Lady Antebellum pretty much always sounds good. But there was something about their Chicago show on Friday night (July 10) that sounded even better. I think there was love in the air, and I know there was a ring on Charles Kelley’s finger.

This show was Kelley’s first as a married man. He’d just returned from a faraway island where he married Nashville publicist Cassie McConnell last week. And maybe it’s just the hopeless romantic in me, but he sounded like he meant it on all their sweet love songs. Like on “Love’s Lookin’ Good on You” and “Home Is Where the Heart Is” and “I Run to You.” All happy songs about being in a happy place.

It was a bit harder to take him seriously on the other ones, though. Newlyweds just don’t sound all that convincing on one-night-stand anthems like “Lookin’ for a Good Time” and the tunes about abandoning love, like “Things People Say.” But, Kelley had Hillary Scott to handle vocals, too, which worked out perfectly. Especially the way she took over the lead on “Long Gone,” the ultimate break-up tune with lyrics about not drowning in her yesterdays and I am so not listening.

The bar was full, the band was tight and the set list went on and on with Lady A’s growing list of hits. And the cover songs stretched over some deep musical territory, with hits from AC/DC, Dwight Yoakam and show closer the Doobie Brothers‘ “Long Train Runnin’.” A very happy ending to everyone’s week.

Photo credit: Jeff Dykhuis

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