WASHINGTON – Does any artist love being onstage more than Garth Brooks?
The gleam in his eyes.
The sporadic eruptions of “YEAAAHHHH!”
The hat-tipping in gratitude to yet another sold-out crowd that has relished his 350-plus song catalog, some since the ‘90s, others who weren’t even born in the ‘90s.
“They say if they show up, you’re lucky. And if they come back, you’re blessed,” Brooks, 64, told the frenzied devotees packing Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18.
Since a surprise announcement in July that he would return to arenas, first announcing shows only in Indianapolis, then adding Denver, Chicago and D.C. – some with matinees, all with multiple nights – Brooks has been gleefully rolling through two-hour shows packed with indelible
hits. He’ll close out September in Orlando and head to Salt Lake City for a pair of concerts early next month.
Brooks is intentionally harkening to “The Old Stuff” – as he sings in the opening song – commissioning an open-backed stage setup, double-sided screens that curved in a halo, yo-yo-ing lights and the indelible double drum pod, which went airborne like a George Lucas creation during a raucous “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up).”
Brooks andhis heavyweight band – the majority ace Nashville players who have performed with Brooks for decades – know precision. They know how to dovetail into “Wild Horses” or “We Shall Be Free” after Brooks, who seems to see everything from the stage he roams and spots signs with requests.
They can bulldoze through what Brooks calls his favorite song to perform live, the Cajun-fried musical fever known as “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” or dip into the quiet elegance of “The River” with equal nimbleness.
And they can keep up with the firestorm that is Brooks, whose dark blue button-down was drenched in sweat 30 minutes into the show.
In addition to his own weighty hits collection, Brooks has a knack for burrowing into the veins of songs from other artists he admires, staying faithful while sprinkling in some Brooks specialties.
Whether Bob Seger’s evocative “Turn the Page” – paired perfectly with the DNA-sharing drama of his own “The Thunder Rolls” – Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” which Brooks performed with hushed sweetness, or Billy Joel’s“Shameless,” a spotlight moment for Brooks’ still mighty roar, the country titan remains an unmatched presence onstage.
Of course, the rowdy crowd happily hoisting tall boys reveled in the barroom jukebox staple “Friends in Low Places,” complete with the famous third verse removed for radio decades ago because of one salty word.
No matter how many times you’ve experienced it, the massive singalong remains a concert moment every music fan should experience, much like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” and Joel’s “Piano Man.”
Earlier in the week, Brooks posted an open letter to fans to share some feelings.
“Something is happening on this tour. I don’t know if it’s the realness of the music. … I have never ‘felt’ what I’ve been feeling this year in the live arena. There is a joy, there are tears, and both seem to be a surprise to those feeling it,” he wrote. “I wonder if this is what ‘unity’ feels like? … Is this what ‘united’ feels like? Is this what happens if we ALL sing together?”
Yes, Garth, indeed it is. And it’s quite a joyful noise.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Garth Brooks brings old-school energy to sold-out DC crowd
