busybeeburns
17-03-2006, 11:49 AM
Country music trio Rascal Flatts puts the harmony in honky-tonk.
The three silver-voiced singers - Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney and Gary Levox - also drop some rock and pop sprinkles on their melt-in-your-mouth vocal concoctions.
While fans have lapped it up, making Rascal Flatts one of the hottest-selling acts in contemporary country music, critics initially questioned the trio's country credibility.
"We received a lot of criticism at the beginning," DeMarcus said in a 2004 Associated Press interview. "They said we were trying to be country's answer to the Backstreet Boys or 'N Sync. I think we've worked very, very hard to dispel those misconceptions.
"We're finally at a place where we can stand up proudly and say we're serious musicians. We're serious about the music we make."
DeMarcus went on to say that he and his fellow Flatts - who eschew such country music sartorial touches as big cowboy hats in favor of more hip attire - definitely wanted to put their musical roots down in the fertile soil of Nashville, Tenn.
"We wanted to be here," he said. "We wanted to be in country music. We just wanted to do something a little different.
"We wanted to do country music that had a little bit of hair to it, a little bite, a little dirt in it."
Two years after DeMarcus defended Rascal Flatts' signature soaring harmonies in that interview, the early Doubting Thomases have been silenced. That's what having the No. 1 album in country music in 2005, multiple Academy of Country Music Awards nominations and a record-setting tour - all connected to Rascal Flatts' runaway hit album "Feels Like Today" - will do for a band's reputation on Music Row.
Rascal Flatts brings its latest live extravaganza to the Civic Center on Saturday for a show with up-and-coming artist Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton. This time out, the Flatts flies the pop-rock flag with pride.
For the "Me and My Gang Tour," the group hired noted set designer Bruce Rogers, who has also crafted tour designs for Sting, the Dave Matthews Band and Madonna. Fans at Saturday's concert can expect a lot of bang for their bucks, including large video screens, multiple stages and flashy backdrops.
They can also expect a roof-raising show that'll focus on past hits such as "I Melt," "Love You Out Loud," "Skin" and "Bless the Broken Road," along with choice covers such as "Hotel California" and the Rolling Stones' "All Night Long."
The highway has been the right way for Rascal Flatts to connect to its fast-growing and hugely loyal fan base. Last year's "Here's To You Tour" drew 750,000 fans to arenas in 70 U.S. cities (more folks than mega-popular British band Coldplay pulled) and earned Rascal Flatts a Billboard Touring Award.
It seems more accolades sparkle on the horizon. DeMarcus, Rooney and Levox joined "American Idol" sweetheart Carrie Underwood and TV personality Hannah Storm to announce this year's Academy of Country Music Awards nominations.
Rascal Flatts scored four. The group was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Top Vocal Group, Album of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Skin"). Rascal Flatts will also perform at the awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on May 23 on CBS.
The trio hopes history repeats itself with the upcoming release of its new album, "Me and My Gang," which hits the stores in April. The record's first single, "What Hurts the Most," is already stirring up the airwaves on radio.
"With every album you record, you hope that you've grown as an entertainer and musician," DeMarcus said in the news release that touted the upcoming record. "We've waited to share this music for a while now. I think our fans will hear more of what they are used to from us, but I also feel we've stretched our wings just a bit as well."IF YOU GO What: The "Me and My Gang Tour 2006," featuring Rascal Flatts and special guests Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St.
Cost: $55.25 and $32.75
Phone: 222-0400 or (800) 322-3602
The three silver-voiced singers - Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney and Gary Levox - also drop some rock and pop sprinkles on their melt-in-your-mouth vocal concoctions.
While fans have lapped it up, making Rascal Flatts one of the hottest-selling acts in contemporary country music, critics initially questioned the trio's country credibility.
"We received a lot of criticism at the beginning," DeMarcus said in a 2004 Associated Press interview. "They said we were trying to be country's answer to the Backstreet Boys or 'N Sync. I think we've worked very, very hard to dispel those misconceptions.
"We're finally at a place where we can stand up proudly and say we're serious musicians. We're serious about the music we make."
DeMarcus went on to say that he and his fellow Flatts - who eschew such country music sartorial touches as big cowboy hats in favor of more hip attire - definitely wanted to put their musical roots down in the fertile soil of Nashville, Tenn.
"We wanted to be here," he said. "We wanted to be in country music. We just wanted to do something a little different.
"We wanted to do country music that had a little bit of hair to it, a little bite, a little dirt in it."
Two years after DeMarcus defended Rascal Flatts' signature soaring harmonies in that interview, the early Doubting Thomases have been silenced. That's what having the No. 1 album in country music in 2005, multiple Academy of Country Music Awards nominations and a record-setting tour - all connected to Rascal Flatts' runaway hit album "Feels Like Today" - will do for a band's reputation on Music Row.
Rascal Flatts brings its latest live extravaganza to the Civic Center on Saturday for a show with up-and-coming artist Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton. This time out, the Flatts flies the pop-rock flag with pride.
For the "Me and My Gang Tour," the group hired noted set designer Bruce Rogers, who has also crafted tour designs for Sting, the Dave Matthews Band and Madonna. Fans at Saturday's concert can expect a lot of bang for their bucks, including large video screens, multiple stages and flashy backdrops.
They can also expect a roof-raising show that'll focus on past hits such as "I Melt," "Love You Out Loud," "Skin" and "Bless the Broken Road," along with choice covers such as "Hotel California" and the Rolling Stones' "All Night Long."
The highway has been the right way for Rascal Flatts to connect to its fast-growing and hugely loyal fan base. Last year's "Here's To You Tour" drew 750,000 fans to arenas in 70 U.S. cities (more folks than mega-popular British band Coldplay pulled) and earned Rascal Flatts a Billboard Touring Award.
It seems more accolades sparkle on the horizon. DeMarcus, Rooney and Levox joined "American Idol" sweetheart Carrie Underwood and TV personality Hannah Storm to announce this year's Academy of Country Music Awards nominations.
Rascal Flatts scored four. The group was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Top Vocal Group, Album of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Skin"). Rascal Flatts will also perform at the awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on May 23 on CBS.
The trio hopes history repeats itself with the upcoming release of its new album, "Me and My Gang," which hits the stores in April. The record's first single, "What Hurts the Most," is already stirring up the airwaves on radio.
"With every album you record, you hope that you've grown as an entertainer and musician," DeMarcus said in the news release that touted the upcoming record. "We've waited to share this music for a while now. I think our fans will hear more of what they are used to from us, but I also feel we've stretched our wings just a bit as well."IF YOU GO What: The "Me and My Gang Tour 2006," featuring Rascal Flatts and special guests Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St.
Cost: $55.25 and $32.75
Phone: 222-0400 or (800) 322-3602