Cold Coors, Hot Chicken And Christening A Dome

My ears are still ringing, my mind is still trying to process the sensory overload from Garth Brooks mega-show at Atlanta's new Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Arthur Blanks' billion-plus baby is Jerry Jones' world ... just newer.

Garth said yes to being the first concert at the home of the Falcons. A concert in the round and wings of the stage stretching 100 yards. Garth rushed for more yards than the Falcons and the place was louder than a game, too.

Eighty-thousand-plus singing Garth fans in a confined space is something to hear.

The sound for the upper seats was pretty bad and the fans have been heard. Something about speakers not working up there. Down low on the field crisp and fantastic. The perils of a stadium show!

Garth and Trisha remain down-to-earth people. They really haven't changed from the first day of meeting them when they barely had one hit a piece. President Carter even dropped by to give Miss Yearwood a state proclamation. She is a proud Georgian from little Monticello, south of Atlanta.

With an unannounced Nashville show in the works, this tour of three years is about done. Trisha says in January they will sleep.

2018 could mean Europe ... separate shows and maybe Garth goes Vegas again.

Garth has so much respect for Steve Wynn and enjoyed a great deal working at the Wynn/Encore on the strip. Unplugged...

On the eve of Garth in Atlanta, it was a trip to Kid Rock's double-wide on a North Nashville hilltop. Casual dinner and cocktails it said. On a school night but hey, you only live once.

Kid Rock ... Bob Ritchie couldn't have been more charming. A real talented, nice guy and excellent host. Who knew?

Kid Rock's public image is one thing with politics, hard rock n rap, and general wildness. Off the clock, he is a smart guy with great musical instincts. Big things to come from the Motor City wild man turned Tennessee and Alabama double-wide citizen.

He has a lot of stories. More to come on his future very soon.

All in one week with a backstage at NASCAR's Charlotte track somewhere in between.

In a casual conversation with NASCAR boss Mike Helton, the racing folks know Country folks are at their roots and base. Brad Paisley was the Grand Marshall of the race and Carly Pearce sang the anthem.

Like the music business, the NASCAR world is going through big changes, too. The older racers are stepping down and the new bunch is coming in. Just like Country, the change and growing pains can be huge. The older loyal audience feels ignored. It happens and it hasn't been easy for Country music, either, getting more and more into a new crop of hit makers.

I still contend many of the hot Country format bosses are deaf and program their stations accordingly. They worry about the wrong things ... explain how a radio station playing a short playlist and 12 minutes of commercials an hour can beat these streaming services? In theory at least. Every geographical market is different. Apps and streaming are even starting to effect the television business.

You wonder if the 15 artists currently in favor are picked for their look and age and whatever they do is okay. Still some PDs won't play Garth even though he's Top 20. Hip factor missing, or is it their common sense?

You need a show to be in show business. The Talk stations get it. The biggest most successful morning shows talk a lot. It's a game and the numbers tricks are in play. Is playing nonstop music with robots in the control room the future? I hope not.

Stars with stories and charm and new music will be the ones you want to be in business with. The Amazon drone consumers are not loyal and are about whatever trend is today. We live in a very complicated world.

And yes, if the women start shaking the music tree looking to out Nashville's Harvey Weinsteins, better fasten your seat belts.