Review: Rascal Flatts

Jay DeMarcus (left) and Gary LeVox: Two Flatts make a splash at Sprint Center on Friday. Photo by Rich Sugg/The Star

These days, it's wise to respect the living you make and those who make it possible. So Friday night the boys in Rascal Flatts gave thanks for their bread and those who butter it. Their show at the Sprint Center was the country trio's third in two years and three months, and it's a good bet that many in Friday night's crowd of about 12,000 were at all three shows -- an investment in tickets alone of more than $225 per person.

Throw in merch and food and you'll understand why the boys repeatedly thanked everyone for "spending your hard-earned money" -- you hear that term at nearly every show these days -- but especially Kansas City, which, as one of the Flatts put it, is one of their most loyal and generous markets.

In return, the boys and their five-piece band gave those fans what they've come to expect from a Flatts show: 90 minutes of flash, fireworks and familiar songs, with some love and levity tossed in the mix.  There were plenty of visuals, and the usual big stage with one long runway and two satellite runways.

Before the show, the P.A. warmed up the crowd with some classic-rock nuggets from Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams and Van Halen -- an apt appetizer. The Flatts are a country act but their music, for the most part, is rarely that. Instead it visits pop, pop-soul, Southern rock and adult-rock.

But allegiance to style isn't the point here. The crowd was a mix of couples and groups of women and  girls (teens, tweens and younger), and they responded enthusiastically all night to the boys' romantic and inspirational ballads and to their anthems about family and small-town life.

The crowd was so familiar with the material and so engaged in the moments -- even Jay DeMarcus' goofy monologues -- that at times the show had the air of a convention, political or spiritual. No one kissed any babies, but Gary LeVox brought two very young girls up on stage twice, and the second one had a chance to sing some lead vocal on "What Hurts the Most."  

There were plenty of youngsters in the crowd. Nonetheless, as the boys sang "I Melt," the many video screens above and around them broadcast the song's video, which includes some PG-13 semi-nudity and sexuality.

They covered some classics, too: Bill Withers "Lean On Me," which worked; a bit of "Let's Get It On," which was a mess; and, during the encore, the Beatles' "Revolution," which aroused a big response, despite its sugary "up with people" vibe. Darius Rucker, who opened the show, came out during the encore to join the Flatts in a cover of one of his own songs: the Hootie & the Blowfish hit "Hold My Hand." That got one of the more joyous responses of the night. It must have been especially appreciated by anyone seeing the Flatts at the Sprint for the third time in two years. One way to justify spending your hard-earned money is by getting Version 3.0: something that's both familiar and new. 

Darius Rucker:The former leader of Hootie and the Blowfish has made the transition to modern/commercial country with ease and aplomb. He hasn't changed his style of songwriting much, only the arrangements and trimmings (more fiddle and banjo).  And he still has a warm and easy personality that goes a long way

He sang a few cuts of off "Learn to Live," his country debut, like "Alright" "It Won't Be Like This For Long" and "Drinkin' and Dialing." When he dropped in the Hootie hit "I Only Wanna Be With You," it fit right in with the rest of the set. He also showed off his agility, covering Hank Jr.'s "Family Tradition" and then Prince's "Purple Rain" -- and doing justice to both. Calling him the next Charlie Pride is the easy way out; the "next" he's in line to become is "big star." 

Rascal Flatts:Summer Nights; Stand; Fast Cars and Freedom; Me and My Gang; God Bless the Broken Road; Still Feels Good; Mayberry; Lean On Me; Backwards; Prayin' For Daylight; Here Comes Goodbye; I Melt/Let's Get It On; Love You Out Loud; My Wish; What Hurts the Most; Bob That Head. Encore: Jailhouse Rock/Twist and Shout (animated); Revolution; Hold My Hand (with Darius Rucker); Life Is a Highway.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[mankvill]

Rascall Flat's version of "Life Is A Highway" was my high school graduating class song.

:(

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