Here’s the confession…
Not much of a confession since you’ve presumably read the title of the post already.
Ladies and Gentlemen - I love Garth Brooks. I own his CDs, I sing them very loudly in my car. I give dirty looks to people who went to his Irish concerts in the 90s when I was too young to know that I loved him. I am hugely, desperately, irredeemably uncool.
So imagine my excitement when I discovered that Brooks (Garth of my Heart <3) was coming out of his self-imposed retirement? Imagine how my little country music lovin’ heart fluttered at the possibility that maybe, just maybe, I would line dance to Friends in Low Places at the RDS or the O2? (Look, one girl’s dream is another girl’s nightmare). Then, imagine my disappointment when I discovered that he would only be playing one venue and that venue is in Las Vegas.
Brooks signed up last year to do a series of gigs at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. There are only a few dates per year and it’s an exclusive contract. There’s no sign of the tour we’re all (mainly me) longing for. A few years ago, he hung up his stetson and said he wouldn’t tour again at least until his youngest child turned 18. Tour he isn’t - but he is doing a Celine on it and doing this stint in Vegas.
At first, I was all set to travel. I reasoned that I wanted to go to Vegas anyway (I do) and that the concerts tickets themselves weren’t exorbitantly priced, so if you were going that way anyway…
Reality set in when I realised I would be travelling several thousand miles and spending at least €1,000 to see a greying country and western singer pound out a tune about the thing he calls…..Rodeo (oh who am I kidding, I’d freakin’ love it). I didn’t buy the tickets, but I did sign up to the concert alert email from Wynn Hotel.
They emailed me just there. They want me to know that while the concert sold out in seconds, they’ve kept back some post-sale tickets for the mailinglistees. (oooh, nice of them, says you). Garth may have sold out but I could still have a ticket…as long as a stay at their hotel. “Please note that this post-sale offer is sold exclusively as part of a Wynn │ Encore room package, with resort accommodations starting from $149.” Well ya see now, now there’s a damn bad taste in my mouth.
I don’t mind if one of my favourite singers wants to retire. I don’t mind if he doesn’t want to travel a few thousand miles to sing to me in Croke Park. I kinda do mind that he’s signed up to a situation where diehard fans might very well avail of that ticket offer.
I know that nobody is being forced to take the package. I know there’s all sorts of wheeling and dealing that goes on when you sign up to a big contract. I know concerts by big names always cost too much anyway and it’s probably just the equivalent of paying €10 for a burger at Oxegen. But I don’t like it.
Maybe I shouldn’t hold Garth of my Heart to a higher standard…but I want him to be an everyman who walks into his local tonkeytonk and picks up the guitar cos feck it, he enjoys it, whether people are paying to see him or seeing him for free.
Oh Garth, I never thought you’d be the one to leave me disillusioned.
What think you folk? Is the deal fair? How about the wider issue of ticket prices in general? Would you give anything to a hotel (or a tout) to see your favourite act? Is a CD just as good?
Signed,
Disillusioned in Dublin (not Vegas).
I nearly would pay the racket of moneys! We made a pact Sinead!
I got to listen to Mr Brooks growing up, as my mam (a monster fan) kept playing him over, and over, and OVER till the songs were embedded in my psyche! So while i wouldn’t call myself a true fan, i do like (and have a nostalgic fondness) for his music
Heard he is an amazing live act too, but no way I would pay that!!!
I’m not into country music, but Las Vegas is always fun. When is he playing at the Wynn ?
There’s a rumour he’s gearing up for a World Tour in 2012 or 13. Not sure if that’s true though…
in Fairness there is only one thing i can say to this.
The Concert in Croker was brilliant i was right up the front
Come on, everyone is a Garrth fan be the closeted or not.
I think it woulod be something you would never forget.
I discovered country music while in the states a couple of years back and was forced to listen to it on long drives through Maine… It wasn’t long before I was singing along to Kenny Chesney and Jo Dee Messina. As I type I’m listening to “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”.
Some days I wake up and slap myself for it. But I enjoy it. Sometimes.
On the other hand, some of my favourite bands I would never pay to see because of the audience — Imagine a room filled with pill-heads listening to this. Sometimes it’s just best on CD (wait, I can’t remember the last time I listened to an actual CD, but you know what I mean), and in the comfort of your own home, on the bus, on the car, over lunch etc.
So to answer your question I probably wouldn’t jump on this opportunity to see an artist you love; there will be other times. Just enjoy those moments doing your shopping, rocking out to a bit of Garth, and think of the discomfort of the drunken crowd…
@Amy don’t play with me Amy! I really want to go!
@Emlyn I’d pay to see him definitely, but I think flights, accom and everything thrown in is a bit much.
@Keleher he’s doing 3 dates per month in June, July and August.
@Ronan if it’s true I’d set a body part for a ticket. I HAVE to be at that concert.
@Jonathan that’s just a cruel thing to say.
@Lottie I know at least 4 people who are even out of the closet about it, even one who was genuinely up for the Vegas plan.
@Phil aww that’s a lovely reply! I think a Garth audience would be lovely, and possibly call me ‘ma’am’. I’m definitely going if he comes here, or even to London.
@sinead @amy I say totally go & I’m there to. I say book the gig & chance getting tickets on the night for the gig, I travelled on the off chance to get in to somewhere twice last yr and it worked out.
I’m not a hardcore fan but I went to see him in 96 and it was a brilliant gig - have a great story about that too.
Oh Gawd, he was ALL the rage when I was in first year. We were too young to smoke properly, so instead we’d wave our lighters around to “The Red Strokes”. Good times.
But would I pay to see him? I’m afraid not. Not even if he was throwing in free laser eye surgery. I’m not an upstanding member of The Cool Brigade for nothing, y’all.
Don’t do it, Sinead! I think the lesson here is: You’ve got to be tough when consumed by desire.
My name is Rose and I too am a Garth Brooks addict, albeit closet. I am also keen on his alter ego, Chris Gaines. I wish he’d do a Marquee concert in Cork. I remember him making an appearance on Kenny Live and I got to stay up late to watch it. I think I need help
There’s no better joy than doing the hoovering to the sound of Friends in Low Places.
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I am a very proud Garth and Trisha addict and i have been lucky enough to see them both in Concert. Garth’s concert, on the 3rd of April 94 was the first concert i was ever at, i was thirteen years old, and to this day remains a highlight of my life, even if the 6 foot 7 hairy biker in front of me blocked my view at times.Croke Park was Spectacular. I have waited anxiously for Garth to come out of Retirement, and when he graces our shores again which, i have no doubt he will, as he has an affinity with our Country, I will be the first one in the door. I would gladly pay any price to witness the legend who has played a major role in my life for so long, seriously who hasn’t experienced a time in their lives to which a Garth song can relate.For me, they have been present through Happy and Sad times(sorry to get a bit Mushy), and his music has been a constant to which i always return.Also like Ronan i would sell numerous body parts to get through those doors.