#Garth Brooks Concert Events

[cosmickid-inmotion]

About a Girl: Chapter 5

Beautiful header by my beloved @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog

Joel Miller x Trans!Fem!Reader (Nickname, Blue)

Series Masterlist : The Last of Us Masterlist : Full Masterlist

Summary: For week 3 of my pride event: Sex. Joel and Blue make everything official. Kayla ruins everything.

ADDITIONAL WARNING: Sorry ya'll this just happened with the story and it felt right for what was happening and the characters.. Warning for brief DV nothing extreme or detailed.

Warnings for whole fic, not chapter by chapter: 18+ ONLY!! I cannot warn against everything, but these are major themes. Joel is a lil ignorant but not out of hate. He just doesn't know. He's trying his best. There will be smut. Penetrative sex, all of the anal play, oral. There will be transphobia from other people. Addiction and alcoholism. QUICK child neglect not by Joel but I promise, Sarah is fine and is having a great time in life. Fetishization of women attracted to women by a shitty guy. Will update as needed. Again, this is adult content. Expect adult content.

Immersivity: Reader is transgender, AMAB female, reader has had gotten bottom surgery, not top, and is on hormones. reader has visible hair and a blue streak in hair, but not described. Could be braids, could be natural hair, whatever. Header is for aesthetics only. Reader is about Joel and Tommy's height. Let me know if i miss anything!

A/N: Not to sound like a 2012 wattpad writer but I cried writing this.

TRANS LIVES MATTER! TRANS YOUTH MATTER! TRANS ELDERLY MATTER! TRANS WOMEN MATTER! TRANS MEN MATTER! NON BINARY TRANS MATTER!

Things had been going well for weeks. Kayla had been taking Sarah on weekends consistently, which meant she didn’t have a man to distract her. This, however, meant she didn’t have a man to distract her away from Joel’s love life. Still, a little bit of boundary setting had done well for him, and Kayla had mostly been minding her business. Joel was able to see Blue every weekend, and was even able to spend more time with Tommy and Tess which was rare. 

Tonight, he had just got done having dinner at your house and was cuddling on the couch with you in his arms, all wrapped up. He liked moments like this a lot. Don’t get him wrong, he’d gone to another show with you and had a good time, but he was definitely happy to just sit at home with you.

You’d seemed an unlikely pair, you and him. You liked leather and black and grunge. He liked country and jeans and… well he wasn’t really sure what he really ”liked”, honestly. He loved Sarah. He liked All That, he liked Arthur, he didn't like Barney, he liked Franklin… what did he watch when Sarah was in bed? Sleep. He mostly slept. Sometimes he watched King of the Hill… he listened to Clinton Black, Garth Brooks… Sarah liked Reba, which was nice. Things to do for fun? He liked to play the guitar for Sarah. He liked to go to the park with Sarah. He liked to go with Sarah and Tommy to the roller rink… 

“I’d like yuh to meet Sarah.” Joel said against your ear, arms wrapped around your waste as he lay propped up against the arm rest. “Really meet her this time”

You paused, then sat up to turn and face him. You were smiling softly, eyes wide. “Really? I don’t want you to feel like you have to… but I’d love too…” Something hit you, making you bite your lip. “Introduce me as… what, exactly.” When you saw his eyes widen, you told him he didn’t have to pick a label right now, but he cut you off.

“My girlfriend. If you wanna.”

You squeal, returning to his arms for a hug and a kiss. “Yes!!!”

Joel returns the kiss, pulling you close, sliding a hand to the small of your back as you deepened the kiss, straddling his body. You and him had been making out, and of course the blow job outside the concert, but no sex. Not yet…

“Stay the night.” You whispered between kisses. “We don’t gotta do nothing you’re not ready for, but I’d love if you wanted to stay over”

Joel looked up at you, heart swelling faster than his cock in his pants. He reached up to touch your face. “I’m ready… only if you wanna”

You responded by grinding your cunt over his jeans, kissing him once more. You slide your tongue into his mouth, dominating the kiss and him. When you make it to the bedroom, Joel follows your lead, letting you press him up against the door as you fiddle with his belt. “Got any- mphhh- got any questions?”

His brow furrowed, looking a little confused and flushed. “With what? I don’t know if you know this, but I ain’t a virgin. Kid and all.”

“Yeah, I’m aware.” You chuckle. “I meant with the whole ‘not born with a vagina’ thing.”

The look on his face told you he forgot about that. “Oh. Um… I guess… can you… um…”

“Orgasm?!?!” You bawked, in disbelief that at the prospect of having sex with a transwomen, something he barely knew existed before you, and he’s concerned if you’re going to have a good time. “Yes, I can orgasm Joel. I got a fucked ton of lube by my drawer too, so we’re covered there, baby. Just.” you sigh, guiding him to the bed as you pull down his pants. “Sweetie,” You coo, his big brown eyes gazing adoringly as you return to your rightful place above him. “Just let me take care of you tonight, ‘kay? I got you.”

Awestruck, you nodded. “Yes ma’am.” In his dark boxer briefs, his cock is straining, heavy.

You slowly pull his briefs down, Joel humps his hips up to help and you stare in aw as his cock strings free. He’s hung, absolutely packing and you can see why Tess came back for a few more rounds. Getting a chance to look at him, really look at him this time… Big dick, big eyes, big man… bigger heart. He’s soft, kind. He’s gentle in a way you’d never seen from a southern farmer, a body capable of total destruction if he wanted to, but no room in his heart for it. You couldn’t imagine your sweet, precious man hurting anyone.

When you took him in your mouth, you couldn’t make it all the way down. You’d practice on tat, vowing to be able to deep throat him, but it didn’t seem to matter. He was a mess already. When was the last time he fucked someone? It’d been a few years since Tess and she never mentioned Joel having a girl since Kayla… You wanted to make him feel good. But Joel had other plans. 

“Wanna taste you.” He begs, tugging at your hair. “Really wanna taste you, Blue, please?” Joel is practically whimpering at you like a puppy and god, who are you to deny him? 

