Billy Joel once said, “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
Saturday, Feb. 11, three big-name country stars hit the stage in the Little Rock Verizon Arena: Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans and Hunter Hayes.
As the headliner of the night, Rascal Flatts put on a show no one could forget. The band began their show in an incredible way as they emerged through three separate elevated doors in the back wall. A picture of an iceberg was projected onto the back wall and as the three walked down the stairs in a cloud of smoke, the iceberg began to crack and break.
Immediately, all three members of the band walked down from their doors, each to his own small drum set. There they began playing an ominous and almost tribal beat. To add to the otherworldliness, each touch to a drum would light up the rim of the drum, creating a strobe light effect as the beat picked up tempo. This unique introduction helped set the mood for the rest of the fantastic and energetic show to come.
Rascal Flatts hit the charts in 2000 with the group’s debut album self-titled “Rascal Flatts” and has been cranking out almost one album a year since. The band consists of three men: lead singer Gary Levox, backup vocalist and bass player Jay DeMarcus, and harmony vocalist and lead guitar player Joe Don Rooney.
Over the last 10 years Rascal Flatts has produced 13 No. 1 hits and won more than 40 awards, according to Rascalflatts.com. As Levox announced at Saturday’s concert, the band has also recently been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Also worth mentioning are the performances put on by both Sara Evans and upcoming star Hunter Hayes. Sara Evans put on a spectacular show with nearly flawless vocals, but who I was particularly impressed by was Hunter Hayes.
At just twenty years old, Hayes has recently emerged as a contender in the country music world with his self-titled debut album and recent chart topper “Storm Warning,” according to Hunterhayes.com. He is no rookie, though. Hayes has previously written and co-written songs for both Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry and has already shared the stage with Taylor Swift, Hank Williams Jr., Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum.
“I hope people half my age and twice my age will listen to my music — I want it to live forever and for my audience to feel like they have a friend in my music,” said Hayes on Hunterhayes.com. “Music is a spirit. It heals. It’s an amazing thing to be loved and appreciated, and sometimes, music has not just been my best friend, it’s been my only friend.”
