I've Got Friends in Faux Places
October 15, 2009
In September of 1984, three friends and I left our homes near Logan Circle, walked several blocks to the McPherson Square subway station, and rode the train to RFK stadium.
The day before we had shelled out money we could ill-afford to a scalper to procure four tickets to the Jackson’s “Victory Tour”, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, we were all kind of excited.
I only owned an illegitimate blank-taped cassette copy of the Thriller album (the term file-sharing had yet to be invented), and I wasn’t terribly into pop music, but still … it was Michael Motherf**king Jackson. Even at that point, arguably one of the greatest pure entertainers alive.
When we got there, we found that our seats were so high up that any of us could have informed NASA that there was no life on Mars without that expensive “Rover” program. We were practically on the surface of the planet.
It didn’t matter, though … being there was everything.
When giant lasers began shooting into the air and Michael Jackson took to the stage, a lady in the row in front of me dropped. Just completely fainted. People started fanning her with papers and tried to bring her back up, but she was as limp as Steve Wynn’s pecker while reading Playboy.
She eventually regained consciousness only to … faint again.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an individual so overcome with awe to be in the presence of another human being. My effect on the ladies comes close, but on this point I think I have to give the nod to Mike.
When he passed away in June, I got a few emails wondering why I had failed to mention it at all. Due to the Vegas connection it was a huge deal here locally, but I really had nothing to add at the time.
After the early 80’s I didn’t pay much attention to MJ and it would have been just another hop on the opportunistic bandwagon. “Everybody look at me, I liked Michael Jackson too!” Now that the hype has died down, it seems slightly less tacky.
Danny Gans was a bit different.
For several months prior, a couple members of my forums had been having a running debate about the relative merits of Danny’s showmanship, and although in the overwhelming minority, I was solidly in the “favorable” column.
I had recently seen his show, and learned some things behind-the-scenes from people who were close to him. Some of the things I learned garnered a great amount of respect from yours truly … especially his efforts to keep his show accessible to locals who could no longer afford the ticket prices he was commanding. Some of his people appreciated certain things I had written supporting him, and I was going to see his show in his new home at the Encore.
Obviously, that never happened.
In the midst of my “discovery” (for lack of a better term) of Gan’s showmanship, and literally while discussing it both publicly and privately, the completely unexpected happened. I was quite bummed at the time, and the rumors that followed seemed to underscore the parasitism under which the majority of media operates.
It was a shame that I only made an effort to meet some people after it was too late and solely to pay respects after the fact, but I consider it a lesson learned the hard way.
Anyway, the show must go on, and it looks like it finally will.
After several months of speculation, a performer has finally been chosen to occupy the Danny Gans Theater on a regular basis. That person is Garth Brooks.
Gath Brooks Performing in the Encore Theater
While I’ve never seen Brooks in person, and would not consider myself a rank-and-file fan, I really dug his cover of “Hard Luck Woman” with KISS, and the guy seems to be flexible with his musical style.
Brooks is a middle-America red state kind of guy, so his announcement is a tiny bit surprising to me given that Wynn typically tries to cater more to the fabulous Beyonce-loving Macbook crowd, so this choice also shows a bit of lucidness.
I think the realization that the Metrosexual Mafia will not act as our saviors is beginning to dawn even on Steve, and as such, I give the man kudos.
If Steve can manage to pull some of Toby Keith’s “I love everything!” folks from Harrah’s north to the Wynn, I don’t see how this move can be a bad thing even though he would greatly prefer a different demographic. Wynn has even gone on record claiming that the current occupants of the Encore are “not the people he built it for”.
Fortunately, even a guy who insults his own customers and skims from his employees is well aware that pseudo-cowboy money is as green as goatee money.
Speaking of the faux-cowboy culture, I would be lying if I said that it didn’t amuse me a tiny bit.
Much like white guys yelling about shooting people in the galleria ghetto, I would assume that less than 1% of people who wear cowboy hats have ever … you know … done cowboy stuff. Especially as an occupation.
People give me a hard time about wearing prescription sunglasses indoors which I use to see, but they never seem to appreciate the absurd overkill of wearing a goddamn cowboy hat and boots indoors. Seriously, what are these people expecting? A stampede?
Driving Ford trucks and drinking Budweiser beer is as “cowboy” as most country music fans get, but entertainment is meant to be an escape so I doubt it matters too terribly much.
While I don’t listen to pop-country very often myself, I’m sure the Garth Brooks gig will be a hell of a show and I’ll definitely see it.
Hopefully I will not be alone.
The north sighyeeeeed needs a little bit more tourist love, and after a string of disappointing developments, this is a bit of long-overdue positive news.
Now if you will excuse me, I am off to purchase a ten gallon hat. I assure you that this has nothing to do with fronting, posing, or blending in with the soon-to-be-present country music fans.
The last time I drove cattle from the Wynn Parking Garage to the Danny Gans Theater, I got one hell of a sunburn on my face. Not only that, but since I had on mere tennis shoes, my horse was completely unresponsive in the freight elevator.
