The hit country pop group Rascal Flatts gave a patriotic performance at the Pennysaver Amphitheater in Farmingville on Saturday, getting fans dancing despite the steady rain.
After Jackie Lee and Laura Lane got the audiences’ cowboy boots kicking for Ohio-based Rascal Flatts opened up their set with their upbeat song, “Stand” and continued to play their hits such as “My Wish,” “I Like the Sound of That” and “Bless the Broken Road.” Even though fans were shivering in the cold rain, the band heated things up when they played another one of their hits, “Summer Nights.” The group includes Gary LeVox on lead vocals, Joe Don Rooney on lead guitar and pianist Jay DeMarcus, who is LeVox’s second cousin.
“On 9/11, we actually had to leave that night for Albuquerque,” Gary LeVox told the crowd, noting the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks the day before. “Most people stayed home ‘cause, you know, it was such a tragic and horrific day, you know, in United States history. But for Rascal Flatts, we felt an obligation to continue to go to work just to show that you didn’t win anything, nothing. So, from 2001, we work every 9/11 out of spite.”
The crowd at the sold-out show responded by chanting “USA!” The show came after Rascal Flatts were nominated for County Music Awards group of the year award to add to their many accolades.
All through out the performance, LeVox put the microphone out toward the audience allowing their voices be heard singing along to the songs. LeVox in his song “Easy,” had one of his backup singers, Tia, perform lead with him in an incredible duet. They had also did a cover of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” that took the fans’ breath away between the staging, the lights and emotional performance.
The show went on despite the persistent rain. Saving their biggest hit song for last, from the Disney movie Cars, “Life is A Highway,” the band left the crowd in a joyful and happy mindset. They were dancing and singing along, not wanting the show to end.
