Rural Route Music by Bluegrass Johnson 

 

 

BITTER SWEET, Ky. – When Garth Brooks retired a few years back, I thought to myself at the time, this won’t last.

How could this high-energy, country artist of the century walk off the stage he seemed to love so well and not come back.

Well, without saying I told you so … I told you so.

Brooks is back complete with a new song release and an extensive concert schedule. By the way, he left the stage to be with his family – so you can’t fault the guy for that.

I remember the first time I saw Brooks in concert. It was actually on television; one of many televised concerts he did in the 90s.

My dad, God rest his soul, was watching with me. Being the old-time, traditional country music lover he was, my father left the room after about five minutes of the show.

Brooks wasn’t and isn’t a performer for the faint of heart. He has enough energy wrapped up in a stage show it could light up Nashville in a hail storm.

But that’s the thing you have to love about him. He took good ol’ boy music to a whole new demographic in the early days, not to mention a slew of songs that made you think, made you cry, made you mad, made you smile and always left you wanting more.

Friends in Low Places was one of my favorites and one he modified during his stage show to include a line the radio stations couldn’t play at the time – no satellite radio back then – and send the crowd into a tizzy.

What about The Thunder Rolls, The Dance and Ain’t Goin Down Till the Sun Comes Up?

All those came back for this new show along with many other favorites and a couple of new tunes. Many of the same band members were also on stage along with his wife, singing sensation Trisha Yearwood.

People Loving People is the new Brooks song and the first new one to hit the airwaves in several years. The song reminds me of the Brooks of old and more is set to come this fall. 

Of course his first shows are sell outs; and of course, his old fans are in seventh Heaven once again filling arenas to hear the best-selling solo artist of all time.

Now the question is, will he create new fans? I’m pretty sure that’s a dumb question. If the old Brooks charisma is what it used to be, he’ll have fans for the next 100 years.

You know, I think my dear old dad, God rest his soul, probably went to his room that night and watched the rest of the show!

Garth gets a big ol’ 100 percent, A for coming back to millions of adoring fans, both old and new and looking the same as he did 12 years ago. You gotta love that.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody.

From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.