Country Mike Blog

Rascal Flatts headlines a great show

Mike Sudhalter  |  July 15, 2012

Rascal Flatts' performance served as the highlight of a four-act country music performance on Saturday night.

There is something to be said of hearing country bands, such as Rascal Flatts and Little Big Town in person.

As I'd indicated on this blog, in previous posts, that I hadn't been a big fan of Rascal Flatts, but the trio's live show on Saturday night Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas modified that perception in a good way.

Little Big Town, Thompson Square and Eden's Edge rounded out an exciting evening that featured a pair of trios, a quartet and a duo.

They kicked off the show with "Banjo," their rollicking song from earlier this year that incorporates the title's instrument - something of a surprise for a band that often relied on more modern country instruments.

What would a Rascal Flatts show be without a ballad or two? "God Bless The Broken Road" was one of the highlights of the show.

At one point, the Flatts took requests from the audience and then performed "My Wish," and a verse or two of "While You Loved Me."

When they sang that one, they had to ask the crowd if they remembered it. It's hard to believe that Rascal Flatts has been on the country music scene for a dozen years.

Little Big Town may be the most underrated group in country music.

It's high time that Little Big Town record a live album. This quartet's harmonies are amazing. Of course, they performed hits like "Boondocks," "Pontoon," and "Little White Church," but the highlight of the show was when they seriously countrified Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," complete with banjo.

The song is on YouTube "Born This Way"

Thompson Square, which is comprised of the married couple, Keifer and Shawna Thompson, haven't been on the radio waves too much, so "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?" was their most recognizable song. They also performed the hit "I Got You," and their first single "Let's Fight."

The newest group on the bill was Eden's Edge, who did an excellent job starting the evening on the right foot.

The Arkansas trio performed their latest single, "Too Good to be True", as well as "Swinging Door," and "Amen." On "Amen," - their first single - they tried to encourage the crowd to sing the last few words back to them, with mixed results.

Eden's Edge has strong harmony vocals and it's refreshing to hear them blend traditional and modern country sounds.