Little Big Town performs energetic show at the Met

For West Virginia Public Theatre’s 28th Annual Spring Fundraiser, the nonprofit group brought in Little Big Town and its unique brand of harmonious country to the historic Metropolitan Theatre.

A long time staple of High Street, the Met is beautifully adorned with white and gold trim and diamond encrusted chandeliers, providing an intimate setting in the rather small venue.

Hailing from Pittsburgh, The Stickers opened the night. They got the crowd warmed up with songs that have placed on the country charts, like the rocking "Girl in a Truck" and the ballad "Calling on All Angels" during their 30-minute set.

The crowd began to worry about possible sound quality issues during The Stickers set, but Little Big Town came out crystal clear and powerful with their 2010 hit "Little White Church." Bright lights and fog machines welcomed the quartet to the stage.

They continued to rock the venue with the songs "Runaway Train," "Little More You" and "Bones."

It was hard not to notice the huge smiles on the band members’ faces – they seemed to enjoy performing, which provided an excellent atmosphere.

"I thought they were great. They were very lively and got the crowd involved," said Molly Fortier, a graduate speech pathology student. "I will definitely see them again."

The slower love song "Bring it on Home" followed, with singer and guitarist Philip Sweet exclaiming, "Bring it on home, Morgantown!"

Be prepared to hear their next single, "Pontoon," on the radio this summer. Sounding like a Jimmy Buffett or Zac Brown Band song mixed with the band’s 2006 hit "Boondocks," the song had the crowd clapping with the beat. It will be officially released Monday.

Singer Kimberly Schlapman, with her trademark blonde mane, channeled her inner Loretta Lynn on the beautiful ballad "Can’t Have Everything."

The band even brought out standup bass and banjos for a series of bluegrass songs, culminating with a "countrified" cover of Lady Gaga’s "Born This Way" that really got the building excited. They also covered the Eagles "Heartache."

Graduate student Vanessa DeCasare particularly enjoyed the cover, "They were awesome," she said. "I especially enjoyed the Lady Gaga song. They’re very talented."

A lengthy guitar solo led into the aforementioned "Boondocks" for the encore. People were dancing in the balconies and the packed house was on their feet. It was a truly exciting way to end an excellent show.