Rascal Flatts
opened the show and
Rascal
Flatts closed it Tuesday night (Feb. 21) at 3rd & Lindsley, a club near downtown Nashville. The private party, presented
by Big Machine Label Group and CMT Radio, was one of the after-hours events kicking off this year's Country Radio Seminar,
an event attracting radio programmers and on-air personalities from throughout the nation. In addition to McBride and Rascal
Flatts, the performance featured other top acts from Big Machine Records, the Valory Music Co. and Republic Nashville, including
chart-topping acts such as
The Band Perry,
Justin
Moore and
Brantley Gilbert. McBride began the music with one
of her signature hits,
"Independence Day," and followed
with "Whatcha Gonna Do" and her latest hit,
"I'm
Gonna Love You Through It." The Band Perry delivered their breakthrough hit,
"If
I Die Young," and
"You Lie" while Moore opted for "Til My Last
Day" (his upcoming single) and "I Could Kick Your Ass" (a rowdy track from his debut album). Gilbert performed
"Country
Must Be Country Wide" and his current single,
"You
Don't Know Her Like I Do." The party also allowed the Big Machine Label Group to present one of its newer acts,
Edens
Edge, and three even newer signings -- Greg Bates,
Ella Mae Bowen
and
Thomas Rhett. Rascal Flatts closed the evening with a five-song set
of
"Why Wait," "Fast
Cars and Freedom," "I Will Stand by You," "Life Is a Highway" and their latest single, "Banjo." Also in attendance were
Sunny Sweeney and members of the
Eli
Young Band. The party was hosted by Big Machine Label Group president and CEO Scott Borchetta and
CMT Radio Live's
Cody Alan. Afterwards, many in attendance headed to the nearby Mercy Lounge, where
the
Mavericks were scheduled to play a reunion gig. The band, which recently signed to the Valory Music imprint, will be touring
later this year with three of its founding members -- lead vocalist
Raul Malo,
bassist Robert Reynolds and drummer Paul Deakin.
