The popular and award winning country music group Little Big Town plays Ravinia this Friday June 28th. Due to a personal scheduling conflict I can’t make it to the show but still I wanted to note my appreciation for this foursome.
For almost fifteen years LBT, as they’re sometimes referred to, has been my favorite country group. They’ve been together since the late 90’s but it was the nostalgic roots recall hit “Boondocks” that put them on the music charts and into the ears of country fans. Their two girl-two guy harmonies bring out comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and they have embraced this by often covering Mac songs like “Go Your Own Way” and “The Chain” in concert. LBT even did a country ‘Crossroads’ TV episode with former Fleetwood Mac star Lindsey Buckingham.
In the Spring of 2007 I took my mom to see one of her favorite singers Martina McBride at the Rosemont Theater. I too like Martina’s music but the bonus for me was Little Big Town was the opening act. This is when I began to really appreciate the versatility of the group as each member can handle lead vocal duties and hearing them singing as a foursome is impressive. At that time my favorite songs of theirs were the Kimberly Shlapman sung “Wounded” and the haunting group sung “Bones” which was used on an episode of the HBO vampire series “True Blood.” I love the line, “It’s a long and hard road to hoe when seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon.”
Two years after “Boondocks” hit the charts, it appeared Little Big Town would be eclipsed by the rise of the vocal trio of Lady Antebellum. This was due in part to Lady A’s smash ballad “Need You Now” which remains their biggest song to date. And for awhile they did take a backseat to the love Lady Antebelluim got. Still, I maintained the foursome of Shlapman, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet would overtake all other country acts with their vocal versatility and song power. I was right. The proof being in songs like “Tornado”, “Girl Crush”, “Day Drinking”, the fun in the sun romp of “Pontoon” and the sweet like wine song “Sober” which should’ve been a bigger chart hit than it was.
I can’t leave out the ‘escape from an abusive relationship’ ballad “Better Man.” That one was written by Taylor Swift who gifted it to LBT. I find that beyond generous because it’s probably the best song Miss Swift has ever written. The most profound line in this song being “The bravest thing I ever did was run.” Wow, nice work Taylor!
‘BETTER MAN’ IS PROBABLY THE BEST SONG TAYLOR SWIFT HAS EVER WRITTEN AND SHE HAPPILY GAVE IT AWAY TO LITTLE BIG TOWN.
Besides their own album recordings, Little Big Town enjoys covering songs by other artists on a You Tube series titled “Scattered, Smothered and Covered.” The group puts country flavor to songs like Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”, Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and their finest cover being Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” which stomps out in hootenanny style.
LADY GAGA MUSIC GOES COUNTRY WITH THIS HALLWAY RAVE UP OF “BORN THIS WAY” WHICH IS PART OF THEIR ‘SCATTERED, SMOTHERED AND COVERED” YOU TUBE SERIES.
Last year at an Elton John tribute concert the popular foursome had the task of performing “Rocket Man” and did so well with it that they’ve incorporated the song into their live shows. The last time LBT played Chicago they opened with that E.J. classic.
“ROCKET MAN” WAS SO WELL DONE BY LBT THAT IT’S BECOME A LIVE CONCERT STAPLE.
There’s more I could say about Little Big Town but they’re best represented by their body of musical work. So enjoy clicking on to the links I posted and if you see them at Ravinia, you’re in for a great night of fun party songs and heartfelt ballads.
FRIDAY 6-28-19’s BLOG: HOW I PLAN TO SPEND MY SUMMER VACATION.