If there was one thing made clear by Rascal Flatts [ tickets ]' Thursday (3/12) performance at Phoenix's Cricket Wireless Pavilion, it's that they love what they do.

Singer Gary LeVox, guitarist/singer Joe Don Rooney and bassist/singer Jay DeMarcus constantly run around the stage, with Rooney and DeMarcus sometimes tossing their instruments to each other. DeMarcus is the resident clown, cracking jokes about the skimpy clothes that Arizonans favor during the hot weather. The trio hangs on each other as they play solos, as longtime friends would. The hijinx also included DeMarcus grabbing a video camera and shooting the audience so they could see what he sees, he said.

After a burst of pyro, the trio arrived on stage via a large platform that descended from the rafters, LeVox in front and DeMarcus and Rooney behind him with their Garth Brooks-like headset microphones. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Rascal Flatts kicked off the set with "Still Feels Good" and drove straight into "Life is a Highway," a cover of the Tom Cochrane song that appeared on the "Cars" soundtrack.

"Are you ready to turn this party up a notch or what?" Rooney asked the nearly sold-out crowd on a cool Phoenix night before launching into "Secret Smile."

LeVox got in on the fun as well during the two-hour show, making a medley out of "Love You Out Loud" and the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back."

Rooney and DeMarcus displayed their vocal chops as LeVox took one of his many breaks, and Rooney then serenaded the audience with "I'm Moving On," while DeMarcus sang "Skin." But their talents don't stop there. Rooney is a deft musician who showed off his skills during a face-off with his fiddle player. And LeVox's vocals are so on par with the album versions that it raises the question, "Are they better than the album?"

The stage was amazing, befitting an arena more than the summer shed that housed it. Three video-screen towers dwarfed the musicians, who were placed on platforms of varying heights that jutted a handful of rows into the audience.

"Without our great fans, we wouldn't have jobs," DeMarcus said. "Thank you for giving us this opportunity."

Jessica Simpson opened the show and wasn't nearly the trainwreck she is portrayed as. Sure, she almost "bit it," as she said, a couple times, thanks to her high heel sandals, and she was a little pitchy at times, but it was almost endearing.

Wearing a bustier, flannel shirt and Daisy Duke shorts, Simpson kicked off the show with her cover of the Nancy Sinatra hit "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." She turned her back on the audience and shook her tush to the music, much to the pleasure of the men in the audience, who hooted and hollered for her, especially a man curiously dressed in a Cubs uniform. Her set was peppered with songs from her country-music debut "Do You Know," as well as countrified versions of her pop hits "With You" and the Robbie Williams-penned "Angels." She ended her set with her latest single "Pray Out Loud."