Garth Brooks Pulls Off Greatest Country Music Swindle Ever
Don’t regard this as a slandering. Please don’t mistake this as a rebuke. I bow down to the magnificent power of country music megastar Garth Brooks, and his ability to hoodwink hundreds of thousands of people and make millions of dollars even amidst an unprecedented pandemic and economic disparity, and for the most part, leave most fans happy. It’s good work if you can get it.
We’re talking about Garth’s idea to pre-record a concert, and then rebroadcast it to some 300 drive-in theaters across the United States and charge $100 a vehicle for access. It would be a ludicrous idea on the surface for any other artist of any caliber to even comprehend. But Garth Brooks can pull it off. And pull it off he did on Saturday, June 27th, 2020.
The drive-in music concert is not unprecedented at this point. Alan Jackson, Whiskey Myers, The Josh Abbott Band, and others have partaken in this particular COVID-19 work around as a way to generate a little revenue for themselves and worthy venues, while also giving fans the opportunity to get out of the house, and enjoy live music safely once again. Though it’s nowhere close to the experience of being in a sweaty field pressed up against the stage and surrounded by your friends—and there’s fair question about the sustainability of the drive-in model moving forward—it’s not a terrible stop gap while the industry attempts to sustain through this pandemic.
But so many of the things that make live music cool were flaunted and forgotten in the way this Garth Brooks concert came to fruition. First and foremost, it was pre-recorded. And not just many days in advance, with maybe a few retakes to smooth out flubs. As many remarked while watching, the backup singers on stage flipped positions from the right to the left on numerous occasions—yes, like those obvious incongruity flubs people love to point out in movies, but one that was blatantly obvious to most everyone in the audience immediately.
Not only was the performance pre-recorded, but it was also smoothed out and embellished with studio work. This is the level of obsession Garth Brooks has with perfection, which might make the performance mistake free, but sanitizes and cans it, which scrubs out everything cool about the live music experience—the spontaneity, the realness, the possibility of mistakes as performers work without a net, and the forgiveness of the audience for such things because they know what they’re seeing is raw and in real time.
But Garth was not unprecedented in pre-recording his performance either. We’ve seen this from some of the “live festivals” and such during the pandemic with much less-popular artists. It’s totally understandable why we can’t congregate. What doesn’t make a whole lot of sense with the technology we have is why some of these events can’t transpire in real time as opposed to being pre-recorded. When you see someone performing during the day and it’s night outside and you were initially sold that it would be live, it just usurps so much of the energy and camaraderie these events could otherwise contain. But of course, many of these livestream are being offered for cheap or free—much less than $100 a carload.
Garth Brooks had an “opener” for the concert—the very worthy Randall King who deserves whatever attention and opportunities he gets. He’s the future of true, traditional country that can still reach the masses, similar to like what Garth Brooks did earlier in his career. But instead of showing a unique Randall King appearance, they basically broadcast a few of his videos from YouTube, which was one of the multiple grumbles some attendees had with the experience.
And when Garth did take the stage, the concert was only an hour and 14 minutes long. Is that really worth $100 bucks a car? And how many people packed in with friends or family they hadn’t been sheltering in place with in stuffy vehicles in the middle of the summer, potential increasing their risk of getting the Coronavirus just to save money?
And most disappointingly to some, the sound was not a concert-quality experience. Instead of setting up big concert PA systems at the various drive-in spots, they used existing drive-in systems. For some, that meant you could tune in via your car’s FM tuner, and depending on the quality of your system, the sound was pretty good. But for some, they were forced to listen on some gooseneck speaker coming out of the ground, potentially installed in the 70’s, or on the AM dial, with mono fuzz attempting to convey the energy of a live performance pre-recorded six days prior and touched up in a studio.
Garth Brooks even canned a few moments where he compelled the crowd to sing along, or take out their phones and hold them up as lights. But when you know the whole thing is pre-recorded, what’s the point? You’re not sharing that energy and moment with the stage. If you got the sense that hundreds of thousands of fellow Garth fans were joining in as Garth poured his heart into a performance even if he was physically thousands of miles away, you still might feel like you’re in a “moment.” But in truth, Garth and his band were probably at home, eating KFC, or maybe they turned in early.
But again, it appears most attendees were mostly happy. And let’s not overlook that by bringing so many people to these drive-ins, Garth did help supply some economic stimulus during a difficult time. But there were definitely exceptions to the happy audience as well, from people who felt swindled, and took to social media to express their grievances with the performance or presentation. Could other artists do this? Of course not. They’d be cat called and admonished, and lampooned as money hungry and opportunist.
