I was really excited when I heard that Toby Keith was coming back to my neck of the woods this year with his Unleashed tour. And add to that the fact that one of my favorite new groups, Rascal Flatts was opening for him made it even better news. Then, to top it off, finding a fourth row seat wasn't too shabby either.
This was all back in August when I got my tickets, and then proceeded to find out who to contact for a photo pass as the venue does not allow photography. I found the correct person and was assured that I would be on the list and could pick up my pass at Will Call the day of the show.
Well, as you see there are no photos with these reviews. Thanks so much to the publicist who did NOT submit my name to the venue, and I was unable to take any photos during the shows. Add to that the fact that I was actually in the second row from the stage and could have had the most incredible pictures... but I digress. I just wanted to apologize for not having any pictures to look at of the shows. :(
Other than that fact, I gotta say that both shows were incredible!
There was also a third artist on the bill. I hadn't heard of him before. His name is Paul Thorn, and he wrote one of Toby's songs, "Double-Wide Paradise." His songs were entertaining, but nothing you'd ever hear on the radio. He had a real nice voice. Some of the songs he sang were called "Viagara Before I Get To Niagara" "Joni the Jehovah Witness Stripper," and "Two Dogs In Heat."
I arrived at my seat about 7:20, and the show was supposed to start at 7:30, but Paul Thorn was performing when I got there and his set ended around 7:45 pm. Rascal Flatts actually took the stage around 8:00 pm.
When the guys ran out, Jay was running with an American Flag, which he placed in a holder on the right side of the stage. The guys started with a song from their upcoming album, Melt called "Too Good Is True." Next, they sang an older song, "Every Day Love." Jay then welcomed everyone to the show and started sinnging "Doo Wah Ditty," and had the audience singing along with him. After one verse and chorus, he said that Toby was closing the show for them.
Next came "While You Loved Me," and "Some Say." Again Jay started talking to the audience. He said "It's so good to be back in California where the beer is cold, the women are pretty and the men are ugly.... uh, just kidding sir, please put the gun away."
They did their current single "These Days," which is currently sitting at 10 on Billboard's country singles charts. Then, they sang their smash hit "I'm Movin' On," which got some people out of their seats to slowly dance along with the song. Then they did "See Me Through."
When I saw Rascal Flatts last year, they had Garth's old fiddle player, Jimmy Mattingly. This time they had a new guy, but he was just as incredible a musician, and he played this fiddle solo that wasn't any one song, but bits of a bunch of songs, including "Orange Blossom Special." From here they lead into "Praying For Daylight."
No encore, but then they are the opening act, so they probably are only allowed a certain amount of time. The show was over around 8:45 pm, and the stage crew came on to set up for Toby's show.
Here is Rascal Flatt's full set list:
Too Good Is True
This Every Day Love
Doo Wah Ditty
While You Loved Me
Some Say
These Days
I'm Movin' On
Praying For Daylight
