Garth: The Pied Piper

I'm in Macon, Georgia, where Brad Paisley is about to play to a near sellout crowd. It will be hard to focus after last Saturday night's Garth Brooks love fest in Los Angeles. I've read the reviews, but all the words really don't describe the in arena vibe for that show. It was a bit of time travel and a bit of an adult version of Hannah Montana. Garth is up to who knows what with all these marathon shows -- and five million "Ultimate Hits" CDs that have been sold.

I just know that the Garth I saw a few days ago has a relationship with his audience that few, very few, entertainers have ever had. It's loving and respectful and fun. I purposely turned around and looked around a few time to look at people's faces and their smiles, singing along and dancing and having a great time. Only a few times did anyone even try to sit down. ( I'm getting too old to stand up for two hours, but I did)

Garth is the Ray Kroc of Country music. (Kroc invented McDonald's, if you're a young tyke). He markets himself like no one individual. Not Elvis or the Beatles. He is a marketing machine like the machine they had. His music is story-telling cowboy music. But brands don't do the guy justice.

I know that Garth is worshiped by some and disliked by others. Some of that dislike I am sure is jealousy. He is an icon and a mystery. I took my 5th grader who knew only "Pina Colada" and "Friends in Low Places." She walked away a big fan. He has stage magic and it has and still does work best LIVE.

It is the Garth concert that makes him a must for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Words cannot capture the "I have no problems in the world " place that Garth can take you to for two hours . That is a very special talent. I hope his girls force him back on that stage soon. The world is a better place when Garth is running around that stage sweating and smiling.

That was a Valentine's card to Garth I know. But it's the way I feel and felt after leaving that 5 pm show, the fourth of five.

This week ... what else? Sure seems to be a lot of weird rating books coming in for people. Can you say ethnic weighting? Up one book, down the next. They are simply not accurate. It's a voodoo science at best!

Since Brad Paisley is on my mind, how cool is it that he is going to do an instrumental CD? Good to see some art remains in our digital downloading world.

CRS is coming, so the empty heads can be filled with booze and promise of the new artists on the way. Sure haven't seen the future big deals yet! Who then?

The Grammys are next. Trying to decide whether to go ... leaning toward not. Seems like a pretty major Country music insult, for starters. Carrie and Brad only? Not sure. I hate that ride on Southwest! Painful!

Hats off to anyone who travels now for a living! Is there a more junky, bus station place than LAX Terminal One/Southwest? It's a third world country and embarrassing or should be to L.A. and Southwest. It has to be fire code illegal with overcrowding! Maybe not. Awful!

I am listening and buying more music than I have in 10 years minimum. iTunes is great and easy ... and it works. Got a new thing from Sony BMG for downloading. Will try it this week. The physical CD world with DVD, too, is going to disappear before your very eyes. Watch!

Taking a tour artist's road money and merchandise cut is not the way to save the record companies. Watch this, too, backfire. I'm not sure what the answer is, but a more repressive recording contract is not the answer.

Okay ... jet lag and crazy weather is telling me to get going to Brad's show. He's a good entertainer and artist -- very different from Mr. Brooks, but equally worthy. We have some real talents in this Country music industry. You just have to get past the hot flavors of the day!

Note to Marty Stuart and XM: What a cool show on the Lousiana Hayride today. The Hank, Sr. and Elvis aircheck stuff was really cool. Never heard that James Burton cut either ... what terrestrial radio is missing is non-jukebox entertainment. Give me a reason to tune in! A benchmark. SOMETHING besides playing "Stay" over and over again. SCREAM! The song is one of the best performances by any singer ever ... wow ... BUT enough already. It makes you want to jump out the window now. Who still wants to hear that distressing song five times a day on the way to work, too. That can't be good programming!