Pause and The Power of Memory

 “One more round.”

Sure, it’s the battle cry when the bartender or bouncer announces last call. 

Change the final word to “set” if you’re in the gym.

Apply as you need. 

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For me, I delved into the memory bank (more on that in a minute) while attending the Garth Brooks show in San Diego. 

I discussed my initial feelings and thoughts about heading into Petco Park on FOX Sports Radio. The banners celebrating Padres starts like Fernando Tatis Jr. drew me into a mini-rant and discussion with the folks at the entrances. Thanks, baseball.

The Brooks tour in support of “In Pieces” included a ridiculous four-day run at the Rosemont Horizon in a Chicago suburb. I went to one of those on a first date that changed my life, a glorious event in 1993. I had issues with some of the long pauses for audience cheers and such, but not the company. Laughs, singalongs and swaying (that’s really all it was) with the music. 

And a connection. Personally. Yeah, it was a big deal in those seats and the train home to campus. 

The more universal for the sellout crowd —- ponder four days in one spot! 

I got salty over the “which section is loudest?” bit. But, by the same token, I loved that energy. I speak to that frequently here in my travels and experiences. It’s good for the soul, that positivity in the same direction and the power of an arena (then) and stadium (now) singing along. 

So when Brooks announced a show in 2022 down in San Diego, his first since shutting things down during the pandemic, it was time for another round. It was cold (on a San Diego basis) and rainy, but the energy remained. He started with a new song entitled “All Day Long.” The crowd responded pretty well. But Brooks acknowledged what we all knew —- there’s 33 years of his history and our collective memory of America’s songbook that brought us to that space.

While “All Day Long” hit, the opening chords of “Rodeo” sent the adoring throng into a frenzy. And Brooks owned that stage for the next 2 hours. There was a long set before an ingenious “Let’s do requests off of the signs you’ve brought” bit that Brooks did solo on the acoustic. The band then returned for several songs and they closed it out with “Standing Outside The Fire.”

The ending seemed odd, as the band left the stage without bows or an encore. There were no surprise guests, not even an appearance by Trisha Yearwood. So, folks who had followed the tour expected an appearance. 

Maybe it was the threat of worse weather?

It was a still a 26-song sprint, including some George Strait, Billy Joel and Bob Seger. 

And, I gotta say. The strangest part is that I hadn’t heard some of the songs in the playlist in 20 years. Yet I still was able to belt out every word. There’s something in that muscle memory, I guess. The songs that helped define the end of high school and college days are all still there. My kids have the ability to pick up lyrics after one or two listens, and that’s been me since my youth. But I thought that the exercising of muscle memory was vital (and it certainly is for a million other things). 

For a night in San Diego, they were there like they were printed on a page. 

“Thunder Rolls” 

“That Summer”

“Wolves”

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All ready for “one more round.”

** Some good soul uploaded “The Dance.” 

It hits differently but, damn, hits big.