But Garth Brooks appears to be insulated from the most vehement of rebukes from the public, as he has been throughout the often unusual turns of his career. He could sell ice to the Inuit, or $100 tickets to drive-ins that usually charging $20.00 to pre-recorded shows, while still not delivering a $10 album Garth fans pre-ordered two years ago.
He’s Garth Brooks. And though those with a conscience feel the need to speak up, you kind of have to hand it to him. He just pulled off what might be the greatest country music swindle ever, and still left most fans happy.
Jay
June 28, 2020 @ 11:26 am
Garth is the most overrated artist in the history of music. He sucks.
King Honky Of Crackershire
June 28, 2020 @ 1:19 pm
He’s definitely one of the top 5 most overrated of all time. But that doesn’t mean I think he sucks. It just means that he’s achieved way more success than he ever should have with the talent he has.
There are several other major stars that would be in my top 5, George Strait and Johnny Cash come to mind.
Garth sure has made some money though.
Shane
June 28, 2020 @ 5:07 pm
Can we all encourage Trig to at least mention The Boomswagglers new album! Regardless of his participation in the project. The purpose of this website, as far as I see it is to get good music out to the people! The Boomswagglers is a must hear for all visitors of this website! Checked out!
Jake Cutter
June 28, 2020 @ 6:15 pm
I’m in.
Di Harris
June 28, 2020 @ 6:52 pm
Me 2
Montana
June 29, 2020 @ 4:33 am
I’m in as well.
JoseyWales
June 29, 2020 @ 5:52 am
I mean… seeing as hes in the band its only a matter of time.
Garbage1
June 29, 2020 @ 7:02 am
Its not like a real live concert…its just a video…i dont care much for garth brooks…he is a power play artist
Ruth Maxwell
June 29, 2020 @ 8:42 am
He AND his wife make us want to PUKE!
Sasha
June 29, 2020 @ 2:07 pm
If I am going to pay $100 to see him it better be in person.
Kevin Broughton
June 30, 2020 @ 8:26 am
He’s a douche. Always has been.
Jon Smith
June 30, 2020 @ 11:43 am
I agree that he is overrated, but for the people that paid $100 per car , shame on you for not thinking this one out.
Jeaux
August 31, 2022 @ 11:33 pm
Garth is an Obama-loving, flaming liberal, soy boy.
Boatwrong
June 28, 2020 @ 11:44 am
I went just to see if it would hold a candle to a real concert. I was highly disappointed. My wife and mom went with me and were much more excited, but they left equally disappointed and frustrated. They thought it was an intermission when it was over. I did not like the cut ins from previous concerts. That took a lot of momentum from the show. This is a far cry from the energy from a DBT or Sturgill concert and even way below the Todd Snider performances online the past couple months. Just a big letdown to me. I was at the Big Mo in Monetta,Sc
Vicki Redmon
June 28, 2020 @ 3:31 pm
I agree! Never been a Garth fan. He is so dramatic.
Dan Morris
June 28, 2020 @ 4:23 pm
I’ve been loving Todd Sniders’ Sunday streams from the Purple Building too. Todd is a perfect example of an artist who is doing shows for all the right reasons during the pandemic. I’d stand in the pouring rain for an hour to hear Todd tune his guitar before I’d invest a dime to hear Garth Brooks do an entire show.
The deserter
June 28, 2020 @ 5:47 pm
Don’t know if you’ve read Todd’s book but there’s a Garth story in there that might make you look at him a little different
A good read too
Dan Morris
June 28, 2020 @ 6:02 pm
I didn’t know Todd had written a book but i will seek it out for sure. Todd is a natural storyteller so i imagine his literary work is as good as everything else he does. Thanks for the info deserter
Trigger
June 28, 2020 @ 6:03 pm
What Todd Snider Really Thinks About Garth Brooks:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/what-todd-snider-really-thinks-about-garth-brooks/
Tom Gower
April 28, 2022 @ 12:19 pm
I saw Garth Brooks at a bar in Stillwater,Ok,called “George’s Stables”.This was back in the mid 1970s.He worked as a bouncer,there.I hung out in the cool bar across the street,called “Eskimoe Joe’s”. The owner,Stan Clarke,was a friend of mine .He is a class act,you would never meat a nicer person.
