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THACKERVILLE, OK -- Superstar group Rascal Flatts put on an amazing show for the capacity crowd of 3,000 fans that packed the WinStar World Casino's Global Events Center on October 16. Rascal Flatts (Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney) has developed a loyal following over the past decade, producing 11 No.1 hits including Bless the Broken Road , which sat atop the charts for five consecutive weeks in 2005 and What Hurts the Most , which topped the country charts for three weeks and crossed over to No. 1 on the Billboard adult contemporary charts for nine weeks. My Wish, a No. 1 hit from 2006, has gained a new life as the theme song for the ESPN series of the same name (the show features sports fantasies come true).
And, course, there is their cover of Life is a Highway from the Pixar film Cars.
On this night when they played a 90-minute set that included many of their hits, my favorite part was the band's interaction with the crowd in this intimate setting. After bass guitarist Jay DeMarcus pointed out that the crowd appeared to be "500-to-1 ladies to guys," he introduced lead guitarist Joe Don Rooney as "what Justin Bieber will look like in 30 years." Following a knowing glance from Rooney, DeMarcus quickly corrected himself by saying, "35 years."
Rascal Flatts mixed in covers of songs from Kansas and Michael McDonald, going as far as wondering what it would sound like when McDonald ordered a meal "biggie-sized" at Wendy's. Lead vocalist Gary LeVox also made mention that the band had recently been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, drawing huge applause from the adoring fans. Actually, the crowd ate up everything in the performance like it was a perfect steak from Bob's Steak and Chop House.
The encore featured the three members on stage performing the ballad I Won't Let Go. Before the lights came up and the crowd spilled out into the third largest casino in the world, Gary LeVox's closing words were "God bless our military and God bless our military's families."
Following the show, we ventured over to the sparkling Palladium Sports Lounge between Cairo and Vienna gaming areas, for some hot wings before heading back to Fort Worth. For a complete listing of upcoming shows at WinStar World Casino, visit here.
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