Rascal Flatts Rocks the BJC with Special Guest Chase Bryant

The sounds of banjos, southern drawls, and songs about summertime and cold beer united Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center when Rascal Flatts and guest Chase Bryant took Happy Valley by storm.

Bryant, best known for his hits “Take It On Back” and “Little Bit of You,” started the night off sporting a custom Penn State football jersey with Bryant printed on the back, paying tribute to the Nittany Lions and homecoming weekend. Despite only recently entering the country music scene, Bryant brought a great confidence to the stage, getting the crowed excited for the main act of the night.

Of course, Bryant’s performance paled in comparison to that of the seasoned performers in Rascal Flatts. After an absence of more than six years, the group finally returned to the BJC for the seventh time as a part of its Rhythm and Roots tour. They opened with “Summer Nights” and played hits like “I Like the Sound of That” and “What Hurts the Most.”

Most notably, Rascal Flatts played “Life is a Highway,” a cover song that found huge mainstream crossover success when the band released it in 2006. Bass guitarist and keyboardist Jay DeMarcus paused in the middle of the concert to speak about his Christian faith and love for the country in a genuinely down-to-earth speech.

Singing about American pride, seduction, heartbreak, and broken roads, Rascal Flatts once again brought its A-game to Penn State, putting a spectacular performance for the BJC crowd.