There's a segment in Lady Antebellum's video for their hit "Bartender," the first single off the group's latest album, 747, where lead singer Hillary Scott is on the phone with a girlfriend who's telling her to forget the man who left her and to come out for music and dancing. It's a triumphant moment and an inspiring one — and the type of celebratory mood the band embodies performing onstage.
Scott roars during the chorus, "Goin' till they cut me off! Wanna get a little lost!" Hearing her sing these spirited words, it's easy to imagine that, when performing live, she won't exactly be speaking for herself — rather, she'll be inspiring a few thousand of her closest friends.
The group, which began when singer Charles Kelley moved to Nashville in the mid-'00s and convinced former classmate, musician Dave Haywood, to meet him from Georgia, has gone on to big things. After joining forces with Scott (via MySpace, of all places), they have garnered many accolades and written several uber-popular, high-energy country songs, racking up tens of millions of YouTube views and a swarm of adoring fans via the band members' inclusive message: They want to party with you and forget the troubles of the outside world.
On the platinum-selling band's journey toward their "Wheels Up 2015" tour, Lady Antebellum has won Top New Group by the Academy of Country Music and New Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2008. Its song "I Run to You" won a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Group. A big reason for the success is the members' booming vivacity onstage mixed with Scott's rich voice, Kelley's down-home backup vocals, and Haywood's familiar piano lines and guitar licks.
"Being on the road and writing new songs, we found ourselves wanting more of that high-energy material," Haywood says on the band's Facebook page, which has more than 11 million likes. "We came up with songs like 'Bartender' and 'Long Stretch of Love,' with that big feeling that really hits you hard in an arena."
See how it all translates in an amphitheater on Sunday night.
Lady Antebellum, 7 p.m., Sunday, September 6, at Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansbury's Way, West Palm Beach. Tickets cost $30.75 to $60.50 plus fees. Call 581-795-8883, or visit concerts.livenation.com.