What's so special about Garth Brooks?
Inglewood, Cal., The Forum, Nov. 14, 2001
INGLEWOOD, CA - The first night of Garth Brooks' three successive Wednesday night "Coast To Coast Live" concert specials begged one nagging question: What was so special about it?
In addition it marking a break away from the big selling artist's so-called retirement from touring, these three shows are all being televised live on network television, and are supposed to feature special superstar guest appearances at each stop.
At a press conference earlier in the day, Brooks teased the gathered media by only saying that each of his two special friends this night would both be Grammy-winners. But while the gospel/blues sounds of Keb' Mo' did add a measure of eclecticism to Brooks' otherwise common sounding contemporary country, the appearance of old friend and duet partner Trisha Yearwood could hardly be characterized as something special or a surprise.
Nevertheless, it was a treat to hear Brooks and Yearwood trade lines on Delbert McClinton's tongue-in-cheek "Honey, Can You Squeeze Me In." But since Brooks has left the door open to a future duets album project with Yearwood, her presence was more like the return of an old band mate, instead of an unexpected celebrity appearance.
When the network feed ended after the first hour, Brooks promised to tear down the house, while outside of the camera's eye. But except for a few words you can't say on television, there wasn't much the home television audience missed from this last hour of the concert.
Much like Michael Jordan (the other much publicized break from retirement) Brooks didn't appear to be quite in playing shape yet. For his remaining 11 songs or so, he could be seen walking back and forth across the stage, where he might have madly sprinted in the past.
With a set list drawn almost exclusively from the biggest hits file, Brooks sang - and let the audience sing - songs such as "Rodeo," "The Beaches of Cheyenne" and "Two Pina Coladas" to cap off the evening.
The best moments of this closing segment were when Brooks, accompanied only by his lone acoustic guitar, sang Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love" and "Unanswered Prayers." It provided the kind of performer/audience intimacy impossible to fabricate in a live television setting.
Earlier in the day, Brooks worried about coming off rusty, and in his words, sucking in this comeback performance. But while he neither looked rusty, nor sucked, his show somehow lacked the kind of charismatic excitement one has come to expect from a Brooks show.
Many have questioned Michael Jordan's return to the NBA return because when he left he had nothing left to prove. These same hard questions must also be asked of Brooks: With his sales records, awards and chart successes, what is possibly left for him to prove? And if he's only back to give his audience another chance to hear his old hits, how would this make these concerts anything special?
With all this said, you really can't fault a guy who charges his fans a mere $18 a ticket, in a day and age where he could have easily made a mint off of this performance. And ultimately, this show was for the fans; for the ones who may not have caught him live the first time around or those who just wanted to see him in person one last time.