“You ever had someone sit on your face, Joel?”

He nods. Good, you didn’t wanna freak him out. He’s not a virgin, but you didn’t think he was the most experienced either. “Stay there.”

You spread your legs over his face, carefully lowering yourself on him when he surprises you by grabbing your thighs and yanking you down. “Hungry boy” You chuckle, delighted with his excitement. He shows no interest in the slight scarring, if he was even paying enough attention to notice; he seemed preoccupied.

Joel devoured you whole, moving and working with your body as you ground yourself on his face. He felt good, he knew what he was doing, that was for sure. Even if he didn’t get out much, he certainly had the enthusiasm. “Fuck Joel, just like that… Just like that…” You’re sure to make sure he knows he’s doing good, you weren’t going to get wet on your own. His nose nudges along your fold as he sucks on your clit when you bend over, jacking him off. You’d love to 69 him -he deserved it- but you didn’t want him orgasming too soon, and the poor guy was already looking like he was just barely hanging on as it was. You cum in his mouth, shouting out his name as you grip his perfect cock tightly, so tight you can’t believe he didn’t spurt all over your hand but you would have forgiven him if he had with the feeling he gave you. Riding his nose and putty lower lip until you’re done taking all your pleasure. 

When you flop over on the bed, Joel is on you in a second, lips sucking in yours desperately. He needs you, you can tell, but won’t ask for it. Joel isn’t the kind to take. He’s a giver. If you asked him to eat you out again he would, and would, and would until you’re ran dry and he’d just lay there, cock hard, cleaning you up. Because that was Joel. 

But you weren’t going to do that to him. Because he deserved to know he was worthy of love, pleasure, happiness.

When you drop on top of him, encasing him in your lubed up, warm cunt. He opens you in a way you’ve never felt before, making you moan onto the stubbled jaw you were kissing, making you whimper in such a way he asked if you were okay. No one on this earth was a better man than Joel Miller.

You rode him, hands pressed against his firm pecs and stomach rubbing against his softness. All the lifting in the world wasn’t going to work his abs, and the man was living off junk and the real food Frank made for lunch. He’s soft around the edges. Joel is a whiny, moaning mess and you savor every single second of it. Breathing in his shuttered exhales, letting it be your breath of life no matter how your legs burned as you bounced. Thumbs to soft inner thighs, you gave until your heart burst.

“I love you.” You blurt out, voice shaking as you admit your feelings, perhaps too soon. You hold your breath, closing your eyes tight as your brace for rejection, or even more scary; his devotion. Upright and spearing yourself on his sweet dick, you continue your movements blindly.

Until you feel him rise up.

Joel surged towards you, wrapping your body up in one arm and gripping the back of your neck with the other hand. Chest to chest, lips to lips, body to warm, adoring body.

“I love you,” He fucks his hips up into your body, muttering against your lips and cheek. “I love you so much, Blue.” And you believe him. 

Joel comes inside after you beg him for it. One orgasm is enough for you, you generally can’t twice but Joel does have you doubting that. He fills you up, clutching your ass and shoulders to him with fingers in your skin and face buried in your neck.

*

You wake up to your landline ringing. 

“Hello?” You answer quietly, but Joel stirs anyway.

On the other side, you hear Tommy. “Hey Blue, Joel with you?”

“Yeah, everything okay?”

Joel is up, eyes wide recognizing his brother's voice. He likes the phone from you. “Tommy? You alright?”

“Jesus Joel, had me worried. Kayla called damn near every bar in town trying to get a hold of me.”

“Shit.” Joel mutters, sitting on the side of the bed. “Sarah okay?”

Tommy said he didn’t know, but Kayla had been trying to call him. Joel hung up, searching for his phone. After calling Sarah good night, it fell under the bed.

You watch him frantically call Kayla, being sure to keep quiet. You know his ex can get jealous and he doesn’t need more stress. He’s so clearly worried, and you are too. It’s 1:30 am, if Kayla is calling then something is wrong with Sarah. “Whats wrong? Where’s Sarah?”

“She won’t stop crying, Joel.” Kayla snaps at him. Is she just calling because Sarah’s crying?

Joel scrubs his face. “Kayla, did you try comforting her?”

“Of course I did, you fucking asshole” You didn’t like how she speak to Joel, and you seethed in your anger, mouth still shut. “She won’t stop screaming. You need to pick her up, I can’t fucking do this.”

Joel sighs, standing up. You begin gathering his things for him. He’s butt naked, dick swinging. “Jesus, okay, I’ll come get her. Just go hold her, okay? She gets scared at night.”

Kayla snapped at him, saying she’s aware. 

He turns to you, apologetic. “I’m so-”

“Don’t you dare fucking apoligise, cowboy.” You toss him his briefs. “Sarah comes first, always. I’d do the same if I had a kid.”

He mumbles, redressing. “She always does this. Begs and cries about never seeing her, but sends her back early. Breaks Sarah’s little heart, you know? The uncertainty. She always dressed up so cute to see her mom, always brings her best art she makes at kindergarten, picture books she can read… even pretends to like Mariah Carey when she used to make me change the station. I can’t fucking take it.”

Your heart hurts for Sarah and Joel. Your own mom and dad never got you, even before coming out as trans or gay. You just were never right in their eyes. Years later, you start to think it was more about them than it was you. Who you are now is who you were always meant to be. You are happy. They are still miserable.

“Go get your daughter, Joel.” You kiss his cheek after he pulls his boots on. “Call me in the morning, or whenever you have time.”

He pauses, stopping to wrap his arms around you, strong and safe. “I meant every single word I said, Blue. I love you.”

“I know.” And you did.

*

After speeding on the empty roads, Joel makes it in record time, parking in front of some jacked up truck and  knocking on the door. He didn’t want to ring in case Sarah fell back asleep. The door flung open to reveal and frazzled Kayla. “About time, she’s been screaming non stop!” She opened the door and Joel looked inside, not seeing her but hearing her scream frantically. Kayla was dressed in a flownsy night top and panties, makeup lightly on like she kept when she first started sleeping over at Joel’s parents.

