Lady Antebellum rocks 'Golden' release party

Lady Antebellum celebrated the birth of their fourth album “Golden” (Capitol Nashville) last night with talk of another upcoming birth: The first child for singer Hillary Scott and drummer Chris Tyrell.

When Scott, in her seventh month of pregnancy, pointed out a small puddle onstage at The McKittrick Hotel, she was quick to point out its origin. “That was a water bottle,” she said, “not my water breaking.”

Singer Charles Kelley joked that even though Scott and Tyrell haven’t picked a name for their daughter yet, he’s been calling her “Golden,” as in “The Golden Child” because the whole band is going to spoil her.

It was those moments that made the secret show, open only to radio contest winners and members of Citi’s Private Pass program who were able to score tickets, seem that much more special. After all, Lady A plays arenas and stadiums now, not tiny bars.

“I can see all your faces,” Kelley said, smiling.

“I can spit on everyone here,” joked guitarist Dave Haywood.

The intimate setting made the songs they unveiled from “Golden” feel even more immediate, especially as Kelley’s rocker attitude took hold during the Tom Petty-ish “Better Off Now (That You’re Gone)” and the band’s upcoming rock-leaning single “Goodbye Town.”

The tougher songs balanced nicely against the sweetness of “Golden’s" title track and the catchy desperation of the band’s crossover smash “Need You Now.”

Kelley said the band wanted “Golden” to show a range of emotions that take the listener on a journey, one that’s suitable for road trips. He said that style suits him better than listening to “Poker Face” 20 times in a row, before quickly adding, “Who doesn’t love Lil’ Gaga?”

Scott promised that the band would get on the road to promote “Golden” shortly after she gives birth in July. “I’m taking about four days off,” she joked.

SETLIST: Downtown / Better Off Now (That You’re Gone) / I Run to You / Goodbye Town / American Honey / Golden / It Ain’t Pretty / Need You Now / We Owned the Night