The Ledge - Little Big Town Concert Review

POPULAR MUSIC
Monday, May 14, 2007; Page C05

Little Big Town And Martina McBride

Both of the women in Little Big Town were in delicate condition Saturday night at Merriweather Post Pavilion: Kimberly Roads (the blonde) because she is almost seven months pregnant and Karen Fairchild (the brunette) because of her outfit. Fairchild's green-print strapless dress kept sliding down, so she kept yanking it up not so inconspicuously. It made for worrisome watching -- eek, don't bounce so much! Stay away from the stairs! -- and detracted from an otherwise outstanding opening set for headliner Martina McBride.

The Nashville quartet showcased its seamless harmonies on songs including the group's breakout hit, "Boondocks," off the Grammy-nominated album "The Road to Here." It's about small-town pride ("One thing I know / No matter where I go / I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks") and ends with the foursome singing in a round. This is a group without a star, though Roads demands attention with her big, blond poodle curls. The girl-boy lineup and '70s vibe recalls Fleetwood Mac, especially in that Fairchild is married to singer-guitarist Jimi Westbrook. No surprise, then, that Little Big Town paid tribute to Fleetwood Mac near the end of the 45-minute set with a cover of "Go Your Own Way."

Later, McBride nailed her performance of big, demanding songs, including her latest, "Anyway." She clumped her many domestic-violence-themed songs near the end, but before that, 2001's belt-it-out hit "Where Would You Be" literally stopped the show when McBride's elongated vocals inspired a deserved standing ovation.

-- Rachel Beckman

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