“Where is she?” He follows the sound of her cries. She sounds absolutely batshit terrified, calling mommy, mommy, mommy. He’s unfamiliar with Kayla place. “Sarah? Where are you baby girl?”

The mommy’s switched to daddy’s with renewed vigor and Joel quickly found the room, running to it but finding the bedroom door locked. He jiggled it, hearing Sarah’s voice on the other end of sobbing for him. Something was wrong. “It’s okay, baby girl. I’m here. Daddy’s here.” He tried to sound calm but turned to Kayla, furious. “Why is the door locked.”

“Don’t raise your voice at-”

“KAYLA UNLOCK IT!”

Kayla grabbed the key from a table nearby, explaining as she unlocked it, Joel’s voice reassuring Sarah she was safe it was okay. 

“She had a nightmare, said she saw you and Tommy die on that stupid fucking farm. Wouldn’t shut the fuck up when I tried to tell her you’re-”

As soon as it was unlocked Joel burst in, dropping to his knees to scoop up his baby and soothe her. Sarah continued to cry, but relief to it.

“I’m okay, my baby. I’m okay, so is uncle Tommy. I promise.” His hands felt her shampoo or conditioner soupy residue in there. Joel told her not to wash Sarah’s hair, that it was washed the night before but she didn’t listen. Kayla never took time with washing it, rinsing it properly.

After getting the number of the last bar that Kayla found Tommy at, he got a hold of his brother when Sarah was yet to be reassured her beloved uncle was alive.

“See Sare-Bear! I’m right as rain! I even promise to make you chocolate chip pancakes in the morning, even if your dad says no, okay?”

Sarah niffles, still clearly shook up and visible shaking in her barbie nightie, but better. “O-okay. You promise you’re not hurt?”

“Not one bit, never been better. Want me to come home?”

“No… no…” But she didn’t sound certain.

Once Sarah was reassured, Joel scooped her up. She clung to her dad, clutching his shirt in her little hands. Joel turned to Kayla with a glare. “You locked my daughter in her room when she thought her dad and uncle were D-E-A-D?” He spelled out, making Kayla roll her eyes. 

“You cuddle her too much, you and Tommy both. She needs to learn to cry it out.”

“One, she’s 5 and had a horrible nightmare. Two, you literally called me!” Then, Joel heard a thump coming from another room and it made sense now. The truck, Kayla underwear and makeup. “Kayla. Do you have a man in the house right now?”

She looked like she was about to lie, then thought better of it. “What I do with my home is none of your business.”

He tried to keep calm, chest rising and falling in anger against Sarah, still gently sniffing. They had an agreement on this. “How long have you known this man.”

She crossed her arms defensively, “A few weeks.”

His jaw ticked. “You brought a man you barely know to sleep over while my daughter is here?” In anger, he turned around, walking to the door but Kayla shouted after him.

“Relax Joel! This ain’t even the first time! Sarah likes him, he’s nice, he-”

Whipping around, Joel took long footsteps towards Kayla, clutching Sarah who had begun crying again. Sarah knew when a fight was happening. “How long as this been going on? Do you leave her alone with him?” Then he realized… if Sarah met him, and never mentioned him… he took a deep breath. “Kayla. Did you tell my child not to tell her father about a man? Did you seriously tell her to keep a secret from me?”

Joel never ever said. “don’t tell mom.” Ever. His heart raced in fear about the potition she was put in. If Sarah didn’t think she could tell him about the man, if anything happened, she’d keep that a secret too.

“Joel, it’s not a -”

“Don’t! No more sleepovers Kayla! No more of this until you can stop doing stupid-”

Seeing the slap coming and bracing for it was the only thing keeping his face from rolling into Sarah’s head. His eyes remained closed, blurring with tears. Not of pain, but humiliation. Knowing Sarah just heard her mom hit her dad. He’d always managed to keep that shit away from her… 

“What, are you gonna cry now?” She mocked, but Joel wouldn’t have it.

“Sarah, sweetie, say goodbye to mommy. We’re going home.”

Sarah waved goodbye, but didn’t speak. Joel took her into the car and buckled her safely in, pulling a blanket over her legs in her nightie. He’d send Tommy to get the rest of her things tomorrow. Right now, he needed to get Sarah home.

Joel laid in bed with her, holding Sarah close to him on the twin bed. He tried to lull her back to sleep, but she hadn’t stopped sniffling and gently crying the whole ride back, even as Joel tried to distract her. 

“Why doesn’t mommy like me?” Sarah mumbled against Joel’s arm, her back to his chest.

“Oh baby…” He kissed her hair. “Your mommy loves you so, so much. She and I think you’re just the coolest kid ever.”

She thought on this for a while. “You know the bird I made in kindergarten? Where I glued the feathers?”

“Yes baby, I remember.”

“And the sheet where I wrote my name 5 times?”

“I remember, it looked so good.”

“I brought them… and last night I saw them in the trash.”

Joel’s eyes welled up with tear, tucking his face into her hair to hide it. “It must be an accident, Sarah. We get so many bills, it probably just got lost in the piles.”

“I put it on the fridge for her.”

“It must have fallen…” Joel hated lying to her, but… “You know, just the other day your mom called me to tell me how she’s so proud of you. How she thinks you’re the prettiest girl in the whole world and so, so smart.”

Sarah’s bedroom door cracked open, Tommy appearing.

“Hey Sare-bear” He spoke gently. “Got room for me?”

Joel scooched over and saw Sarah smiling for the first time. Daddy was comfort, but Uncle was joy. “Yes!!”

As Tommy took off his boots and jacket, Joel enlisted him to his lie. “Tommy, remember how her mom was telling us how proud she is of Sarah?” 

