Photos provided by Becky Fluke

It’s been a banner year for Little Big Town, who besides marking 25 years together with a long overdue “Greatest Hits” compilation and a super fast follow-up of “The Christmas Record,” is currently in the midst of the “Take Me Home” Tour alongside special guest Sugarland.

Much of the Vibrant Arena At The Mark was filled to welcome the country superstars, who for over three hours between the two of them and openers The Castellows, brought infectious, pop-infused country, some unexpected covers and a ton of textbook harmonies.

As far as Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook were concerned, it was pure satisfaction from the beginning of “Bones” into “Little White Church,” “Pontoon,” “Day Drinking,” the Taylor Swift-penned “Better Man” and all the signature stops that built towards their “Tornado.

Even when Little Big Town interpreted other artists, members made them feel like their own, including Elton John’s “Rocket Man” and Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” plus the wall of voices only increased when Sugarland added to The Dream Academy’s “Life In A Northern Town” and Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home.”

The group’s own haunting ballad “Girl Crush” and the blustery “Boondocks” are quickly joining such coveted company, closing out the rousing retrospective while providing fuel for just as fruitful of a future.

Besides accompanying Little Big Town, Sugarland turned in almost an hour of radio regulars dating back to the early 2000s, though lead singer Jennifer Nettles, guitarist/vocalist Kristian Bush and their band actually opened on the newer note of “There Goes The Neighborhood,” introduced ever so cheerfully with the theme to “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.”

Their ongoing chemistry was apparent then and especially throughout “Stuck Like Glue,” “All I Want To Do,” Nettles’ Bon Jovi duet “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” “Stay” and “Something More,” amongst many others responsible for cementing them as one of this century’s top duos thus far.

Relative newcomers The Castellows, comprised of sisters Eleanor, Lily and Powell Balkcom, were also tightly connected, delivering a handful of neo-traditional tunes that warmly followed in the footsteps of their famous friends.

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

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Vibrant Arena At The Mark include TobyMac, Mercy Me and Zach Williams (Nov. 17); Disney On Ice: “Frozen” & “Encanto” (Dec. 5-8); Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 20); Cody Johnson (Jan. 25); Cirque Du Soleil: “Crystal” (Feb. 13-16); “PAW Patrol” Live! (Feb. 18-19); Rascal Flatts (Mar. 1); One Night Of Queen (Mar. 22) and Tom Segura (May 8). For additional details, VibrantArena.com.

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