Photos by Andy Argyrakis

With every season that passes in Little Big Town’s hit-stacked career, the country quartet spreads its wingspan, which in the case of “The Breakers” Tour, resulted in its largest standalone Chicagoland concert yet at the Allstate Arena. And for those who made the jump with Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet, that meant loads of tunes from the current collection, everything essential from the past and tributes to some greats who were lost along the way.

If it was Little Big Town’s intention to use “The Breakers” Tour to plow wider ground as entertainers, it obviously worked, though its strongest asset may very well have been staying true to its hearty hooks and tasty southern roots.

Rather than open with a popular original, Little Big Town tipped its collective hat to Elton John via “Rocket Man,” who’s thankfully still here and slated to appear at this very same venue on his farewell flight next year. Though the choice was unexpected, its lyrics of shooting for the stars accurately supported the group’s current status as full-blown major market headliners, which began revealing itself with “Drivin’ Around” and lit up all the more come “Pontoon.”

“Front Porch Swing” also stepped up as a deep fried country rocker, the guys got all the glory during “Faster Gun” and everyone’s gospel roots came to the forefront on “Little White Church.” Though none of the members’ voices could individually win any of today’s glossy TV talent competitions, they worked best as a collective unit whose harmonies were especially sweet on a b-stage segment that recalled the late Don Williams’ “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good,” Prince’s “When Doves Cry” and Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman.”

Little Big Town clearly has a respect for its elders, with Indiana native Fairchild even remarking her first-ever concert was seeing the Oak Ridge Boys at the now defunct Star Plaza Theatre. But the group’s old fashioned seasonings were always sprinkled in perfect proportion to its contemporary stylings during the 90-minute set, including the spunky “Save Your Sin,” the reflective, Taylor Swift-penned “Better Man,” the storm starter “Tornado,” the heart-wrenching “When Someone Stops Loving You” and the ultimate weekend toast “Day Drinking.”

The cleverly worded “Girl Crush” found Fairchild taking lead in the back while her bandmates held down the fort on the main stage, followed by everyone coming together at home base for the total party tune “Boondocks.” If it was Little Big Town’s intention to use “The Breakers” Tour to plow wider ground as entertainers, it obviously worked, though its strongest asset may very well have been staying true to its hearty hooks and tasty southern roots.

Click here for more photos of Little Big Town at the Allstate Arena.

For additional information on Little Big Town, visit LittleBigTown.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Allstate Arena include Brad Paisley (Feb. 24); Demi Lovato (Mar. 9); Gloria Trevi & Alejandra Guzman (Mar. 15); Lorde (Mar. 27); Winter Jam (Mar. 30). For additional details, visit Rosemont.com/Allstate/ and Ticketmaster.com.

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