Jake Cutter
June 28, 2020 @ 11:45 am
This is a good way to look at it. I too hand it to him. But let’s go even further back. Who else could pull off being a such a phony marketed huckster, complete with telemarketer’s headset…trying any niche where he thinks he can get away with it. Had Chris Gaines actually succeeded, we would have had more of that, because it’s not that Gaines was phony ….it’s that that particular phony marketed gimmick didn’t sell, so he went back to his other phony, marketed gimmick of being “country.” Meanwhile countless musicians play the music they love, knowing full well that it probably will never sell on any substantial level – because they actually love it, and feel it in their bones! Perhaps the music should be all that matters (and we can remember his early countryish records), but I guess to me it’s MOSTLY what matters. Maybe 95%. There needs to be at least SOME level of authenticity for me to care enough to continue listening, let alone participating in something like this (is 5% too much to ask?). So yes, it’s impressive that he is managing to capitalize off of a phony show, squeezing every last penny he can from the gullible and shallow…but it’s nothing new. Congratulations to him.
Rob
June 28, 2020 @ 12:03 pm
I don’t have a problem with Garth on the whole, I think he is really weird, however. On the other hand, he is not releasing his album because he feels bad charging people for music during the pandemic, then he turns around and does this? Confusing to say the least.
David Earley
June 28, 2020 @ 1:19 pm
Well it’s about the same as when he lip synched on that award show a few years ago, but if his fans buy it, well there you go. I’ve always wondered how country artist get away with such short shows. For the money you are being asked to pay, the main entertainment should play for at least 2 to 3 hours. Heck Springsteen played for like 4 hours when I saw him back in the day. There was a little intermission which you would expect but he gave you your full money’s worth, actually more.
ACE
January 18, 2021 @ 1:42 am
Brooks was never country. Well polished twangy pop. Not horrible all thr time but not Merle Haggard or George Jones sustainable. He turned me off in the early 90s by always crying in his interviews and showing this fake sincerity that never felt authentic but just pandering.. needless maudlin and weepy. No sense of humor just weepy ass-kissing.
Jerry Clower's Ghost
June 28, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
So, basically…he’s shameless.
Dennixx
June 28, 2020 @ 12:17 pm
Heard about it..
Didn’t attend.
Spend yours as you see fit.
Worth $200 to me
Believe
June 28, 2020 @ 12:30 pm
The background singers change sides during actual concerts so that is why they changed sides during the drive in show. That is not a flub.
618creekrat
June 28, 2020 @ 12:37 pm
I figure there was a couple of decades when there was a Garth fan born every minute.
Tyler Wayne
June 28, 2020 @ 12:47 pm
He would be a great mega church preacher. That is not a compliment.
the pistolero
June 28, 2020 @ 12:47 pm
I suppose it’s his fans’ money to blow, and if they perceive it as worth the money more power to them, but…man. The word “swindle” doesn’t even begin to describe this. I wouldn’t have even paid that kind of money for George Strait doing this and I’m about the biggest Strait fan there is.
I have to wonder how many people knew that it was pre-recorded.
Hey Arnold
June 28, 2020 @ 12:47 pm
Can someone please type up his setlist?
Since the concert was only 75 mins long… I assume he sang about 15 songs?
That’s about average of what he does usually. Around 15 to 18 songs max. And sadly, Garth is known for singing some cover songs…
Last year, his setlist was 10 of his songs and then about 6 or 7 covers….
For a massive music legend, to have only 10 hit concert songs is quite disappointing..
I do believe that some of his material hasn’t aged well.
Trigger
June 28, 2020 @ 12:58 pm
1. “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)“
2. “Rodeo”
3. “The Beaches of Cheyenne”
4. “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House” (Dennis Robbins cover)
5. “The River”
6. “Fishin’ in the Dark” (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band cover)
7. “Two Piña Coladas”
8. “That Summer”
9. “The Thunder Rolls”
10. “Standing Outside the Fire”
11. “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)“
12. “More Than a Memory”
13. “We Shall Be Free”
14. “Ask Me How I Know”
15. “Callin’ Baton Rouge” (The Oak Ridge Boys cover)
16. “Shameless” (Billy Joel cover)
17. “Friends in Low Places”
18. “The Dance”
Hey Arnold
June 28, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
Thanks Trig!! I’m shocked to see no “Dive Bar”
Hey Arnold
June 28, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
Also, the whole “Scarecrow ” album is severely underrated. “Wrapped up in You” was such a jam!! Wish he played it more often
Tom Simth
June 28, 2020 @ 12:54 pm
Not my thing, but i’m glad drive-ins made a few bucks.
