DaytonDailyNews.com

When it comes to modern superstar country acts, it doesn't get much bigger than Rascal Flatts.

The group — led by Columbus-area natives Gary LeVox and Jay Demarcus, and Joe Don Rooney, from Picher, Okla. — is undeniably one of the biggest country success stories of this decade.

"We dreamed some big dreams," Rooney said. "We were looking for the rocket ride, but I don't think we ever dreamed the things that have happened to us."

Rascal Flatts, who will perform a sold-out show at Wright State University's Nutter Center on Sunday, Feb. 17, have scored five consecutive hit albums since its platinum self-titled debut tore up the charts in 2000 fueled by the top 10 hits "Prayin' for Daylight," "This Everyday Love" and "While You Loved Me."

The latest album, "Still Feels Good," was released on Sept. 27 last year and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 chart.

"I think lyrically this is the strongest album, we've ever done," LeVox said. "It's genuinely taken us to the next level. I think that in working with (producer) Dann Huff, the four of us have really got something special when it comes to capturing on CD what we do live."

Rascal facts

Racal Flatts formed in Nashville in the late '90s when second cousins Gary LeVox and Jay Demarcus, both from the Columbus area, met Joe Don Rooney at a Printer's Alley nightclub. The trio signed a deal with Lyric Street Records in 2000 and released its self-titled debut later that year.

"What Hurts the Most," Rascal Flatts' smash single from 2006, is the only song by a male artist or group to ever reach No. 1 on both Billboard's adult contemporary and country charts.

"Still Feels Good," the group's fifth studio album, was released on Sept. 27 last year. It was the third consecutive Rascal Flatts release to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart and sold more than 547,000 units in its first week of release.

Sunday's concert at the Nutter Center marks Rascal Flatts' third appearance at the Nutter Center since 2004 and the trio's first sellout at the venue with more than 10,000 tickets sold. Fans only purchased 5,665 tickets for an Oct. 16, 2004, concert, while 9,723 tickets were sold for the group's last appearance on Oct. 21, 2006.

Who you calling sell-out?

Any regular concertgoer knows show attendance was down in 2007, which was confirmed by a Dec. 13 article at Billboard.com.

According to contributing writer Ray Waddell, North American concert dollars and attendance were down double digits in 2007, following a record year in 2006.

However, some groups managed to mount successful tours last year, ranging from top draws The Police and Genesis to Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts. The Police topped out the list with a gross of more than $212 million. Rascal Flatts, the 10th most successful touring act of 2007, grossed $41.6 million. If the success of the latest Nutter Center concert, which sold out three weeks before the date, is any indication, 2008 could be another good year for Rascal Flatts.

"Lately we haven't had near as many sellouts as we've had in the past," said Misty Cox, marketing manager for the Nutter Center. "People just aren't buying as many tickets or going to shows like they used to. There's not as much talent and tours out there anymore.

"However, in this market, country shows do very, very well for us," she added. "It's not surprising to me that it sold out because country at the Nutter Center is hot. We just had Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson on Jan. 17 and that ended up selling out. We're very happy and excited."

And for concertgoers unfamiliar with attending sold-out events at the Nutter, Cox has some words of advice.

"People are encouraged to arrive early," she said. "The doors will open at approximately 6:30 p.m. If people can try to avoid the North Fairfield exit and try to find an alternate route that will help out a lot. With a sellout you have over 10,000 people, and if they're all trying to get off one exit, it's going to be a problem."

How to go

Who: Rascal Flatts with Kellie Pickler

Where: Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Fairborn

When: 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17

Cost: Sold out

More info: (937) 775-4789 or www.nuttercenter.com

Other famous rascals

A rascal, by definition is a scoundrel, rogue or scamp known for dishonest or base behavior. Of course the term is often used affectionately toward a mischievous child, pet or ornery adult. Here's a quick rundown of a few notable rascals ...

Bugs Bunny: This wisecracking animated varmint was the original rascally rabbit. As voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, Bugs was as an amalgam of Brooklyn smart-aleck and a Bronx street tuff that inspired generations with his quick wit, anti-authority stance and penchant for dressing in drag to escape a sticky situation.

Dizzee Rascal: Born Dylan Mills in East London in 1985, this eclectic rapper shunned conventions to create his own unique brand of brash, off-kilter hip-hop. The frank speaking MC offers a street-level view of the turmoil indicative of British inner-city life with a cacophonous backdrop that echoes the uncertainty of modern times.

The Little Rascals: Also known as Our Gang, the Little Rascals were a precocious troupe of prepubescent comedians orchestrated by legendary Hollywood comedian Max Roach. More than 220 shorts and one feature film, a fluid cast of poor kids such as Chubby, Stymie, Darla, Farina and Buckwheat appeared as perennial underdogs struggling against adversity and the oppression of authority figures and rich people from the 1920s to the 1940s.

Modern Hollywood starlets: Normally thought of as a male pursuit, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton have become the modern female embodiment of rascally behavior, partying hard and driving drunk without common sense or the protection

of underpants.

The Rascals: This soulful '60s pop group from New Jersey was led by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati. The Rascals hit No. 1 with the smash singles "Good Lovin' " and "Groovin'," a pair of songs that mixed infectious melodies and youthful exuberance with a willful disregard for the letter "g."

Robin Hood: This legendary figure was the proverbial thorn in the side of local law enforcement. The dashing scalawag lead a gang of nerdowells that stole from the rich and gave to the poor while simultaneously wooing the hot babe from the ritzy side of town.

Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.