ION INDIE MAGAZINE April 2016, Volume 23 | Page 15

to say, “It’s competitive here. You fight your way in and you fight your way out.” Brooks continued to explain, “There’s
a lot of pressure on the guys to make the show as incredible and memorable as the last time.” This statement was
the first glimpse at the true Garth Brooks, a man who was concerned with pleasing others, not taking for himself.
When answering the question as to why he chose to return to Worcester, Garth said, “It’s simple. You go back to
where you had the most fun.” He emphasized that he and his band still talk about the 1997 Worcester show. They
have a lot of memories to reminisce over as they should. The rookie in his crew has been with the show for 21 years.
After a couple of decades they have become like family.
Being surrounded by his family and his buddies
is how Brooks explains he keeps up his energy
for shows. Garth explained he’s cautious
about what goes into his body. “I’m powered
by M&M’s and Dr. Pepper,” Garth said with a
smile--while the news outlets erupted in
laughter. Yearwood stated that Brooks wakes
up like the Energizer Bunny: “He pushes
himself until he crashes like a puppy in a food
bowl.”
It was after this comment that Garth Brooks
attempted to convince the media at the press
conference that he’s a taker. “I take, take,
take,” Brooks said with a smile, “I’ll drain
everything they’ve got,” he said, referring to
the crowd at the show. Garth explained that he
smothers the crowd like he smothers Trisha.
“It’s like how flowers need the sun…I can keep
up my energy all day long as long as I have
something to pull from,” Brooks said, walking
over to Trisha, tapping his shoe on hers.
When a representative from the media asked
Brooks how he selects the set list, Brooks
stated, “It’s simple. I give them what they
came for.” Brooks knows his fans well. He’s
been careful to pay attention to what makes
the crowd respond. He added, ‘If you’ve ever seen
‘Friends in Low Places’ at a show…I don’t sing a word.” Brooks relies on the crowd to sing the lyrics, holding out the
mic, beaming in pride. Garth Brooks said that it’s the faces in the crowd that make him show up. Trisha echoed the
importance of connecting with the crowd, saying she often mimics what someone in the crowd is doing so they know
she sees them.
When asked if he was surprised that his music has held up over the years, Garth went back to his philosophy of giving
the fans what they like. “Music should have time to sit in the listener’s heart,” Brooks said, adding emphasis that
“You can give someone their money back, their ticket back…but you can’t give back time and attention.” To drive the
point home, Brooks stated, “What’s good for the crowd is good for the artist in his line of work.” It was then that
Trisha disclosed one of Garth’s secret fears: “Before every on sale, he worries no one will show up,” Yearwood said
shaking her head. Brooks confessed that this concern is very real to him, “How do I know they’ll keep showing up?”
Brooks explains he doesn’t know what makes his fans buy tickets. “What if nothing I do pleases them?” Garth
questioned. He then quickly explained that’s why he’ll never take his fans for granted.