Pershing Center has landed another concert: a Feb. 18 appearance by country vocal group Rascal Flatts.

One of the hottest touring acts in country today, Rascal Flatts has been in Lincoln several times, including shows at the Rococo Theatre and Pershing that I can remember off the top of my head.

The Rascal Flatts show will make it a back-to-back concert weekend in Lincoln, with Nine Inch Nails set to play the arena on Feb. 17. Outside of the 10-day run of major concerts that used to take place during the Nebraska State Fair, I can't remember the last time that happened.

The two shows along with upcoming concerts by Motley Crue and the Taste of Chaos tour give the lie to those who claim that Lincoln can’t get concerts because of Omaha’s Qwest Center.

 With sold-out concerts by Brad Paisley and Big and Rich/Gretchen Wilson late last year together with the four upcoming bookings, Pershing is showing that Lincoln can be a competitive, successful concert market, even with an antiquated building. That bodes well for the new arena the city must build in the near future.

Tickets for the Rascal Flatts show, which will be opened by Blake Shelton, are $43 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Pershing box office, Ticketmaster outlets and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Chesney returns to Omaha

Speaking of country and the Qwest Center, Kenny Chesney, arguably the hottest act out of Nashville these days, will be back at the Qwest Center on April 6.

Chesney had the fifth highest-grossing tour in the U.S. in 2005, which included back-to-back sold-out Qwest Center shows. Joining him on The Road and The Radio Tour will be Dierks Bentley and Sugarland.

Tickets for Chesney’s show will go on sale Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Qwest Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tentative ticket prices are $64.50 and $54.50.

Renee Austin forced to retire

Last week after Ground Zero was completed, I got some bad news in an e-mail from Blind Pig Records.

Renee Austin, the rising blues star who released two fine albums and delivered a series of impressive performances at the Zoo Bar as well as, I’m sure, many other places, has been forced to retire because of a paralyzed vocal chord.

Here’s how Austin told her fans about it in an open letter:

“As some of you know I had to have surgery on September 13th to remove a lump on my thyroid gland. I feel blessed to be able to tell you that I am doing fine and the lump turned out to be cancer free. I regret to inform you all that as a result of the surgery my left vocal chord has been left paralyzed and is not working. The result of this is I can talk softly, but I cannot sing.

“In the last couple of weeks after lots of medical opinions and various hospital visits my condition has been diagnosed as likely permanent. This means that I probably will never be able to sing again. I am working hard with a speech therapist to see if I can beat the odds and God willing raise my voice in song once again someday. Until that time comes I must say goodbye to you all as a singer and thank you again for all of the love and support you have given me.”

Check out GZO

On GZO, aka Ground Zero Online, we’ve begun a weekly 5x5 post in which the five of us who blog list our choices for the best in some category or another. This week, it was best guitarists. My top five were: James Burton, Keith Richards/Chuck Berry (so I cheated, but Keith stole almost everything from Chuck), Johnny Ramone, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jack White.

Next week, we’re listing our five top comedians — a pretty broad category — and asking for your responses. And we’ll try to keep you posted on what’s going on and coming up and find out what you have to say about music, movies, TV, radio, dining and anything else in entertainment.

GZO is on the web at www.journalstar.com/blog/gzo.php

Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.