Tommy got the jist. “Oh yeah, she’s always talk’n ‘bout you. Can’t get her to stop, really. Says you know more about dinosaurs than anyone else on the planet.”

“Yeah! Because I saw Jurassic Park!”

Joel shot Tommy a look but let it slide. At least Tommy doesn’t tell Sarah to keep secrets. “Yup. See baby? She loves you so much.”

“Good” Sarah yawned. “Because I love mommy. I wanna be just like her when I grow up.”

The three of them fell asleep like that on the twin bed. Sarah snuggled right up in her daddy’s arms, uncle Tommy on the other end holding her little hand. 

In the morning, Tommy made them all chocolate chip pancakes.

Lets get on the fight Kayla club!!!!!

Tommy loves his neice....

Sarah is perfectly safe, I promise.

please lmk your thoughts!!!! Thanks for all the cool works with this pride event!!!

How to keep up with the series:

Follow About a girl series on tumblr

follow @romana-updates and turn on notifications

Ask to be tagged!

@my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog @ashleyfilm @bumblepony @snnyc @casa-boiardi @del-ightfulling @joelsoftie @valoxwayward @axshadows @qveerthe0ry @guelyury

[mariacallous]

In a cozy café in Amsterdam, with plush sofas and warm lighting, a group of people sit around talking, laughing, and playing board games. But something noticeable is missing. There is not a single phone in sight. It's one of a regular series of community events held by the burgeoning Offline Club, where members pay around $8.00 to leave their phone in a lock box at the door and spend the next few hours unplugged. Demand is growing rapidly. What started as a local initiative is quickly turning into a global movement with regular events hosted in cafés, churches, and town halls selling out fast across the UK, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

2025 marks the turning point when people will try to spend less time on screens and to reclaim meaningful in-person connections.

Yondr, founded in the US, partners with comedy clubs, arenas, clubs, and schools to organize phone-free events. Jack White, Bob Dylan, Garth Brooks, John Mayer, Madonna, and Adele have all implemented cell phone bans at their concerts so they could stop looking out at a sea of blinking smartphones, and to help the audience to connect by disconnecting.

Meetup, the global platform that enables over 60 million people to use the internet to get off the internet and meet up in the real world, had a 19 percent rise in registrations in 2023. The latest Meetup Measurement Report showed that the number one reason people use the platform is to find meaningful connections in person, a 50 percent rise over previous years. “Friends” is the most popular search term for events, and “Book Club” is back in the top 10.

We are reaching toward things that knit us back into the social fabric of local life. According to new research in the UK from the National Lottery Community Fund, half of UK adults intend to participate in local volunteering activities, both formally and informally in 2024. Over 70 percent say it's important to them to feel part of their local community.

The growing demand for real-world interactions is emerging from a confluence of societal challenges, namely the increasing awareness of the adverse effects of spending way too much time on screens, and the loneliness epidemic. Recent research by Gallup showed that 80 percent of young people under the age of 18 report feeling lonely, with 22 percent saying they have no real friends. Zero. Twelve percent of adults admitted to having no close friends in 2021, compared to just 3 percent 30 years ago. In these stats is a collective cry of loneliness. People don't just want followers anymore; they want real friendships.

But 2025 could mark the turning point of this deep friendship recession. It is the year when a rising number of people swap screen time for real-world interactions.

Today, there is a deep sense of loss or longing, across generations, for a time before constant connectivity, apps, and algorithms. That sentiment is called anemoia, the nostalgia for a time or a place one has never known.

Take the recent rise in popularity of vinyl records, Polaroid cameras, board games, and even mixtapes. According to the Recording Industry Association of American, 43.2 million EPs/LPs were sold last year, up from less than a million in 2006. From classic card games to board sets such as Monopoly and Cluedo, the compound annual growth for the board gaming market is over 9 percent. The Polaroid market is expected to double over the next seven years from $2.93 billion in 2024 to over $5.72 billion in 2031. Or the surprising resurgence of independent booksellers enjoying their sixth consecutive year of growth—a revival meeting the demand for real recommendations from real people. As of 2023, there are 2,185 independent bookstores in the United States and 1,072 in the UK.

There is a clear pining for a pre-dating-app era, with younger generations moving away from the endless swiping and “ghosting.” According to the 2023 Statista survey, millennials make up 61 percent of dating app users, whereas Gen-Z comes in at only 26 percent. Dating apps like Bumble have introduced local IRL events, including tennis tournaments, cooking or spin classes, and cocktail nights, marketed on the promise to “meet up, chat, and make moves in person.”

2025 is when people start to reclaim the communal experiences and deeper connections that have been lost in our lives. It marks a critical societal turning point where people prioritize real-world connections over the deluge we face on our digital devices. To reconnect by disconnecting.

[greensparty]

Remembering Marty Callner 1947-2025

Sad news that director Marty Callner has died at 78. He directed a number of iconic music videos and countless concert and comedy TV specials.

Callner and Cook

I was lucky enough to work with him on two specials both of which aired on HBO: Dane Cook: Vicious Circle (filmed at TD Garden in Boston in 2006) and Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveShow (filmed at Madison Square Garden in NYC in 2007). I was a lowly production assistant on both. I did not work closely with Mr. Callner, but it was quite a thrill to watch him working in the filming of live events, which can be unpredictable to say the least. I thought it was so cool to have my name in the credits of two Callner productions!

After starting in local news in Ohio, he made his way to directing Boston Celtics games and that background in live events got him in at the ground floor of the early days of HBO and over the last 50 years, he directed numerous comedy specials (too many to list all) for the likes of Robert Klein (considered to be the very first stand-up special), George Carlin, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell and Pee-Wee Herman's specials too! For concert specials he did ones for Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, The Rolling Stones, and more.

