Zach, of the Carter Twins, shared a little secret with fans Saturday night — the brothers’ song “That’s a Good Thing” is being considered by Rascal Flatts for the country mega group’s next CD. “It would be really cool to be 19 years old and have a song we wrote recorded by Rascal Flatts,” Zach told the audience.

Josh Carter even gave the sound check audience a little snippet of what he thinks the song will sound like when it’s recorded by Rascal Flatts, doing an impression of Flatt’s lead singer Gary LeVox. And it sounded great! The up-tempo number would definitely fit right in on a Rascal Flatts CD. Let’s hope it all works out.

The brothers’ played their hearts out for the small but enthusiastic audience Saturday night. The almost 90-minute set included fan favorites “Photo Booth,” “So What” and my newest favorite, “Amy Just Stay.” And is it possible that “Heart Like Memphis” is even more beautiful when it’s performed live? It’s really one of my favorite country songs and Saturday’s performance just made me love it more.

The guys also played some interesting covers that made the most of their excellent harmonies. “My Maria” (which, by the way, Zach, is not just a Brooks and Dunn song, but was a hit for B.W. Stevenson before you were born!) worked particularly well. They should put that one on their CD, which has been promised for early next year.

Also really good was the Collective Soul cover “Shine,” which Zach dedicated to “the parents in the room or those of you who are a little older.” Didn’t need to be reminded that the boys are young enough to be my sons but I’m sure he didn’t mean to make me feel old!

The only misstep of the set was their version of Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” which only sounded good on that famous chorus but just didn’t work for any other part of the song. Their other pop/rock covers where great, including Matchbox 20′s “3 A.M” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’.”

I do have to ask what the heck these talented brothers were doing playing at this out-of-the-way venue — Dave-Bob’s BBQ in Winchester, Virginia. Inconveniently located just off I-81 on the way from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, not too far from West Virgina and not really close to anywhere, the little BBQ joint draws some interesting national acts. Trent Tomlinson played there in August; Heidi Newfield is next on October 2 and then Emily West and Sarah Buxton are a double bill later in the month October.I guess this is where you pay your dues on the way up?

I was happy to make the 90-minute trek from my suburban Washington, DC., home to see these talents brothers, who I first met last June in Nashville at a private CMT show during CMA fest. I really believe that the Carter Twins are the future of country music. My 4-year-old son, Conor, who was thrilled to get his photo taken with Zach, agrees, and, like his mommy, will be a Carter Twins fan for life.

See photos from the show at http://bit.ly/carter0919

Vicky Dobbin is a country music lover in Falls Church, VA. Read her country music blog at www.lovemycountrymusic.com and follow her at
http://twitter.com/vdobbin