LIVE: Rascal Flatts @ the Times Union Center, 1/26/12

Review and photographs by Andrzej Pilarczyk

With the explosive impact of an atomic bomb, country-pop-rock superstars Rascal Flatts burst on the stage of the Times Union Center, singing and playing up a storm.

The band’s front-man and singer Gary LeVox had the audience in the palm of his hand in a matter of seconds. Helping him out were bassist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney, the long-time triumvirate forming the nucleus of the band, which also included a fiddler, drummer and pedal-steal guitarist in the wings.

Drama, dynamic sensitivity, high-octane energy and a whole lot of scorching lead guitar work marked the performance as it rolled through “Bless The Broken Road,” “Banjo” and “My Wish,” among many others.

As I’ve written before, country stars are the most vocally patriotic of all the musical genres out there, and Rascal Flatts is no exception. At the end of their magnificent set, a whole group of Marines came out to form a line as the strains of the group’s “I Won’t Let Go” captured the spirit of contemporary America from a decidedly “let’s not forget our troups” viewpoint.

As an ex-military member, thank God for that. Unfortunately, daily death tolls mentioned in the media have become bathroom wall-paper for the ears of most of the American public.

Country pussycat, the gorgeous singer Sara Evans preceded Rascal Flatts, complete with high-heels, sexy curves and a great set of captivating songs including her familiar “Easy” and her personal opus, “Life Is a Highway.”

The up-and-coming Hunter Hayes opened the show with great guitar licks and a voice to match.

SECOND OPINIONS:
David Malachowski’s review and Cindy Schultz’s photographs at The Times Union