Jake
June 28, 2020 @ 1:17 pm
Garth is one of it not the greatest huckster in all of entertainment. And he just proved it again. I will have to look up the setlist. Probably the same songs he has sold fans over and over and over again, just repackaged or with crowd noise or whatever gimmick he dreams up. He probably billed this concert as some kind of unique experience that won’t happen again. That is until he comes up with the next gimmick take your $10 or $100.
Jimmy
June 28, 2020 @ 1:25 pm
I wouldn’t pay $25 to see Garth (or most anyone else). That being said, Brooks didn’t hold a gun to anyone’s head; if people were willing to pay for the experience, God bless ’em. No one was swindled. Anyone who knows Garth, knew this would be a slick production, with everything down to the fake banter rehearsed and polished to a sanitized shine.
Marc
June 28, 2020 @ 1:37 pm
He should have had Chris Gaines be the opening act.
Country21
June 28, 2020 @ 1:43 pm
Went to the Alan Jackson drive in show a few weeks ago and it exceeded expectations. Well worth $100. I don’t really see the point of doing a drive in show if it’s not actually live. If this is going to continue I would hope they’d go with AJ’s approach. My fourth time seeing Alan and he’s still a top notch performer.
Dustin
June 28, 2020 @ 2:08 pm
This should have been done as a charity ‘concert’. Would have been the only way to make this noncringy.
Corncaster
June 28, 2020 @ 2:15 pm
$100 to watch TV, with no bathroom?
Hahahahahahaha
No.
J Eyster
June 28, 2020 @ 2:33 pm
So his intelligence plays against him? Fuck, give the man credit where credit is due! I grew up with his genre and it added the rock and roll I needed in country and I still love his music, new and old. He’s real and as a singer, I appreciate his style.
The Original WTF Guy
June 28, 2020 @ 2:49 pm
He’s real?! If one subscribes to the multiverse explanation of quantam physics there is probably a universe out there where GARTH!!! is truly genuine and authentic. But only one, and this one ain’t it.
Fat Freddy's Cat
June 28, 2020 @ 2:43 pm
One thing I’ve learned from performing live: if you make a mistake, most of the audience won’t even notice unless you lose your cool. Those who do notice will forgive you, and it can be something you and audience can laugh together about. It makes the whole show more, well, human. And that’s something we kinda need right now.
J.Denver
June 28, 2020 @ 2:44 pm
Garth Brooks is an ACTOR. Playing the part of a musician. Always FAR from a true MUSICIAN.
Now myself I like many of the songs he PERFORMS. But as best I can tell from anything I have seen of his live work on youtube – he is at best a mediocre guitar player and does not even write his own songs.
But gotta give him and his marketing people some credit- they convinced a lot of people to spend $100 on something they could have watched at home for free or be a good person and buy-a DVD, ( Most likely with better sound quality ). If this craziness ever lifts- you want to hear some GREAT LIVE MUSIC SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSICIANS. THERE ARE MANY OF THEM OUT THERE BETTER THAT WHAT IS BEING SOLD TO YOU !
albert
June 28, 2020 @ 6:01 pm
”Garth Brooks is an ACTOR. Playing the part of a musician.”
not bad . that is not a bad observation at all .
however in his award-winning role as BUSINESS -garth , the man is indeed , ‘shamelessly’ successful . like drug cartels and mafioso .
Jimmy
June 29, 2020 @ 2:36 pm
Actually, Garth has co-written many of his best and biggest hits. But I agree with the whole ‘actor’ thing. He’s academy award level.
Edward Godley
June 28, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
Never wrote a song and never gave credit to those that did.
Trigger
June 28, 2020 @ 2:52 pm
That’s not entirely true.
Bruce Bremer
June 29, 2020 @ 2:16 pm
I once asked a very successful songwriter, whose wife thought his tractor was sexy, ” If Garth Brooks approached you and said,’ Hey! I like that song you wrote! Mind if I write it with you?’ What would you say?” His reply? “I’d say, ‘ Hell yes!’ ” That’s all you need to know about songwriting.
Conrad Fisher
June 29, 2020 @ 4:03 am
That’s not even a little true.
