On Saturday, October 2, 2013 at 2.00pm, the rascal flats performed at the Social Freedom Hall. The program of the day was all about the country music band which is made up of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts, p. 1). The whole concert was superb but the last piece that the performed to end the show impressed me more. It was the performance of their latest song, ‘I wish’; it left an everlasting impression on me.
The Rascal Flatts band is known as an American country music group. The group is composed of Gary who is the lead vocalist, Jay DeMarcus who plays the bass guitar, keyboard, piano and also a vocalist and Joe Don Rooney who plays the lead guitar and also a vocalist. The crowd was calm as the minutes ticked, it was a concert meant to celebrate their thirteenth year in the music industry. The concert began with Prayin’ for Daylight, a single they had realized in 2000 (Rascal Flatts, p. 1). The piece began slowly and quietly. Jay was on the piano and Rooney on his lead guitar. The lead guitar was the first to come to life then followed Gary’s voice which was soon joined by the bass guitar and the other vocalists. Within a minute the hall was on fire.
The group played the lead guitar and a piano with a polyphonic texture. Gary was the soloist with his two group members as his ensembles. The piece was played for about eight minutes making the crowd lively. The group played four pieces one of which was written by Steve Robson and Jason Sellers. The piece has repetitions as it tries to encourage the audience that no matter the situation they are going through, they will make it. Though the group sang the already composed songs, there are instances where they improvise their own lyrics depending on the reaction of the audience (Rascal Flatts, p. 1). Mostly, the improvising came at the end of a song.
The performance was in the commemoration of the group’s success. Working together as a group for thirteen years was worth the concert. They were celebrating the unity that held them together. The concert was amazingly unusual. As it is commonly known that country music is for the advanced in age within the American community, the hall was filled with teens and youths. The audience was jovial, despite the songs being emotional; there was a wind of happiness that covered the hall. The audience sang along with the group and being drawn by the emotional tones and words that filled the air.
The musician interacts with the crowd, the lead vocalist sometimes joined the audience in the dancing floor, taking their hands and slowly dancing with them. At times, he would stop the instruments and let the audience sing along. Majority of the crowd were impressed with the songs and the performance. The performance was meant to entertain, commemorate and above all encourage and motivate the audience about never giving up in life. The purpose was achieved.
The performance was one of its kind, the vocals and the instruments playing in unison and the musician giving their best to their esteemed fans. At the end of the day, a community of country lovers was formed; made up of young people. The group had offered them a way out in the time of need like they said in their piece, ‘I wish’, “And if one door opens to another door closed, I hope you keep on walking' till you find the window” (Country Lyrics, p. 1).
Bibliography
Country Lyrics, Tabs, Chords for Country Music Fans! "My Wish Lyrics - Rascal Flatts. Album: Me & My Gang." Accessed November 14, 2013. http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/rascal-flatts/my-wish-16928.html.
Rascal Flatts. Accessed November 14, 2013. http://www.rascalflatts.com/.
