Mother Nature was the opening act for Garth Brooks’ Saturday night (July 9) concert at Yankee Stadium in New York. The thousands of fans in attendance will agree that She played way too long.

Garth was scheduled to take the stage at 8:30 p.m., but it was 11:49 p.m. when he started the show with “Rodeo.” And it was obvious that this was not his first rodeo. In fine voice, excited to finally get the show started and energized by a crowd that was willing to wait out the rain and lightning, Garth lit up the Bronx with an amazing show.

The start of the show arrived and the full house was ready to spend Saturday night dancing and singing along with Garth and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, who looked and sounded stunning throughout the evening. But lightning caused officials to ask the thousands of fans seated from second base into the outfield to leave their seats and take shelter in the tunnels and concourses. The delay continued almost until their Saturday night plans became Sunday morning plans.

When fans were allowed back to their seats they were treated to what Garth described as a “slightly different show.” He promised to play what the fans wanted. Because the stage, an amazing configuration that allowed Garth to go out into the crowd, was slippery from the rain, he had to come up with a new plan.

It’s Garth. Plan B is better than most plan A’s. Walking the circular stage instead of running—and stopping to greet smiling and singing fans—made it seem like this was not plan B but an intimate performance designed to send everyone home with stories they will tell their kids.

This was not the show I expected to see Saturday night. This was so much better. It was real. It was special. It was Garth at his best.