Garth Brooks brings old-school energy to sold-out DC crowd

WASHINGTON – Does any artist love being onstage more than Garth Brooks?

The sporadic eruptions of “YEAAAHHHH!”

The hat-tipping in gratitude to yet another sold-out crowd that has relished his 350-plus song catalog, some since the ‘90s, others who weren’t even born in the ‘90s.

“They say if they show up, you’re lucky. And if they come back, you’re blessed,” Brooks, 64, told the frenzied devotees packing Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18.

Since a surprise announcement in July that he would return to arenas, first announcing shows only in Indianapolis, then adding Denver, Chicago and D.C. – some with matinees, all with multiple nights – Brooks has been gleefully rolling through two-hour shows packed with indelible hits. He’ll close out September in Orlando and head to Salt Lake City for a pair of concerts early next month.

Brooks is intentionally harkening to “The Old Stuff” – as he sings in the opening song – commissioning an open-backed stage setup, double-sided screens that curved in a halo, yo-yo-ing lights and the indelible double drum pod, which went airborne like a George Lucas creation during a raucous “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up).”

Brooks and his heavyweight…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/