Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The roots of Lady A’s uncharacteristically intimate “This Winter’s Night” Tour date back well over a decade to a similarly-titled, gold-selling project that became a blueprint for country-centered pop/rock acts to follow.

It’s since prompted a highly-anticipated sequel, “On This Winter’s Night Vol. 2,” both of which were the focus of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood at the Genesee Theatre on the heels of previous Chicago Theatre, Ravinia and Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre stops.

Comparatively speaking, the increasingly esteemed Waukegan venue felt like a cozy living room, where for two hours, Lady A spread a ton of Yuletide cheer, plus a handful of standard hits contributing to more than 10 million albums sold and almost as many billions of streams.

The trio began by trying on Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” showcasing close-knit harmonies and the organic instrumentation of six backing musicians.

They continued blending covers and originals, including “Wouldn’t Be Christmas,” Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,” the traditional “O Holy Night,” “Christmas Through Your Eyes,” Ray Charles’ “That Spirit Of Christmas” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” each possessing the imitable Lady A style.

However, there was no better way to encounter the essence of the group than when they figuratively swapped their Santa caps for cowboy hats during the acoustic stretch of “I Run To You,” “American Honey” and “Bartender.”

After intermission, Lady A called up the children in the crowd for a fireplace-styled karaoke session of “Frosty The Snowman,” “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer” and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” then turned specifically to the reason for the season throughout “Silent Night.”

Even New Year’s Eve came a little early courtesy of “Auld Lang Syne,” but there was still enough time for the chilling ballad “Need You Now” and a jubilant rendition of “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” as the Genesee soared over getting to see these superstars so up close and personal.

For additional information on Lady A, visit LadyAMusic.com.

Upcoming shows at the Genesee Theatre include Dancecenter North: “The Magic Of The Nutcracker” (Dec. 18-19); Lindsey Stirling (Dec. 20); BoDeans (Dec. 26); Michael Carbonaro (Dec. 27); Marshall Charloff & The Purple Xperience and David Brighton’s Space Oddity (Jan. 9); Puddle Of Mudd (Jan. 16); Stone Temple Pilots (Jan. 17); Anthony Rodia (Jan. 22); Revisiting Creedence (Jan. 23); Aziz Ansari (Jan. 24); Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood (Jan. 30); “#IMOMSOHARD” (Jan. 31); Theresa Caputo (Feb. 4); Jay Leno (Feb. 6);  JJ Grey & Mofro (Feb. 7); George Lopez (Feb. 14); Dueling Pianos (Feb. 20); The Peking Acrobats (Feb. 21); The Ultimate Doors (Feb. 22); Neil Forever (Feb. 27); John Oates & The Good Road Band (Mar. 7); The Phil Collins Story (Mar. 8); Three Dog Night (Mar. 13); Bee Gees Gold (Mar. 21); Bob Dylan (Mar. 30); Glenn Miller Orchestra (Apr. 9); Andrew Dice Clay and Jon Lovitz (Apr. 11); World Ballet Company: “Cinderella” (Apr. 19) and Los Lonely Boys (Apr. 23). For additional details, visit GeneseeTheatre.com.

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