You can be damn sure I won’t make that mistake again.
Written by Rex on October 15, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I just learned that tickets are $125/each.
Ouch.
That’s a bit steep.
Written by Pyramid_GM on October 15, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Cowboys don’t drink Budweiser Rex ……….Coors Light!!
Written by Chuckreis on October 15, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I would pay that. People pay hundreds to scalpers to see his show in a huge arena so I consider that a fair price to see him in a small theater. I am not huge fan of his but no one I know that has seen him live has said anything except it was the best show they ever saw. I don’t think he could top Prince or PJ though.
Written by GeorgeX on October 15, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I am not a country fan anyways and Garth certainly is talented but I lost respect for him as a person when he tried to push is weight around by insisting that his record label not ship his latest release at the time to record stores that also sold used CDs.
Written by philipj on October 15, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I respect Garth Brooks as a real man who cares about his fans. He refused to allow tickets to be sold via “Ticketscalper” due to their excess charges. Further he kept track of how man people attended his shows. At a midwest show, he called a certain ticket holder up to the stage. He told the lady she was the 1,000,000th person to buy a ticket to his concerts, and with that they drove a brand new Ford(?) Pick/ Up truck, fully loaded and handed her the keys. He also has the kind of good manners where he has trouble sitting down in the presence of a lady, until she takes a seat. There is just not enough men who have any idea of what good manners are.
Written by Joe Blow on October 15, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I’m surprised about the prices. I’ve never been into country, but my wife is. Last time Garth Brooks played here, the ticket prices were around $20.00. And all of the tickets in the arena were that price. Seat selection was the luck of the draw, but you still paid $20.00 no matter which seat you were offered. He sold out 3 shows. I’ve always respected him for keeping ticket prices affordable to his fans.
So the $125.00 price is a bit of a shock and I would not pay that much to see him. I don’t know how much of the pricing is dictated by Wynn, but you can’t charge Streisand prices for the Hee Haw crowd.
By the way, he does put on a good show.
Written by Rex on October 15, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I think the price is too high and I’ll tell you why.
It’s assigned seating, no-tier, single price.
This means that the person in the front row pays $125, and the person in the back row of the balcony pays $125.
Prince also cost $125, but it was general admission. I worked my way to the front of the stage and had I been so compelled, I could have reached out and gotten a high-five from the man as many around me did.
This was worth a buck twenty five.
Don’t quote me (I haven’t been to the venue since Prince left), but I believe 3121 was about a 700 person venue.
The Gans theater is over 1,000. Again … planted in their seats up to 100′ from the stage and/or in a balcony.
I’ve heard that Garth Brooks puts on one of the best live gigs in the business, and I’ve no doubt that’s true. You have to give the guy mad respect because of what he has done, and the millions of fans that attest to his greatness.
I wouldn’t pay $125 to see anyone from more than 15 rows back, though.
I paid about that much to stand at the rail for Guns N’ Roses. I knew one of the touring guitarists, and it was an incredible show.
I’ve seen most everybody in the rock genre, and there are many fantastic bands out there touring and I’ve seen some shows that were so good that you just want to shoot yourself afterward because you assume you’ll never see a better show in your lifetime.
Pearl Jam seats were $40 at the MGM Grand, and I’m sorry, in my opinion there is no better live act on the planet. It’s not just the band, it’s the crowd. There are very few shows you can go to with a 30 song set where every person with floor seats knows the words to every song, including freaking Yellow Ledbetter which doesn’t even have any goddamn Earth words in it.
I MIGHT pay that for Brooks if I was told I was going to be in first 5 rows, but after that, probably not.
Consider that it will be at least $250 for a couple, and god forbid that couple take their 2 kids for $500. Now think about these people in the back row.
2007, maybe, 2009, it’s going to be tough.
I’m not being critical, and I’m sure Brooks is worth it … assuming you don’t spend 70% of the show watching it on a monitor.
Written by Keith on October 15, 2009 at 6:01 pm
“This means that the person in the front row pays $125, and the person in the back row of the balcony pays $125.” – doubtful – usually those front row seats go to radio stations/promoters/casino hosts/etc to be either given out to people who can easily afford them or are resold at highly marked up prices.
As for the cowboy hats, i never understood it either. I don’t wear hats, but when i do, it’s a baseball cap of some sort – you know, a hat that is normal/common from this century. You don’t see people wearing chain mail, so enough with the cowboy hats. 2 exceptions: you’re an actual cattle wrangler, or you are at least 50 years old and the hat is as worn and weatherbeaten as the guy wearing it. Nothing worse than some cowboy version of the metrosexual douchebag, only in tight jeans, a huge belt buckle, boots and a brand new stetson.
Written by BeeeJay on October 15, 2009 at 8:40 pm
$143 with service fee and tax.
I think i am gonna start the new fad wearing chain mail.
Chicks go nuts for chain mail butts!
Written by Johhny on October 16, 2009 at 6:43 am
Do you happen to have a source for that Steve Wynn quote? Just curious.
