RASCAL FLATS PERKS UP TODAY SHOW PLAZA WITH HITS AND GOOD HUMOR - MAY 30, 2014

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RASCAL FLATS PERKS UP TODAY SHOW PLAZA WITH HITS AND GOOD HUMOR - MAY 30, 2014
Put Rascal Flatts on a stage, and all the band members want is to give their fans the best time possible. On Friday, the hugely successful country trio did just that on the TODAY plaza stage — and everything was live.
The band took some licks in April when singer Gary LeVox, who had an ailing throat, was forced to lip synch his Academy of Country Music performance But that's all in the past, as they explained on TODAY Thursday, and for their end-of-the week performances for TODAY, they were in fine form despite having just played a concert in Maryland the night before.
"We kind of said, 'Thank you, Maryland! Good night!' and all of a sudden we were going, 'How you doing in New York!' all in the same breath," chuckled LeVox. Fortunately, there was coffee for all; bassist Jay DeMarcus even asked if he could keep the TODAY mug.
The band is one of music's most popular acts, with 14 No. 1 hits so far. Their new album, "Rewind," was released earlier in May, and looks to be yet another best seller. The trio treated the audience to the album's new single "Payback," "Why Wait," and of course their classic remake of Tom Cochran's "Life Is a Highway."
"We really wanted to take our time, figure out what we needed to say this time," said DeMarcus of the slightly longer period they spent putting together "Rewind." "Really critical album for us. We needed to shake things up. ... We took the time to find out what not to do."
So how do they keep doing what it is they do so well? That's easy, said guitarist Joe Don Rooney, who gestured at the crowd. "We're in love with these people and what we get to do for a living."