Rascal Flatts Sizzle At Flatts Fest

The summer heat wave was in full bloom Friday night in Cincinnati.  The National Weather Service had issued a Heat Advisory Warning, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees.  With that as a backdrop, Rascal Flatts rolled into town with their completely new summer tour they’re calling Flatts Fest.  You could see a breeze in the trees along the Ohio River, but not so much inside the Riverbend Amphitheater.  Opening acts Justin Moore, Easton Corbin, and Sara Evans moved quickly through their sets.  The show was sold out, and although the fans may have been hot, it didn’t stifle their enthusiasm. 

When Rascal Flatts hit the stage, the place was hopping.  Ironically, the band appeared through the image of an iceberg on the backdrop.  They launched into their recent #1, “Why Wait,” and everyone sang along.   It was a hometown show for cousins Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus.  They grew up in Columbus, and they had a lot of family members in the audience.  There are also a few Ohioans in their band.  They appeared mostly unaffected by the heat, as they drove energetically through the hit-filled 90-minute set.  The trio stopped several times to thank the crowd for their support during their ten year career.  They made sure to include the most popular hits: “Bless The Broken Road” came early in the show.  “Life Is a Highway” came in the middle.  Their song “Summer Nights” felt most appropriate in this environment.  Of course they couldn’t omit “What Hurts The Most, “My Wish,” “Stand,” “Me & My Gang,” “Fast Cars & Freedom,” or “Take Me There.” 

There were a couple of guests: Sara Evans returned to the stage for the band’s current single, “Easy,” which they recorded with pop star Natasha Bedingfield.  They also perform the classic “Dancin’ On The Ceiling” with Lionel Ritchie, who appeared through the magic of a sliding video screen.  That song will be included in Ritchie’s new album of country duets, set for release in October. 

Although they’ve been performing in large venues for a while, this is a completely fresh approach to their tour.  If you’ve seen them before, it’s worth seeing them again.  If you’ve never seen their show, this is a good time to start.  You may find yourself singing along.

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