Written by Huddler on October 16, 2009 at 7:20 am
This announcement was the worst kept secret in Nashville for the past couple months. Here is the story from our local rag:
http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2009/10/15/garth-brooks-talks-about-life-without-retirement/
Written by Rex on October 16, 2009 at 7:29 am
This announcement was the worst kept secret in Nashville for the past couple months.
I agree that it wasn’t exactly a closely held secret. It’s been circulating for awhile, but unfortunately Las Vegas is the world’s largest unfounded rumor mill on the planet … except for maybe LA.
Michael Jackson was on the rumor block to have a show here for awhile as well back in 2006 or 2007, as was Shitney and a few others.
Assuming things are true until they happen here is likely to make one only 30% accurate, which is a percentage that I personally find unacceptable.
Written by The Vegas Flea on October 16, 2009 at 7:55 am
There are very few shows you can go to with a 30 song set where every person with floor seats knows the words to every song…
I get your point, but for the sake of conversation, I can add a couple of more, where not only the every person on the floor knows all the words to every song, every person in the entire venue knows every word to every song. First, Metallica. The crowd energy at a Metallica concert is unfreakin’ real, and like you, I’ve seen a lot of freakin shows, hundreds of them actually. Another, was Grateful Dead concerts, the freaks knew every word to hundreds of songs. The energy was a bit different, but still cool.
As far as the ticket prices to this crap, no thanks. I’ll go only if someone hands me a ticket and it’s 100% free. New country music is simply bad rock and roll. It’s horrible. That said though, I suppose I can put Garth Brooks slightly higher on the list than some of the newer artists.
Written by MrCdnVegas on October 16, 2009 at 11:07 am
I watched the press conference live on Garth Brooks web site yesterday…..
1) Ticket price was decided by Steve Wynn. During the webcast Brooks was asked about the Ticket price. He stated that he did not want the $125, but $50. Wynn’s reply was that $125 was the standard for Vegas shows, and that would stay that way.
2) You should have seen the face Brooks made when Wynn started to talk about how many “casino reserved” tickets per show and where they would be………I’m thinking that Wynn may have a little explaining to Brooks about that issue. (Brooks made a point after this came up that he does’nt care if your a VIP or not. Everyone should be treated the same and get the same chance at the best tickets)……I think Brooks is in for a “Vegas” wake up about the VIP crap that goes on.
3) Brooks make a point to say that these concerts will not be the big flashy “filmed for NBC” ones that many have seen on TV. He said it will be more of a one on one feel, may or may not have a backup band, and will be a differnt show every night. Inculding what songs of his own he plays, what cover songs he does, and how long he plays. Wynn said that Brooks only time limit for show length would be how much rest he wants between Saturday afternoons show and Saturday nights show.
4) Sounds like who every buys the tickets will need to produce ID to prove that you did not buy them scalped.
I have seen Brooks twice. Very good each time. One was the big flash type show, one was a more mellow one, but he is good at both types.
As for hats and boots. Every year, even if you are not a true Cowboy, the Calgary Stampede turns the whole town into one. I must say that Chicks dig the Hat and Boots look up here. Plus you can’t get away with the whole “save a horse, ride a Cowboy” if you don’t have a hat.
Written by Bazzito52 on October 16, 2009 at 11:19 am
Well, Kieth, I’m going to have to disagree about the cowboy hats.
About four years ago, I took my entire family on a trip throgh Utah, Nevada, and California. We stopped in Reno for a few days and attended the championship rodeo there. It was unseasonably hot for July, and I bought cowboy hats for the entire family.
Now, I’m also a baseball cap wearer, but I had to admit after about 4 munutes in the cowby hat that it is without question the coolest, most comfortable headgear I’d ever worn. I wore it as much as possible on the trip and was resolved to make it a regular item of apparel on my return home.
Sadly, it hasn’t been all that practical. The reason? The headrests in my car!! It is simply not possible to wear a cowboy hat in a 2005 Cadillac Deville. On a horse, you’re fine. But in a Detroit sedan, modern cowboys are SOL!
Written by ColinFromLasVegas on October 16, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Rex in a ten gallon hat, levi jeans, large belt with a buckle that’s as big as his head, pointy toe kill cockroaches in corner snakeskin boots, Texas string tie, walking bowlegged into a joint after driving his pick ‘em up truck with the gun rack in the back windah and the bumper sticker on back that says “CAUTION! DRIVER CHEWING TOBACCO!” into a parking garage and immediately reaching down and scratching his balls and saying out loud, “Golllllll-Damn!” as he looks around.
After reading his blogs, I’m sorry, but I just can’t see it.
Written by keith on October 18, 2009 at 7:55 am
the concept of the cowboy hat makes sense – the brim covers your face, ears and neck. It was designed for people working outside, either on a horse or off, where the sun is beating down on you for all hours. it also works great to divert rain away from the same areas. But in the modern age, it loses practicality in a car or other areas.
to me it just looks plain goofy.