Tucson Region

Rascal Flatts delivers flash, slew of hits

FLORENCE – Rascal Flatts last faced an Arizona audience as an opening act for superstar Kenny Chesney. What a difference a year makes. The trio now find themselves on the top of the marquee. On Saturday night, they headlined what likely was the biggest night of the four-day Country Thunder USA festival. The crowd swelled to 40,000 bodies, give or take, by the time they took their turn at 10:30. Rascal Flatts capped an enviable lineup that included country newcomer Blake Shelton and red-hot up-and-comer Chris Cagle. Of the three acts, Cagle appeared the most pleased to be in the spotlight. His last turn at Country Thunder was several years ago before a sparse early afternoon crowd. "I've been telling these guys that one of these nights we're going to get to play in the dark, and tonight's that night," Cagle screamed to the crowd, which was on its feet and going crazier than even Cagle had anticipated. The audience never returned to its seats, dancing and singing along as Cagle played an hour-long show of adrenaline-charged rockin' country. He perfected fluid Tim McGraw-esque dance moves as he strutted across the stage in time to "Laredo" and "Play It Loud," then bobbed his head like a rocker for the ditty "On and On." The adrenaline never let up, even when he swooned the ballads "Breathe In, Breathe Out" and "I Miss the Baby" in that silky-smooth twang that's as comforting as homemade soup on a cold winter's day. From their dramatic entry atop an elevated stage lift, the members of Rascal Flatts came armed with all the trappings of superstars - neon-lighted stage props, a giant screen projecting their videos, confetti shot out like fireworks into the audience. Mostly, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus were armed with a polished and confident stage presence honed over the years in an endless series of 45-minute sets. The trio's strength lies in a slew of chart-topping, stick-in-your-craw pop country ditties - "Fast Cars and Freedom," "Feels Like Today," "Everyday Love" - and those heartbreaking ballads like "God Bless the Broken Road" and "I'm Movin' On" that kept the audience on its feet throughout the band's 75-minute concert. The audience members sang along when lead singer LeVox turned his microphone on them for the chorus of the uptempo ditty "Mayberry." The crowd should be applauded; its acoustic harmonies lingered in the cool night air pleasantly on key. When the boys returned for their brief encore, they did what the superstars before them have done: They invited their opening acts - Cagle, Shelton and Carolyn Dawn Johnson - on stage for a countrified sendup of Bruce Springsteen's legendary rocker "Born in the USA." It made for one of those moments that their fans will be talking about long after the dust settles on Country Thunder 2005.