From his live music experience he was one of the biggest music video directors of the 80s and 90s, the Golden Age of Music Video if you will! Countless music videos (too many to list) but ones for Laura Branigan, Twisted Sister (he did "We're Not Gonna Take It" and more), Pat Benatar, Heart, The Scorpions, Kiss, Whitesnake (he directed the famous Tawney Kitaen-starring "Here I Go Again"), Poison, Ratt, The Cult, Cher (he directed the too-hot-to-play-before-9PM "If I Could Turn Back Time"), Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Bon Jovi, and more! Wow - MTV from 1984-1994 would have looked very different without him.

Callner directing Steven Tyler

But, for me, it was his longtime collaboration with Aerosmith that was one of the great director / musician collaborations of all-time. He became friends with the band early in his career and he directed their videos for "Dream On", "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", "Angel", "Rag Doll", "Love in an Elevator", "The Other Side", their "Dream On" segment of the MTV 10th Anniversary Special, "Sweet Emotion", "Livin' on the Edge", "Cryin'", "Amazing", "Crazy", and "Blind Man"! Wow - that is quite a collection and he brought their music to a whole new audience. He was also a film consultant for the Aerosmith segment in Wayne's World 2!

The link above is the obit from Hollywood Reporter.

[violetganache42]

Good morning, everyone! I have been home from vacation for less than a day now, and man, I had a lot of fun!

Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed seeing Garth Brooks' concert for the third time overall. lol It made me and Mom realize how much we genuinely miss his SiriusXM channel; we've always said that, but hearing some of our favorite songs of his reminded us of how less frequently they appeared on SiriusXM nowadays. As for Las Vegas itself, I feel like it's one of those places where I may head to for any special event once in a blue moon. It was amazing getting to go to a concert in Vegas for the first time and the lights on the buildings look stunning, but there's only so much exposure to casinos I can handle. Besides, I was more mesmerized by the desert and mountain environments. Everywhere we went, from Vegas and the Hoover Dam to the Grand Canyon and California, there was nothing but photo-worthy moments of the views.

Speaking of California, the whole time we were there was AMAZING. I had so much fun going to the parks there for the first time. There were a couple of areas I didn't get to fully explore because of DAS and the time limit we were on, like Mickey's Toontown and Super Nintendo World, but it was still exciting that I finally got to check them out. I was also surprised to see a number of buildings for companies and studios like Nickelodeon, Bang Zoom Studios, Warner Bros., ABC, NBCUniversal, and even Square Enix! I'm hoping my family and I get to go back there for vacation soon because there is so many of it that we haven't checked out yet, but I can definitely say California is a hell of a great state to go on vacation. ^^

So what did I miss while I was gone?

*sees a FUCK ton of card reveals for Lorcana's newest set, "Ursula's Return", and stuff about the leaked Disney TVA pilots and pitch bibles*

……

[bravoticketslasvegas]

Garth Brooks’ Las Vegas Residency: A Must-See Event for Country Fans

If you're a country music fan, Garth Brooks' Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is an experience you won’t want to miss. Known for his electrifying stage presence, heartfelt lyrics, and legendary career, Garth Brooks delivers an unforgettable performance in an intimate setting that brings fans closer to the music.

This exclusive residency is more than just a concert—it’s a storytelling experience. Garth takes the audience on a journey through his musical career, sharing personal insights behind his biggest hits and revisiting deep cuts that longtime fans will love. Whether he’s performing fan-favorite anthems or acoustic renditions of his classics, each show feels personal and unique.

The Colosseum at Caesars Palace provides the perfect backdrop for this special event. With its state-of-the-art acoustics, breathtaking visuals, and intimate atmosphere, it allows the audience to fully immerse themselves in the magic of Garth’s music. The combination of his legendary showmanship and the venue’s world-class production ensures an evening filled with energy, emotion, and unforgettable moments.

Due to overwhelming demand, tickets are selling fast, and securing yours in advance is highly recommended. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to his music, this residency offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a country icon in one of the most spectacular venues in the world.

🎟 Grab your tickets now at BravoTickets.com and experience the magic of Garth Brooks live in Las Vegas!

[ledenews]

