1. With the National Finals Rodeo in town, country-pop act Lady Antebellum took to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center stage amid a sea of people speckled with Stetsons Friday night. “We’ve got some rodeo girls here? … Some rodeo guys?” lead vocalists Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley asked the enthused crowd, who met the inquiry with a whole lot of hootin’ and hollerin’. The throng filled the GA area, stretching to the end of DLVEC’s VIP area and proving Lady A a more-than-worthy act to bill during the Valley’s December countrification.
2. The Grammy-winning trio followed openers Maddie & Tae and David Nail. Nail’s classic country crooning was well received by the crowd, and with charming stage presence and sweet harmonies, up-and-comers Maddie & Tae were a delight to watch.
3. Lady A kicked things off right with a spirited performance of “Bartender,” the lead single off the group’s latest release, 747, and spent the set bouncing back and forth between five of their six studio albums, carefully balancing radio hits ("I Run To You," "Need You Now," "Downtown") with fan favorites and lesser-known titles ("Lie With Me," "Dancin' Away with My Heart"). December 5 was probably a bit too early for some Christmas tunes off their On This Winter’s Night ... holiday release.
4. Vocals were on point throughout the group’s performance (as was the accompaniment from the supporting band, which included Scott’s husband on drums), which likely doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has seen their live act (or any recent country music awards show). Lady A first came into prominence for their stripped-down “Need You Now” (which closed out the set and sounded great), but the band really shined on “Just A Kiss” with beautiful harmonization from Scott and Kelley. Upbeat tracks “Love Don’t Live Here” and “Downtown” were also standouts.
5. While I expected Lady A to be well-rehearsed on their own selections, I was most looking forward to hearing what—and who—they’d be covering that evening. The group capped their encore with the Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers duet “Islands In the Stream,” but it was the mid-set performance of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon” that was a real treat. Scott’s voice might not have the same throaty affectation as Stevie Nicks’, but her pipes were surprisingly appropriate for the legend’s vocals on the beloved hit. Probably my favorite performance of the night.
