Lady A Backstage: Going To Kansas City
A short video moment from the Fan Club meet and greet where the band performed “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” with an acoustic guitar. The backstage schedule is a lot more demanding than many might imagine. Here’s Lady A’s call times from Kansas City. Sound Check 3-3:45; Dinner 5-7; Radio Lounge meet n greet 6; Lipton meet n greet 6:15; Lady A fan club meet n greet 6:30.
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After all the meet and greets, local press, rehearsals and more, the band explodes on stage for the main event. Here, center stage, the trio sings its opening number “Own The Night.” (Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood.)
Superstar tours move from city to city like self-contained armies equipped with a caravan of 18-wheelers, a cast of technicians, musicians, engineers and full-blown catering. Like a small village of specialized craftsman, each member plays an integral part in helping to set up, present the show and then pack up and move to the next location.
Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night 2012 World Tour began Jan. 31 in Bloomington, Illinois and has enjoyed a string of sold out dates. The show travels overseas to the UK and Ireland this summer where they will open for Bruce Springsteen at the Hard Rock Calling Festival and also perform a series of headline dates.
Your Scribe reviewed the show a few weeks ago (click here) but collided again with Lady A in Kansas City on April 6. Here is a pictorial glimpse of life backstage for a superstar act and its team. (All photos and video David Ross)
These two photos were taken inside the Kansas City, Mo. Sprint Center in the dining area while everyone was socializing and relaxing a bit. Note the oil paintings from a local artist behind Hillary of artists that have performed at the venue. (Photo Left) Lady A’s Hillary Scott (R) with college friend Brittany Moses (L); (Photo right) Lady A’s Charles Kelley (R) with Steve Buchanan (L), President Opry Group, Gaylord Entertainment.
While most everything focuses on the tour and its immediate needs, artists must also look to the future. That’s why it’s not uncommon to find some of Nashville’s top songwriters tagging along working on songs with the artists. (L-R) Marv Green, who co-wrote the Kix Brooks hit “New To This Town”; Susan Stewart, South Regional Director, Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy; Tim Nichols co-writer of “Live Like You Were Dying”; Jason Sellers, who cowrote the Jason Aldean/ Kelly Clarkson duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay?”; and CMT Sr. VP Music Strategy Leslie Fram.
After the show Lady A surprised Thompson Square’s Keifer and Shawna Thompson—part of the tour—with a cake to applaud their ACM award as Vocal Duo of the Year. The playful moment took place at club La Bellum which is the tour “hangout.” Inside was a ping pong table that travels everywhere with the production plus an island bar area. (L-R) Dave Haywood, Keiffer and Shawna Thompson, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley.
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