The Best Parts Were the Worst Parts of Jamboree in the Hills – Chapter 2

(Publisher’s Note: This is the second of two chapters in this series about the history of the legendary Jamboree in the Hills country music festival in Belmont, Ohio. The multi-day event was always scheduled for the third week of July – this week – at two locations in Belmont County, and the four concerts drew more than 30,000 fans to the rolling hills of East Ohio.) Memory Lane this time of year is a pretty popular path for country music fans in this area of Appalachia. Cooler dancing, wagon dragging, finding folks in Blue B or Green H; well, there’s only one place on Earth where all three of those things could have happened within a five-minute timespan.   Ladies and gentlemen, the Super Bowl of Country Music … Jamboree in the Hills! Fans planned their summers around it. Locals leased their land for it. Country music stars loved it. People made money on it. An assembled staff produced it, mounted deputies protected it, rain or shine drenched it, and the annual four-day festival provided Belmont County with its biggest economic boost every single year since Schiltz Beer was popular in America. Schiltz Beer? Well, it was the late 1970s when this shindig began, after all. It was a spectacle never seen before when Jamboree in the Hills began in 1977 at Brush Run Park. (Photo by Bill Burke) There were the early morning “Redneck Runs,” the OVMC medical tents, the squirt bottles, those steak hoagies, Saturday night fireworks, the sunburns, raincoats, reunions, Red Solo cups, campground breakfasts, bikini tops and jean shorts, the banks of Porta Johns, the National Anthem, and Neil McCoy climbing speaker towers on sunny Sunday afternoons.   And yes, there was much more that defined it, and that’s why, at this time of year – especially during this third week of July – the “Jambo Blues” are very real. “I think about Jamboree in the Hills a lot, especially when the weather gets warmer, and when July comes around, I miss it because that’s when our own team started to come together, and that was our own reunion. That was special to us,” recalled Kelly Tucker, the general manager of the four-day festival at the end. “That weekend in July will always be my favorite weekend of the year. “When this time of year comes around, I can’t help but think about all of those people, the stars and the music, and the fans. There were issues, trust me, but the majority appreciated what we did for them. There was a lot of happiness and a lot of hugs,” she explained. “Putting on that show, with everything involved, was something we were all very proud of. I may have been the general manager, but that week happened thanks to a lot of people who were the best at what they do.” Jamboree in the Hills was an instant success here in the Upper Ohio Valley and throughout the country. (Photo by Bill Burke) The crowds always were the biggest you’d ever seen with your own two eyes, and some Jamboree weekends were bigger than others because headliners like Garth Brooks started achieving new-level, mega-star status. That’s why, in fact, the only year Brooks performed in Belmont was in 1990. It was because the music industry changed over the years, and instead of the singer/songwriters profiting from album sales, the fees for mainstream performers began skyrocketing at the turn of the century thanks to something called the Internet and digital music. “I believe Jamboree in the Hills changed as country music changed, and there have been a lot of changes through the years,” explained Chris Dutton, co-founder of the Blame My Roots County Music Festival who worked for his family's Valley View Campground during the JITH era. “Country music goes through a style change every 10 years or so, and there’s one taking place right now. With those changes come different artists with new shows, so the people with the Jamboree had to adjust for better and worse. The Tucker family (Ryan, the late Kathy Tucker, Kelly, and sisters Shannon and Jan) has been involved in the area's entertainment industry for more than three decades. “We saw country music become much more popular in the early 2000s, and we saw a jump in attendance at the campgrounds. Our camper population doubled at one point in the matter of a couple of years in the early 2000s, and it was because of what was taking place in the country music industry,” he explained. “Everything got younger, and the party got bigger, believe it or not.” The Fine Day Campround also was located just west of Jambo’s Gate A and that yard drew a jam-packed crowd of Jamboree fans, too. That’s why Dutton has clear memories of literal parades of people walking (or at least trying to) along National Road to and from the concerts.  “There was security and crowd control, trust me. It became more important than ever during the early 2000s,” Dutton said. “There were more than 7,000 campers on our family’s farm during those bigger years. “Safety was huge with us, and I know it was really important with the people who ran the Jamboree,” he said. “It was then when there were a lot more up-and-comers on the schedule and then there would be a superstar at the end of the show, and that was because of the performance fees. It’s still pretty crazy in the country music industry and the competition is impossible for an independent festival. That’s why we retired Blame My Roots.” The former Jamboree in the Hills location was staged at this location near Morristown. Black Bleeds Red They tried “Jambo County”. It was to be a shorter event, no coolers of beer would be permitted inside the venue, and the lineup would be good but not great. It all meant that, finally, the economics connected to coolers of beer instead of lines to buy beer caught up with the free-for-all blessing that was Jamboree in the Hills, and fans were enraged and wanted blood. Tucker, a young lady born into the Jamboree business thanks to her late mother, Kathy, had to hide from death threats. “That was a horrible experience,” she said. “I’m just glad (Live Nation) scrapped that plan pretty quickly.” After two more years, though, the next plan that came from Live Nation brass was a “gone-for-good” plan pronounced “Hiatus.”  Tucker had no warning. The phone rang, and that was that. Live Nation announced to Jamboree fans that the event would be placed on "Hiatus" in November 2018. “We lost Jamboree in the Hills because the business model no longer worked,” she recounted. “That’s the real answer. The artist fees climbed too high and the only money we were really making was from the ticket sales, and it wasn’t enough to pay for what we had to pay for.  “And yeah, we were still letting the fans bring their own coolers in, and that didn’t help but it was part of what the festival was all about. When changes were announced (for Jambo Country), the fan reaction was pretty harsh. But it really came down to the fact the entertainment cost too much for Jamboree in the Hills to continue the way it was. So, the decision was made.” The Duttons presented Blame My Roots for four years, and now the Old Washington Music Festival is scheduled for this Thursday through Sunday afternoon. The event will be held at the Guernsey County Fairgrounds, artists Travis Tritt, The Marshall Tucker Band, Colin Raye, and Craig Morgan will lead a lineup of country music performers, and tickets can be purchased by calling 615-946-4697. Coolers are welcome inside the show, on-site camping is available, and the weekend is all about America and country music. Sound familiar? But can anything similar to IT be the same as IT? The Blame My Roots Country Music Festival featured country music headliners and local performers alike, but local fans didn't support the shows via ticket sales. “My answer is no, I don’t think Jamboree in the Hills could ever be duplicated, and that’s because of the people that made it part of their lives every single year,” said Tucker, who is now the executive director of Wesbanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre. “Country concerts are huge these days, so the industry is very strong, but I remember when someone from Live Nation came to Jamboree one year and they told me the company needed to do the same festival all over the country. All I could do was laugh. “They asked me if I thought the company could do it and my answer was ‘No’ because Jamboree in the Hills wasn’t something anyone could recreate somewhere else. I knew they wouldn’t like my answer, but there was no way we could recreate what this festival meant to the fans and to the people who worked it. That’s what made it work. The people were the heart of it, plain and simple.” The “hiatus,” obviously, turned out to be a permanent pause, and these days the legendary land is utilized as staging areas for gas and oil operations in Belmont County. The classic red barn still can be seen by motorist traveling U.S. 40, and some of the old, faded signage still hangs like grave markers in unkept, forgotten cemeteries. It was about tradition, it was about country, and it was about a community for more than four decades on those East Ohio hillsides. Some say they still hear the echoes while others excuse the sounds as wishful daydreaming. “We lost the spectacle that was Jamboree in the Hills. We lost big country music. We lost the big, multi-day show in the massive venue,” said Dutton, who now works with the operations of the Pike 40 Restaurant and the Dutton Cattle Co. “We lost our tradition. What Jamboree in the Hills was didn’t exist before it. We knew when we started Blame My Roots that it was never going to be what Jamboree was. We did believe we could provide a version of it, but the industry had changed too much for that to happen. “We lost something we’ll never forget. We lost that hallowed ground. We lost those reunions that took place in Red C or Green B. We lost something that can never be duplicated ever. That’s what we lost,” he added. “We lost that weekend on that hillside. Yeah … we lost our big spectacle in our own backyard.” https://ledenews.com/the-best-parts-were-the-worst-parts-of-jamboree-in-the-hills-chapter-1 https://ledenews.com/the-end-of-jamboree-in-the-hills-the-eyewitness-accounts Read the full article

[lauratixbag-blog]

Buy Garth Brooks Tickets and all other concert events tickets online on Tixbag. Get cheap tickets for Garth Brooks concert event and tour dates 2019. Authentic tickets with No hidden fees & 100% buyers guarantee.

