Pop-country trio Rascal Flatts swung by West Palm Beach last Saturday to promote their new album, Back to Us

SHADE-O-METER RATING

4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”

Who are Rascal Flatts? They’re a country-pop trio. They formed in 1999. What’s the Back to Us tour? It’s their 15^thheadlining tour. The tour supports the Back to Us album from 2017. What’s the Coral Sky Amphitheater? It’s an outdoor theater in West Palm Beach. The covered area holds 8,000, and the lawn area holds 12,000. How was the venue? It’s a typical outdoor amphitheater.

The tenth studio album from Rascal Flatts, featuring the hit single, “Yours If You Want It.” Buy the MP3 for only $10.49.

How was the parking? General parking is free! Does the venue serve liquor? Yes, and they have tons of bars. How were the drinks? We got a double tequila sunrise for $19, and double vodka cranberry for $19. Does the venue serve food? Yes. How was the food? We got a fried chicken strips meal. It was about $12, and it came with fries. The chicken had too much breading on it, but, overall, the food was what you’d expect. How much were the tickets? $80. Where were the seats? On the right side of the stage.

Was the show sold out? For the seated area, just about. The lawn was pretty full as well. Who were the opening acts? There was a slew of them. We only caught the last couple of songs from Dan + Shay, who were the last opening act. How were they? The last song that they performed was, of course, “Tequila.” The duo has a pleasant enough sound; however, to me, they sound almost exactly like Rascal Flatts, which probably isn’t a good thing.

How was Rascal Flatts? The trio performed a no-nonsense show, composed of minimal sets—a rare thing for any contemporary big act. They opened with the fun “Bob That Head,” and then, after a few songs in, bassist/vocalist Jay DeMarcus set the carefree tone of the night: “Why don’t we take a break for an hour and half from all the bullshit that you see on the new… It breaks my heart that people are fighting with each because, first and foremost, we’re all Americans… None of us is perfect. The last one who was was Jesus Christ—so let’s forget all the bullshit and have a party.” And basically, they did. The approximately two-hour set contained hits such as “Feels Like Today,” “My Wish,” “I’m Moving On,” and “Fast Cars and Freedom.” Regarding the end of the show, it’s somewhat ironic that their two biggest hits, “What Hurts the Most” and “Bless the Broken Road” (performed as the last song), are cover songs. However, this did not go unnoticed by them, as singer Gary LeVox joked, “They singer louder on that than our own songs—I’m a bit hurt.” The encore was “Summer Nights”—a metaphor, if you would, for a summer outdoor show in Florida—and the optimistic, “Life is a Highway.” The show ended with the trio taking selfies with people that were seated in front of the stage.

How was the crowd? Enthusiastic. What stood out about the show? There was a part, about two-thirds of the way through the show, when they sat on stools (I believe) and harmonized on some songs. It was during this part that they most astutely displayed their collective talents as one, cohesive unit. In addition, although it’s not much of an observation to point it out, but LeVox’s voice certainly is God-given.

What could have improved the show? Despite the quality of LeVox’s voice, it seems at times that it’s too far back in the mix. This might be a technique to preserve his voice, but the observant listener will not be tricked by this strategy of padded harmonies.

What was surprising about the show? That with their unison high-top military haircuts, they look something like marines. There were also some sets that looked almost exactly like the booths at Perino’s in Mommie Dearest—I wonder what queen came up with those.

The Coral Sky Amphitheatre is located at 601-7 Sansburys Way, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Not many can claim that they have a watch, a doll and a rubber duck made of them, on top of being a LGBT icon. But beneath the glitz and the glamour, and beyond the whimsical tips about hair bleaching and other ephemeral precepts, what’s the one thing that Amanda Lepore regrets in life?

Where do you live now? In New York. If you had to live somewhere else, where would it be, and why? In Paris, because it’s so pretty and it’s the “City of Love.” What New York venue do you miss that’s gone? The Diamond Horseshoe. It was such a gorgeous venue—very glamorous, with an old Hollywood vibe. What’s your claim-to-fame? Working with David LaChapelle, and being his muse. What’s your favorite LaChapelle photograph? Addicted to Diamonds.

Doll Part, by Amanda Lepore. A must-have collector’s item for readers eager for a glimpse into the unique world of a fearless chanteuse. A thoroughly enjoyable hybrid of flashy pictorial, artsy production, and outspoken autobiography.

What’s your ultimate goal in show business? I would love to have my own show. Something beautiful and elaborate, like Zumanity in Las Vegas. How would you like to be remembered? For making people happy. Will you ever retire? No, not anytime soon. Since you’re known for makeup, did you ever read Joan Crawford’s book, My Way of Life? I never read it. I do love the movie Mommie Dearest, though! What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked? Nothing weird. My fans are amazing and super respectful—I’m a fan of my fans!

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Traci Lords. It was such a treat to work with her recently, since I admire her so much. I think she’s so smart, especially with how she turned a scandal around and formed her own company to keep the rights to her work. And then she went on to do real movies, TV and became a singer. As you can see, I’m a “fan-girl” to follow her career like this (laughs). What the last thing that you looked at online? Shopping. I’m always shopping and looking for unique items to make my own costumes and accessories.

What the best place that you’ve visited, and why? Ibiza. It’s a continuous party there. It’s like an extended, twenty-hour version of one of my shows (laughs). What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? Not to overlap bleach. What did you learn from your parents? When I was picked on as a kid, my mother would tell me to hold my head high with pride, and to always be myself. Other than Marilyn Monroe, what actress do you admire? Jayne Mansfield. She’s a cartoon version of Marilyn Monroe. What performer do you admire, and why? David Bowie, because he was ahead of his time, gender-fluid, gorgeous, had great style, and he made great music, too.

What’s your best characteristic? My petite hour-glass figure, and my lips. How do you enjoy spending your time? Working on looks for my shows, and working on new costumes and accessories. What celebrity do you have a crush on? David Bowie. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why? David Bowie, for all the reasons that I previously mentioned! Where would you go in a time machine? I like to stay in the present. What would your last meal be? One cornflake. What do you worry about? I’m too busy. I don’t have time to worry.

Amanda Lepore’s latest EP. Released February 16, 2018. Get it for only $3.96.

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why? A violin, because of its hourglass figure. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A sheep, duh! I’m soft, curly and blonde. If you wrote a sequel to Doll Parts, what would it be called? Doll Parts II. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not being born genetically a female. It would have saved a lot of time and a lot of money! What’s something that you never told anyone else? That I’ve had plastic surgery (laughs)! Where can we see you? At Deryck Todd’s STRUT! at Acme on 3/13/2018, at Suzanne Bartsch’s Bareback Follies at The McKittrick Hotel on 3/16/2018, and at the Twisted Circus Tour UK from March 30 to April 7.