Lady Antebellum has experienced monumental success throughout the group's relatively short career. Grabbing the attention of the entire music industry, Lady Antebellum has been nominated for several Grammy Awards. Their monster hit song "Need You Now" was nominated for five Grammys and won each including the coveted Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
The group's fourth album, Golden, is set to be released May 7th and since the sole lady in Lady Antebellum, Hillary Scott, is pregnant with her first child, the show at Shoreline Ampitheatre was one of the handful of headlining shows the group has scheduled in the next few months.
The band took the stage at 9:05 after a ten minute "preshow" of the stage lights flashing in tune with hit country songs that were remixed into dance club versions. Opening with "Downtown", the first single off the new album and current radio hit, the crowd erupted. They kept up the energy with "Our Kind of Love."
Next they played an unreleased song, "Goodbye Town", that is on the new album. It was a slower paced song which suits the melodies of their vocals. Once that song finished, Charles Kelley asked the crowd to get out their phones or lighters and light the place up which provided the perfect atmosphere for their ballad "Dancin' Away With My Heart". It almost felt like you were at a dance with the way the venue was lit up and the slow music playing. You couldn't help but sway to the beat.
"Perfect Day" got the crowd moving again. This song is a great showcase for Dave Haywood to show his musicianship. He sings for the group as well as plays the mandolin, piano, and guitar throughout the group's set.
Following was "Just a Kiss", another big hit from their Own the Night album. The chemistry Hillary and Charles have when singing their romantic ballads is undeniable.
At this point in the show, the trio took their spots on stools in the center of the stage to talk to the crowd a bit. They talked about Hillary's pregnancy. She felt since being pregnant she's been noticing all the other pregnant ladies around her, specifically calling attention to a lady in the third row. Hillary asked the woman her name, when she was due, and what she was having (a boy and potential match for Hillary's little girl). I love when artists connect to the crowd and Lady Antebellum is one of the best at making that connection. This conversation segued into singing the title track off the new album, "Golden."
Charles started talking about country legend George Jones who had passed away earlier in the day. Charles said that upon hearing the news, he immediately started listening to all of Jones' songs. In tribute to the legend, they sang one of Charles' favorite George Jones songs "Choices". Charles is a great entertainer and loves interacting with the crowd which is evident from his journey into to the seats to sing a verse of a song and when he pulled a little girl up into his arms on stage while singing with Hillary.
The band members joined the trio at the front of the stage for an acoustic mini set which started with "American Honey". Charles then told the audience about the good ole days when he and Dave were younger and they would go out to a field back in Georgia where they would hang out with all of their friends. Whenever he remembers those good times, "Back Where I Come From" by Kenny Chesney, is the song he thinks of.
During this cover song, childhood photos of the trio played on the big screen. The band being center stage with the group provided the perfect opportunity for their introductions. With each band member's name announced, their name, hometown, and childhood photo would appear on the big screen. After the intros including Hillary's baby daddy (and husband drummer Chris Tyrrell), Charles started into another cover, this time it was Travis Tritt's "It's a Great Day to Be Alive".
Charles asked the crowd if it was cool if they just kept it really loud and fun from there on out, which of course got the crowd screaming their approval of the idea. The band, back in their regular spots, began playing the group's first radio single "Love Don't Live Here." Keeping the energy going they sang "Stars Tonight" which included a crowd sing along. Next came the group's first number 1 song "I Run to You". "Lookin' For a Good Time" rounded out the main set.
With the lights out, the piano started playing the beginning of the song that made Lady Antebellum a household name. Soon, Hilary's voice filled the ampitheatre singing the first verse of "Need You Now" with only Dave playing the piano. Charles and the band joined in for the rest of the song. Hillary and Charles sing this song with such passion.
In an effort to end the night on an upbeat party note, the group sang yet another cover. This time it was The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" which got the crowd dancing and singing. The band really seemed to enjoy themselves singing this one.
The perfect ending to the night was the group's final song, "We Owned the Night". Indeed, Lady Antebellum did own the stage at Shoreline on a chilly April night to kickoff the slate of country concerts set to play there this summer. "It was perfect and I never will forget"
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