Linda Limpus
June 29, 2020 @ 8:19 am
In case you don’t know it Garth was recently given the Gerswin award. What for? Song writing.
Corncaster
June 29, 2020 @ 9:36 am
From the Gershwin Prize’s website: the award “celebrates the work of an artist whose career reflects lifetime achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding.”
Promoting is what Garth does best. The person in charge of the award observed how Garth is one of the big “changemakers” in popular music. The award has also been given recently to Gloria Estefan and Tony Bennett, both of whom are not known for their songwriting.
The Gershwin Award used to go to career songwriters. Not any more.
Trigger
June 29, 2020 @ 9:44 am
Look, I know Garth Brooks makes an easy target. But if you’re saying he never wrote any of his own songs and doesn’t support songwriters, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Time after time in his career, Garth Brooks has gone out of his way to not only give credit to songwriters, but make substantial moves to making sure their fairly compensated. That is one of his issues with streaming and YouTube. Also, Garth will be the first to tell you he’s not a great songwriter, but he did co-write any of the songs, especially early in his career. There are other stars that wrote much less than Garth.
Corncaster
June 29, 2020 @ 10:15 am
To be honest, I don’t care enough to say “he never wrote any of his own songs.” All I’m saying is the Gershwin Award has been given lately to people who are not primarily known as songwriters but as great “promoters of song.” Garth falls into that category better. As for the streaming model, David Lowery successfully sued Spotify. He had a record last year called “In the Shadow of the Bull” which I’ve been meaning to buy.
Keep up the good work. Your recommendations have been cutting into my summer book budget …
Hey Arnold
June 28, 2020 @ 2:59 pm
Let’s not forget how Garth almost stole “Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo” from Tracy Byrd. Tracy had it on hold and Garth said “I was told if it’s not your lead single… Then I can have it”..
Tracy responded by saying “Well it’s not going to be my lead single but it will be the name of my album”
Garth quieted right down and said “Best of luck with it. It should be a big hit”
But the fact that he said “If it ain’t your lead, I was told I can have it” – is quite shady business move in my opinion.
JB-Chicago
June 28, 2020 @ 3:01 pm
I dunno I guess I’m in shock that anyone would pay that kind of money to sit in their car or tailgate and watch a video of a concert that wasn’t live if they knew that going in which I guess they didn’t so that sucks even more. Even with my very expensive system in my car and if I was working $100 would be a stretch unless of course It was 5 or 6 of our favorite artists teaming up for an actual live thing…… Cody, Whitey, Moonpies, Sunny etc…… On a different note we are in Phase 4 here in Illinois and I saw live music Friday night AND last night…….ahhh full bands inside while maintaining low capacity etc….. sounded good just to hear live drums again!! That was a long 104 days. I don’t wanna go back.
seak
June 28, 2020 @ 3:43 pm
Garth swindled his fans, but at least he didn’t put communities, drs, and nurses, and everyone else at risk a la Chase Rice and Chris Janson last night. Not sure I get paying $100 to not see him in person regardless. And I definitely don’t get risking your life, and everyone you come into contact with to see Chase Rice and Chris Janson
Jake Cutter
June 28, 2020 @ 4:07 pm
Right, but driving in a car to go watch a marketeer play prerecorded music on a screen, is a risk well worth taking. I’m with you. With all the other causes of death, including car accidents, it’s a miracle we ever had the courage to leave the house – back in the olden times.
CountryKnight
June 29, 2020 @ 6:25 am
It is amazing that the human race has survived for all these years! ‘
People are acting like this COVID-19 is the Bubonic Plague on steroids.
Sav
June 28, 2020 @ 3:45 pm
Well I went to the show with 2 really pretty girls last night so Garth can take my hundred dollar bill
T
June 28, 2020 @ 3:51 pm
The guy was a Marketing Major and still is, albeit he can sing! He retires and doesn’t stop recording, he has made money because he knows how to make money. The opening statement about “missing the fans”… oh sure and the income. Garth puts on a great show but not for the greater good. People didn’t social distance, how could they when a car of six people enters trying to shave down the per ticket cost? Standing and drinking beer in groups, sitting outside their vehicles in close proximity. Garth may singlehandedly roll out Covid19 wave 2 all by himself.
Jimmy
June 29, 2020 @ 2:39 pm
“Garth may singlehandedly roll out Covid19 wave 2 all by himself.”
Nope, that honour goes to the domestic terrorists running loose, burning down the country.