[rhinozilla]

So my nostalgia trigger has been pulled after me and the fam watched the Garth Brooks documentary(?) thing “The Road I’m On.” Like, I dug out my old CDs and have been jamming to that sweet 90s country music all day. It’s like hearing the soundtrack of my childhood all over again.

Don’t ask me how, but I ended up on youtube watching people my age, who had never heard his songs, react to hearing Garth Brooks for the first time, and I’m all up in my feels. Every time their eyes (and ears) are opened and this sheer delight crosses on their faces, and I’m over here like “Yes! He’s awesome! Appreciate this honky tonk man!”

[don-lichterman]

Garth Brooks Returns to Salt Lake City for June 2022 Concert

Garth Brooks Returns to Salt Lake City for June 2022 Concert

Whether you missed Garth Brooks during his last trip through Utah, or you had so much fun you want to go again, you’ll be thrilled to know that Garth is planning another concert in Salt Lake City in June of 2022. This is the only return date in any North American City on Garth’s tour and will be his last major concert within easy driving distance of Twin Falls. So, if you want tickets, make sure…

[krispyweiss]

Neil Young Calls COVID-era Concerts “A Bad Example”

- “These are super-spreader events, irresponsible Freedom Fests”

The music industry’s rushed return to concerts is “a bad example” for a society still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, Neil Young - who sang Live music is better bumper stickers should be issued on “Union Man” - said in an online essay.

Young recently pulled out of Farm Aid - “I felt that we didn’t know what we were up against and we were endangering others, unprotected innocent children in particular,” he said - and blames “money and business” for the return of live music when tours are being suspended because musicians and/or crew members are coming down with COVID-19.

“I know of tours that are out there and have to stop where they are and isolate in motels because one person among them tested positive. I ask myself, why are they out there?

“Money and business. … This has been the American way for years and years. Now it has turned on the country in a new way.”

Specifically, he cited Live Nation and AEG - not performers and concertgoers - for the disconnect.

“It’s a bad example. Folks see concerts advertised and think it must be OK to go and mingle,” Young wrote on Neil Young Archives.

“It’s not. These are super-spreader events, irresponsible Freedom Fests. We need freedom to be safe. Not a bad example. This could be just the beginning.”

Young praised “Garth Brooks and others like him have been responsible and pulled back from doing more shows.” But artists can’t do it alone, he said.

“That’s a good example,” he wrote. “But it will take the big promoters and managers/agents to make the difference. If it’s all about money, I think they should protect the people who are their livelihood.”

8/28/21

[so-idialed-9]

More positive press coverage of Louis, from the Philly concert.

Again, it's not Rolling Stone, but MMM appears to have some legitimacy, and is part of a changing media narrative for Louis - one in which he is respected as an artist with talent and a very strong fan base.

"MMM has attended and reported from the red carpet/backstage area consecutively at countless industry events including the Jay Z’s Made In America Festival, CMA Music Festival, Billboard’s Hot 100 Festival, iHeartRadio Events (Jingle Ball, Fiesta), Good Morning America, TODAY Show, NFL Kickoff Event, Marian Anderson Awards, APMAs, CMT Awards, Presidential Campaign Events/Concerts, as well as several other exclusive events....MMM has interviewed notable artists such as Breaking Benjamin, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Thomas Rhett, Seether, Shinedown, Kane Brown, and many more."

[bravoticketslasvegas]

What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas – Make It Unforgettable with Bravo Tickets!

Las Vegas is the ultimate entertainment capital, filled with dazzling lights, world-class performances, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re looking for an electrifying concert, a thrilling sports game, or a mesmerizing theater show, BravoTickets.com is your go-to source for securing the best seats in town. With so many events happening in Vegas, finding the right tickets at the right price can be overwhelming. That’s where Bravo Tickets comes in! We make it easy for you to grab tickets to the hottest concerts, top-tier sporting events, and must-see theatrical performances—all in one place.

Las Vegas hosts some of the biggest names in the music industry. Whether you’re a fan of pop, rock, country, or hip-hop, there’s always a show that will leave you in awe. From Kendrick Lamar to Garth Brooks, you can count on Bravo Tickets to help you score the best seats for your favorite artists. Cheer for your favorite teams with tickets to thrilling NFL, NBA, and NHL games. Whether you’re catching the Las Vegas Raiders, a high-energy NBA matchup, or an intense UFC fight, Bravo Tickets ensures you don’t miss a second of the action. Vegas is famous for its world-class theater productions, including Cirque du Soleil, magic shows, and Broadway-style performances. Get ready for jaw-dropping acrobatics, mind-blowing illusions, and captivating storytelling—all at your fingertips with Bravo Tickets.

Booking with Bravo Tickets is quick and hassle-free! Simply visit BravoTickets.com, browse upcoming events, search for your favorite concert, sports game, or show, choose your preferred seating and price range, and complete your purchase for an unforgettable Vegas experience. Never miss out on an amazing event in Las Vegas! Follow us on social media for the latest updates, exclusive deals, and insider tips on the best entertainment in town.

📍 BravoTickets.com 📞 (702) 221-2728 📲 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @BravoTicketsLV

Las Vegas is calling—are you ready to experience the best it has to offer? Book your tickets now and make memories that will last a lifetime!

