He will likely never get credit but on Thursday night at North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena Garth Brooks found way to travel back in time.
The inhabitants along for the ride were the fans who packed a sold out Verizon to the rafters and nearly lifted the roof off for two hours by clapping, screaming and singing – loudly -- to Brooks’ hits from the 1990s. The show was the first of three with an advance total of over 40,000 in ticket sales that broke an Arkansas attendance record set by George Strait.
The now-out-of-retirement superstar said to the adoring throng at one point, “You have to understand, I’m 167 years old.” On a couple of occasions Brooks took off his black cowboy hat to reveal thinning gray hair, but the singer did very little else to indicate that the 13 years since he hung up his microphone has lessened his will or ability to put on an impressive show.
Backed by a veritable army of musicians including fiddle and pedal steel players (which, interestingly enough, you don’t find in many current country shows), Brooks started with the brand new “Man Against Machine,” an odd song that seemed to hint at a larger story that wasn’t to come. That was over quickly and Brooks was soon giving the eardrum-rattling crowd what they wanted to hear. The first half of the concert featured energetic takes on “Rodeo,” “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House” and especially “Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til the Sun Comes Up),” where Brooks climbed on top of a dome-like structure that covered the drummer.
Canny showman that he is, Brooks also carved out time for some slow, solo numbers. “Unanswered Prayers” was a particular highlight as Verizon was illuminated by swaying cell phone flashlights held high.
Brooks shared the bill with his wife Trisha Yearwood, though she didn’t appear until a full hour of the concert had gone by. She opened with “In Another’s Eyes,” a heart-tugging duet with her husband. She also sang her early 90s hit, “She’s in Love with the Boy” that featured a kiss-cam of sorts with various couples around Verizon caught on camera.
Though Brooks didn’t rest much during Yearwood’s set as he played in the backing band, he returned to center stage ready to push to the end. Just when you thought the Verizon crowd could not get one decibel louder, Brooks played on his acoustic guitar the first few notes of “Friends in Low Places.”
Garth Brooks World Tour performs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. Single tickets are available and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.