Dee Manning
June 29, 2020 @ 9:38 pm
Incorrect. The protests against sytemic racism and police brutality, which happened spontaneously world wide, have not caused significant spikes. The protesters mostly wore masks and kept moving, whereas studies show covid19 is most often spread via close contact over a period of time.
Tony
June 28, 2020 @ 3:54 pm
Whiners
If you don’t like his music guess what don’t listen to it. If you don’t want to go or see his concerts guess what don’t go. Easy
Jay
June 28, 2020 @ 4:15 pm
People talk about Garths music like it’s his. It’s not, and that’s the point. 95% was written by others and they receive no credit. He’s a shitty karaoke singer and nothing more, with a heavy Scientologist vibe to round out the creep factor.
The Original WTF Guy
June 29, 2020 @ 8:29 am
Outstanding.
I have no inside dope, so maybe someone who does can comment, but I’ve always gotten the impression that after the first hint of success GARTH!!! had the power to add a comma someplace to get a songwriting credit, but really didn’t do any heavy lifting. Mostly because he can’t.
I have a friend who was at OK State with GARTH!!! and remembered seeing him play around Stillwater. Said he was a good entertainer but far from the one everyone expected to make it. Credit is due for him having done that, but it doesn’t change the fact that he sucks. Celine Dion is successful, too. But she also sucks.
Andrew
June 28, 2020 @ 5:30 pm
Anybody who paid $100 for this almost deserves to be swindled. That’s more than he charges for a ticket to one of his actual in person concerts.
wayne
June 28, 2020 @ 6:05 pm
Garth is a 100% definition of a musical hypocrite.
Hey Arnold
June 28, 2020 @ 6:36 pm
Speaking of concerts… Chase Rice and Chris Janson have been cancelled.
Read all about it. Apparently Chris Janson is blocking artists like Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini on his social media… Basically whoever is speaking out about his decision to perform last night. It’s all quite entertaining lol…
Jo
June 28, 2020 @ 7:20 pm
Great night, great friends, great food, great music! Thank you to all who brought some joy and fun during the crazy times we are in. Look foreword to the next event.
Jonathan decomp
June 28, 2020 @ 8:09 pm
…OR: “Ever get the feeling you’ve been hornswoggled?”
James
June 28, 2020 @ 10:34 pm
A lot of salty people on here complaining because a man is successful? Oh, and when someone says I mean no disrespect, then turn around and disrespect someone it is still disrespectful lol. I believe Garth loves his fans and his music. I guess some people can’t be pleased.
Keepin it Country
June 28, 2020 @ 10:48 pm
What about all the people he scammed with his “new album”. It’s stealing plain and simple. It’s been NO FUN!!!! And now you have time to pre-record a concert…. don’t have enough money already? I honestly have mixed feelings about Garth. Some his stuff is great, other stuff not so much. I don’t understand some of his current or past decisions. I’m glad I didn’t give him my money for an album he won’t release.
Keepin it Country
June 28, 2020 @ 10:53 pm
Isn’t cranking your music in your car about the same, not to mention free?
FRANK GARCIA
June 29, 2020 @ 12:09 am
THATS BY FAR THE BIGGEST SCAM BY ANYONE. NO WAY IN HELL IS ANY PRERECORDED CONCERT WORTH $100 A CARLOAD. BUT THERE IS A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE.
Natty Bumpo
June 29, 2020 @ 5:24 am
He found something and he channeled it to perfection. So perfect it’s a bit eerie. Almost like he made deal with someone or something. I got weird vibes the very first time I saw him sing on tv. Something ain’t right but something is working really well too at the same time. A combo of PT Barnum, Jim Jones and Mickey Mouse for a C&W audience.
Ted Fiskevold
June 29, 2020 @ 7:37 am
I can see the Tabloid Headlines already:
Thousands die from poison Kool-aid at drive-in theatres across the U.S. while Garth Brooks chortles and counts his cash
Belinda wing
June 29, 2020 @ 5:29 am
Its been done before Miley cyrus did one and Jonas Brothers and Rollen stones. Played it on Big screen charged like 30 a Ticket . It was like being at a real concert but than again not
Charlie
June 29, 2020 @ 7:41 am
He’s really living up to that Mr. Haney moniker now, ain’t he?? Makes me want to rent an old truck and park it outside with one of those pull-down screens saying ‘Garth Brooks Live’ on it, and when questioned afterwords pull it down slightly more for the additional text, ‘ . . .s in Nashville with all of your money.’