[shefanispeculator]

As music superstars continue figuring out the model for post-pandemic performance, Blake Shelton followed the example set by Garth Brooks‘s June 27 drive-in concert, unleashing an outdoor, on-screen event of his own on July 25. Presented by Encore Drive-In Nights, Shelton’s exclusive, one-night-only show was streamed to 278 North American theaters, and instead of going it alone, he decided to make it a full-on party. In addition to an opening set by country quartet Parmalee, Shelton mixed things up by bringing along special guests Gwen Stefani (of course, Shelton and Stefani form one of music’s coolest pan-genre power couples) and Trace Adkins, both of whom recreated their hit duets with Shelton in concert.

Stefani stepped out on her own for a couple of tunes, and also joined Shelton on their recently recorded duets “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere,” while Adkins grabbed a mic to sing along on “Hell Right” and “Hillbilly Bone” and belt out his own smash “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” But Shelton fans still got a heaping helping of their hero’s tunes, including songs from his early days like “Austin” and “Some Beach” as well as more recent hits like “Every Time I Hear That Song” and “I’ll Name the Dogs,” and in between, the man told plenty of stories about himself and his music.

We chatted with some fans who weren’t about to let the unorthodox setting stop them from having a Blake Shelton concert experience, and they shared their thoughts on the event. 

[nickgerlich]

Making Music

I love me some good music, and have been to far more than 100 concerts in my life. Nothing beats the energy that emanates from artists performing their craft, because it is a symbiotic relationship. We feed off them, and they feed off us. The ringing in my ears today is probably testimony to maybe a few too many concerts through the years, but I harbor no regrets. Those were good times, and I guess you could say I earned every decibel of the current discomfort.

For live music lovers everywhere, perhaps the greatest fallout of the COVID-19 era has been the cancellation of concerts and tours. I haven’t been to a concert since last December, when I made my annual trek somewhere to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the holiday season. Never mind that it was my 18th time to see them. They are that good, and I will do whatever it takes to enjoy another 2 1/2 hours of sonic bliss.

Bands and artists are in a world of hurt these days, because about the only ways to earn a living are through live performances and the merchandise sales that accompany them. There’s no money in streaming plays on Spotify, which amount to a fraction of one cent each time someone summons your tune. With revenue-earning opportunities nil, bands and artists have had to prove their agility like everyone else and try to find a way to make ends meet.

Like how Blackberry Smoke, Joe Bonamassa, and others have figured out by offering livestream events. No doubt they were inspired by this last summer’s Garth Brooks concert that streamed to 300 drive-in movie theaters across the country.

Streaming events offer benefits to artist and fan alike. For example, a three-concert pass for Blackberry Smoke, at which the band will be playing three different sets across the fall season, is only $60. This is a bargain for someone like me, who would otherwise spend many hundreds, maybe even thousands, to travel a long distance just for a show. Add in the fact that no one is counting how many people will be in my living room, and this becomes the equivalent of packing a bunch of friends in the trunk of your car to go to the drive-in.

The artist has an opportunity to play before fans and sell merchandise, even though those sales will have to be online. Better yet, they do not have the expenses associated with a tour, such as the revenue share with the promoter, bus rental, driver, fuel, and everything else that goes with life on the road.

I must admit that Blackberry Smoke is one of my favorite bands, and Joe Bonamassa my favorite guitarist. I have seen Blackberry Smoke five times, including once in Amarillo and the balance all over the US, and Bonamassa also in Amarillo. They put on amazing shows, and while I love listening to their music on Spotify, it’s just not the same as hearing the ad libs and improvs that separate the studio from the stage.

And that may be the only disconnect between a livestream and a live concert. Even though Blackberry Smoke’s concert producer guarantees a front-row seat, my living room will never be the same as standing down in front and actually feeling the music being made. I don’t care how loud my system can go, it won’t be the same, and it will be like just another Zoom meeting.

Nice to see you, but it sure would be nice to shake your hand. Or least a fist bump.

I am sad that Trans-Siberian Orchestra completely scuttled their 2020 holiday concert tour, and did not (yet) announce a livestream Christmas event, because I would have gladly purchased it. With concert tickets more than $80 apiece, I’m sure I could have saved a ton of dollars for my family to enjoy a show at home, even if it isn’t quite the real thing.

As for Blackberry Smoke and Mr. Bonamassa, I will definitely pay my way for them to visit my big screen. It’s the best all of us can do right now.

And until the day is safe for us to party again, just keep making music. Because we all need something to sing about.

Dr “Can You Feel It?“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

[krispyweiss]

COVID and Concerts: Two Things that Do and Don’t Go Together

As live-music events ramp back up amid a surge of the delta variant of COVID-19, things are rapidly changing on the concert trail.

Here are a few developments compiled from media reports and social media:

• New York plans to require proof of vaccination for entry to indoor events, including concerts.

• Whitney Rose is taking a break from performing after she and two band members - all vaccinated - tested positive for COVID-19.

• Garth Brooks plans to “reassess” his ongoing stadium tour after playing Aug. 14 in Nebraska.

• Fall Out Boy will sit out the next few dates on their Hella Mega tour with Green Day and Weezer after someone in their touring party tested positive for COVID-19.

• Drummer Pete Paranda says he was fired from the Offspring over his refusal to get vaccinated.

• Steve Kimock is requiring proof of vaccination and masks as a condition of entry to his weekend concerts in Pennsylvania.

• New Orleans’ Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro and the Maple Leaf Bar canceled performances for the next two weeks after COVID-19 sickened employees at the venues.

• Nearly 2,300 people who attended festivals in California in July have tested positive for COVID-19.

The situation remains fluid, with artists and venues making recommendations and issuing mandates at a dizzying rate. Check venue or artist web pages and social media before heading out, mask up and - for fuck’s sake - get vaccinated.

But don’t take it from Sound Bites, take it from the people who want to give you the live music you crave.

“Hey guys. We just finally re-opened after 16 months,” Ohio’s Rumba Cafe posted on Facebook. “Please get vaccinated. Pretty please.”

8/4/21