Lady Antebellum still taking country by storm

The top four shows of the week cover four different genres — country, R&B, oldies and pop.

First up is the country trio Lady Antebellum, which takes center stage tonight at the Wells Fargo Center at 3601 S. Broad St. in Philadelphia.

Not many country acts can fill this venue these days, but after winning seven Grammys since 2010, Lady Antebellum is one of them.

The group’s story started much earlier, in 2006, when Hillary Scott (lead vocals), Charles Kelley (lead vocals) and Dave Haywood (guitar, piano, mandolin, vocals) got together in Nashville.

They made their recording debut on pianist Jim Brickman’s 2007 song “Never Alone.”

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Signed to Capitol Records Nashville, the trio issued the single “Love Don’t Live Here” and saw it climb to No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 2008. An album was needed next, and “Lady Antebellum” quickly spawned the follow-up singles “Lookin’ for a Good Time” and “I Run to You,” the latter tune a No. 1 country hit.

Since then, Lady Antebellum hasn’t looked back, reaching crossover success with “Need You Now.”

By 2011, the group had issued its third album and was racking up country and Grammy awards.

For this show, Lady Antebellum is promoting the 2013 release “Golden,” which has already topped the Billboard Country and Top 200 Albums charts.

New songs include the singles “Downtown,” “Goodbye Town” and “Compass,” as well as “Get to Me,” “Better Off Now (That You’re Gone),” “Long Teenage Goodbye” and “Generation Away.”

Expect to hear those plus the other hits “We Owned the Night,” “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” “Just a Kiss,” “Hello World” and “Stars Tonight.”

Show time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $39.75 to $69.75. Information: 800-298-4200.

JANELLE MONAE

For some tasty R&B with a dab of pop, check out Janelle Monae’s performance Friday at the Borgata Casino’s Music Box theater at 1 Borgata Way in Atlantic City.

For me, she appears to be the reincarnation of James Brown, with her upbeat performance style, mike-dancing and teased-up hairstyle.

Still, Monae comes across as fresh and full of young energy on her new album “Electric Lady” and its tracks “It’s Code” (which sounds eerily like a young Michael Jackson) and “Ghetto Woman” (which pays tribute to Stevie Wonder).

In fact, Monae is so adept at borrowing from past stars, she is immediately likeable. And for geek fans, she has a penchant for outer-space themes.

In recent sets, Monae has been covering Prince and Michael Jackson songs during her 15-song concert. Expect to hear mostly new songs at this show plus a track or two from her 2010 debut CD “The ArchAndroid.”

Show time: 9 p.m. Tickets: $37.50 to $92.50. Information: 609-317-1000.

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DON McLEAN

Talk about traction: How much of it has Don McLean gotten from his 1971 hit “American Pie”?

The tune, written about the airplane crash deaths of Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) and Ritchie Valens, made the song lyric “the day the music died” a national catch-phrase.

And ever since, “American Pie” has continued to be heard on oldies radio, while the hits by Valens, Richardson and Holly get less airplay.

But McLean continues to be one of America’s best singer-songwriters, performing (before more than 100,000 people at the Glastonbury Festival in 2011) and recording regularly. He appears Saturday at the Grand Opera House at 818 N. Market St. in Wilmington, Del.

McLean’s latest studio release is “Addicted to Black” (2009) and includes the songs “Mary Lost a Ring,” “Lovers Love the Spring,” “Promise to Remember,” “I Was Always Young” and “This is America (Eisenhower).”

So expect to hear some new songs along with the favorites “And I Love You So,” “Castles in the Air,” “Crying” and “Vincent.”

Show time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $38 to $46. Information: 800-37-GRAND.

CHARLOTTE MARTIN

Are you tired of hearing about Justin Bieber and Kanye West? Would you like to attend a concert by a fantastic singer who isn’t well known and doesn’t charge an arm and a leg for tickets?

Then perhaps you should check out Charlotte Martin, a sultry pop singer who is struggling to make a name for herself in the business.

So who is she? First, she was a Miss Illinois Teen USA. Then she co-wrote songs with The Crystal Method, Tiesto and Ben Lee and recorded songs for the computer game “The Sims 2: University” and the video game “Advent Rising.”

Meanwhile, Martin had songs featured on the reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” (including the opening credits) and the feature film “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Besides those attempts at stardom, Martin also recorded albums and EPs for RCA Records and other labels, including “On Your Shore” (2004), “Stromata” (2006), “Piano Trees” (2009) and “Hiding Places” (2012), which captures two sold-out, live performances from a pub in New York City.

And if you haven’t heard her version of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses,” you haven’t lived life fully yet.

You can see what I’m talking about when she appears Saturday at World Café Live at 3025 Walnut St. in Philadelphia.

Show times: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $18 to $20. Information: 215-222-1400.

CONCERT CANCELED

The All-Star Celebration of Rock, Rhythm & Soul concert scheduled for Saturday at the Keswick Theatre has been canceled due to star Kenny Vance’s illness. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

ALSO APPEARING THIS WEEK

Thursday: Walk Off the Earth, Electric Factory, 8:30 p.m., $25; Hezekiah Walker & Friends, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m., $48.20 to $104.20; Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, Sellersville Theater, 8 p.m., $15; Rodney Atkins, Starland Ballroom, 6:30 p.m., $35; Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Theatre of Living Arts, 9 p.m., $18; Jordan White, Tin Angel, 8 p.m., $10; Sean Paul, Trocadero, 7:30 p.m., $.96; Bronze Radio Return, World Café Live, 8 p.m., $13 to $15.

Friday: Dr. Dog, Electric Factory, 8:30 p.m., $27.50; Doobie Brothers, Harrah’s Casino Atlantic City, 8 p.m., $65 to $95; Dana Fuchs, Sellersville, 8 p.m., $21.50; Yellowcard, Starland Ballroom, 7 p.m., $22 to $25; Karmin, TLA, 8 p.m., $17; Camille Peruto, Tin Angel, 8 p.m., $10; Mantis Music Showcase, various artists, Trocadero, 6 p.m., $16 to $19; Back to the ’80s, World Café Live, 9 p.m., $15 to $18.

Saturday: Dr. Dog, Electric Factory, 8:30 p.m., $27.50; Goo Goo Dolls, Boardwalk Hall Casino, 9 p.m., $39 to $69; Bela Fleck, Merriam Theater, 8 p.m., $30 to $60; Ryan Cabrera, Tyler Hilton, Sellersville, 8 p.m., $19.50; Attila, Starland Ballroom, 6 p.m., $15 to $18; EOTO, TLA, 8 p.m., $20; Vance Gilbert, Tin Angel, 8 p.m., $15.

Sunday: Falling in Reverse, Electric Factory, 7 p.m., $20.

Monday: Amon Amarth, TLA, 8 p.m., $35.

Tuesday: “Guitar Passions” with Sharon Isbin, Stanley Jordan, Romero Lubambo, Grand Opera House, 8 p.m., $26 to $30; Attila, TLA, 6:30 p.m., $15; The Ringers, World Café Live, 8 p.m., $27.

Wednesday: Kristin Chenoweth, American Music Theatre, 8 p.m., $67 to $97; Panic! At the Disco, Electric Factory, 7 p.m., sold out; moe., Grand Opera House, 8 p.m., $33; Beth Orton, Sellersville, 8 p.m., $39.50 to $55.

Marty Franzen is a freelance writer.