Concert Review
Little BIG Town
Sugarland
The Castellows
KeyBank Center
Buffalo, NY
Saturday November 2, 2024
Review: Thom Jennings
Photo Credit: Becky Fluke
Little Big Town brought their ‘Take Me Home” Tour to Buffalo on November 2. The country music quartet is on the road with Sugarland, a duo and The Castellows, a trio of sisters. The jaunt is a victory lap for Little Big Town, celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary this year. It was an opportunity for Sugarland to get reacquainted with fans and an opportunity for The Castellows, with their unique blend of neotraditional country, to introduce themselves to a captive audience.
The Castellows kicked off the evening, and while most of the attendees were either parking or milling about through the concourse during their set, they delivered a great one. They were indeed worthy of their spot.
Sugarland played an abbreviated set but made the most of it. They opened with a new song, “There Goes the Neighborhood,” and while the rest of the set was a short trip through the band’s greatest hits, the new song fit perfectly into the flawless set. If there was any question as to whether Sugarland has lost a step after being off the road for five years, it was put to rest quickly. The chemistry between Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush is a joy to behold, and Nettles has even more command of her voice than she did during the group’s heyday,
Even though they were the guest on the tour, they set the bar high for Little Big Town. “Love” and “We Run” were highlights of the set, and the performance left us eagerly anticipating the possibility of seeing Sugarland out as a headliner soon.
It was Little Big Town’s show, and they did not disappoint. The 22 song set included two covers performed with Sugarland, and two other well-placed covers in the set, a stirring rendition of Joe Cocker’s version of The Beatles classic “With a Little Help from My Friends,” added on to “I’m With the Band,” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man.”
Visually, the show was stunning, and each member received ample time in the spotlight. The group’s harmonies are reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac.
The show felt like a celebration and reminded the listener just how deep the group’s catalog is, especially the depth of the lyrics. In an era filled with autotune, pre-programmed instrumentation, and over-the-top production values, it was refreshing to see a band that relies on its talent.