I wonder how much panty-hose inhibited finger-fucking was going on in those foggy-windowed cars????
Put on a show of Waylon and Merle videos at the drive-in and maybe I’m there. Or the Boomswagglers. Garth needs no more of our money.
Jimmy Row
June 29, 2020 @ 8:45 am
How about his documentary about crying on Netflix? That was hard to watch.
Loosiana Blue
June 29, 2020 @ 9:26 am
I’m curious as to how many times Garth “cried” during this set? The man can not go through an interview without crying at least six times. It’s sickening to watch.
PJ
June 29, 2020 @ 9:43 am
CajunDome in Layfayette, worst venue ever! Screen wasn’t high enough or big enough Couldn’t see anything. Just listened on FM radio, could have watched a Garth Video on TV at home and had more enjoyable experience. Knew it was a rip off going in, but just wanted to spend time with my daughter. Spending time together the only thing worth it.
Lucie Strouse
June 29, 2020 @ 1:42 pm
I have always been a Garth Brooks fan from the start of his career. I’m still a fan of his today and always will be. Yes it was $100 a carload but you could only have as many people as you had seatbelts for. For a carload of 4 it was $25 a person for 5 it was $20 for 6 it was $16. That’s not bad prices. We were able to enjoy a night out but still social distance from people and remain safe. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would I have enjoyed a live concert better of course but in today’s world that’s not possible. Love you Garth thanks for a wonderful evening.
Corncaster
June 29, 2020 @ 4:41 pm
“Yes it was $100 a carload but you could only have as many people as you had seatbelts for.”
Did they have security guards check? Because I’m not going unless the seatbelt limit is strictly enforced. We cannot have young people listening to Garth without adequate restraining devices!
Bev
June 29, 2020 @ 2:25 pm
Garth’s show on Netflix was really good. Just turn off the radio or change the channel if you don’t like him, no one is forcing you to listen or watch. He is an entertainer and that is what he does.
Dee Manning
June 29, 2020 @ 2:38 pm
Ok this does sound lame but way better than Chase Rice and Chris Janson doing regular concerts with no masks or distancing , just a big crowd of alcohol fueled future covid19 victims. Like they did last weekend. (Props to Kelsea Ballerini for calling them out for not giving a shit for their fans’ health and safety.)
People used to enjoy drive in movies; I would go to a reasonably priced live drive in concert if it was done right…
CountryKnight
August 4, 2023 @ 1:43 pm
This comment aged like milk.
Mike Parker
June 29, 2020 @ 3:16 pm
Would I ever pay $100 to watch a pre-recorded concert. No. Never.
Would I begrudge someone for attending? No.
Would I begrudge an artist for pulling it off? No.
I like the point here that Garth is a genius at marketing. That’s the fact of the matter. Like him or not, buying a ticket or not, jealous or not… all ancillary.
It’s not really the point of the post, but like him or hate him, the one thing I will always respect Garth for is for walking away (mostly) for many years to be home for his kids. That’s a move right there that you just don’t see enough of IMO.
Romanas
June 29, 2020 @ 4:27 pm
This Bob Dylan line comes to mind:
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
Trey
June 29, 2020 @ 6:05 pm
To quote Waylon Jennings…. “Garth Brooks keeps selling millions. No that sure ain’t no joke. But I just can’t help looking for a pig down in the poke.”
Guy Smiley
June 29, 2020 @ 8:07 pm
I love this site trigger, one of the best for country music, but yeppers, Garth could find a cure for covid 19 and you would criticize it.
No one forced anyone to go, 75 minutes long is pretty decent for a drive in show, and from what I have read from social media, people enjoyed it.
Yes the perfectionist side of Garth, someones over rides his music, I perfer the rawness of his early 90’s show, (his 1994 world tour) was Garth being crazy of stage without any fear of how it would effect his image.
I still say though, cut Garth some slack now and then.
Fourth Blessed Gorge
June 30, 2020 @ 5:58 pm
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS to sit in your car and watch a pre-recorded concert? That’s larceny. For a full-scale live broadcast of an actual gig? Maybe, but to watch a pre-recorded video? I’m not even sure that KISS would try that and they’ll sell anything.
CountryKnight
August 1, 2022 @ 9:21 am
Nah, the greatest swindle was any country music singer supporting the bogus vaccine.