Garth merch: T-shirts were $18 and S25; ball caps were $7.50; posters were $4.

Comments

[Edward]

I saw him in St. Louis back in '96 (maybe early '97). One word; phenomenal. I had two ticks to this one (online) but gave them up because I thought I could get more. Biggest mistake I've made I should have remembered how hard it is to get tickets to a Garth show!

[Tim Finn]

I've picked up a few at reasonable prices via StubHub,which only adds 10 percent to the seller's price (in some cases the fee and shipping charge -- $23 -- was nearly as much as the ticket, $30).

[DaveKCMO]

we found tickets on ebay for friday's show.

[Leanna]

I have seats directly behind the stage in section 111. Will I be abel to see him? It is making it sound like you can't see anything.

[riskybzns]

leann, that's not true. garth has said himself that the seats located behind the stage are probably the 2nd best seats in the house. have heard he also turned around and played towards the folks in the back. edward, i have heard that they released 100 extra seats to each show....these seats, are located on, the floor :-)

[Dawn]

Due to a UNBELIEVABLE error on Ticketmasters part, I have one great ticket to Sunday's show (section 116, row 20, seat 12) and give to Monday's show in section 114...behind the stage. I would like to sell my single Sunday ticket for my cost - $ 27.50 plus the $ 19.50 shipping they charged because they shipped the tickets seperately!! If interested, let me know asap so we can arrange delivery...I live in Joplin, MO

[Edward]

A friend of mine went on tickmaster last night and scored two tickets to Thursday nights concert. Unbelievable. Section 108 row 3! They said there might be limited viewing because of speakers or something. Anyone know anything about this? I don't really even care about the limited viewing though just to be there is going to be crazy!

[Pschmidt]

riskybzns...you still have that ticket for Sunday?