I'm not sure what happened in Valdosta, Georgia, but they apparently got the traditional surname arrangement flipped around. Consider country musician Rhett Atkins. If he had a son and decided to name him Thomas, we'd expect Thomas Atkins, right? Well, Rhett DOES have a son named Thomas, born in Valdosta — and yet for some reason, he's Thomas Rhett.

At least as important is that fact that Thomas is a very big-deal C&W star himself, with the successful albums "Goes Like This," "Tangled Up" and "Life Changes." It's easy to see (and hear) why.

Rhett (Thomas, not, ah Atkins) has that sing-the-babes-to-sleep voice that's served Brad Paisley so well. Plus, he's a damned good songwriter. His ballads are poignant without Nashvillean tendency for corn, and the mid-tempo tunes mix pop production, a few genetic strands of timeless honky-tonk, and even a dusting of Southern rock gloss as per Atlanta Rhythm Section or the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Good stuff.

See Thomas Rhett Friday and Saturday in the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Thomas Rhett, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Mohegan Sun Arena; also, Midland and Brett Young; $59-$79; 1-800-745-3000.