VegasChatter

Garth, Stripped
Despite what you see on the billboards and nearly every other piece of merchandising or advertisements promoting Garth, he does not wear the black cowboy hat. This is what he wears instead: baggy jeans (possibly from Costco), a blue hooded sweatshirt, black work boots and a baseball cap that he moves from high up on his forehead, to low down over his eyes and turns around backwards.

Also, there is no backing band. It is Garth and his guitar. So when he came on stage in his Stay at Home Dad outfit, it was shocking and disappointing. While folks were standing up for him, excited to see their hero in such an intimate setting (only 1,500 seats here), we were going, "This is it? This is what he is going to wear in Vegas? At The ENCORE?" Check out VegasDeluxe.com to see what we mean.

Then he opened his mouth and that emotional, almost pained, but still very strong and oh so familiar sound filled the theater and all was right in the world again. Garth doesn't look like Garth but we don't need all that jazz, all we need is that sound.

How Garth Became Garth
Garth kicked off this show with "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" and then took the audience on a little bit of a musical history for Garth. He played verses and snippets of the songs that his parents loved, the songs his brothers played for him, the songs he found himself and of course, the songs that made Garth, Garth. Our favorite non-Garth songs? The James Taylor medley, Billy Joel and some Cat Stevens.

Garth picked a few of his own hits to play ("Thunder Rolls") but he left those selections largely to the audience, who was over the moon about it. This was endearing at first and then it got a little unbearable--not because of anything Garth was doing but because the man down the row from us just kept shouting, "Unanswered Prayers!" (Garth did finally play the chorus during his encore.)

Another example of the intimacy between performer and audience? When an audience member requested, "The Change", Garth couldn't remember the guitar chords but he belted the song out anyways, a capella. He also gave away his guitar after he decided it wasn't playing right and a peppy blonde audience member asked if she could have it. He gave it to her...WITH a kiss.

An even better surprise? His wife Trisha Yearwood who came out to a standing ovation and sang their duet "In Another's Eyes," and "Walk Away Joe."

While Garth played snippets or a good 3/4 of his songs, you will be pleased to know he sang every word of "Friends in Low Places." As he should have. After all, we've been hearing that nonstop on the Wynn speakers. Interestingly enough, the very last song of the evening was "American Pie" by Don McLean.

Bottom Line
In short, this is the anti-Vegas show. There is no glitter, no backing tracks, no video montages. Just a man and his guitar, taking requests. It took a while to get used to but it felt good. We've all had a rough year, everyone of us, and something about Garth and his music felt like chicken soup for the soul. And while $143 might be more than your hotel room at other places on the Strip, Garth is worth the money. It's really like watching him fiddle around on his guitar in his living room. And if he takes your request, all the better.

Other things you should know about Garth at Encore....

Purple People are on High Alert
Although reading the Twitter stream of media people in attendance at the 7:30pm show made it seem as if Garth was playing to a crowd of folks fiddling on their cellphones, the Purple People security teams (they wear the purple jackets at Wynn/Encore) are constantly walking up and down the aisles silently threatening people to turn off their cellphones...or else. And god forbid, you actually try to videotape this performance. You'll surely be escorted out.

Before you enter the theater, Purple People and other staffers are on the lookout for anyone scalping tickets. We actually heard a staffer approach a Purple Person and say, "These two near the bathroom are looking to scalp their ticket." We didn't stick around to see the outcome.

Don't Spend Too Much Time at the Oasis Beforehand
Another way to get yourself kicked out of Garth Brooks? Showing up drunk as a skunk with two of your other drunken cowboy friends in ten gallon hats, waving your drink for no good reason and yee-hawing for no good reason when Garth is talking. That's what happened to three cowboys in the very first row after three songs. Idiots.

Choose The Later Show
We're not sure he will do this every time but at the 10:30pm showing that we attended, Garth played for over two hours and even told the audience upfront that he could stay there all night. The 7:30pm show, on the other hand has to finish by 9 or so to accommodate the next show coming in. So if you love Garth, go later.

We're not sure we'll ever get used to cowboys on cellphones in casinos at The Encore, but we're happy to have 'em and of course, Garth.