Kathy Mattea and her band took the stage last night to a packed house at Lucas Theatre. Mattea’s voice was confident and her delivery effortless, as was the rest of her band’s performance; no one broke a sweat during tasteful solos, not even the upright bassist who played with a captivating, percussive style. Mattea won the crowd over with her sense of humor, poking good-natured fun at herself, Patty Loveless, and even Paula Deen. Like a seasoned pro, she sang to everyone from those in the front row to those “up in the spice rack.”
    Many songs were from her latest album, “Coal,” but Mattea also played her well-known hits, including “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses,” and “Love at the Five and Dime,” both from when she was a self-described “20-something with a great big country music perm and shoulder pads.” 
    Patty Loveless maintained the intimate vibe Mattea established, even with twice as many band members and more than a dozen stringed instruments on stage. The performance was flawless, featuring recent songs, songs she described as being from “way back,” and even some from “way, way back.”
    Her setlist included her collaboration with George Jones, “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me,” Harlin Howard’s original version of “Busted” (renditions of which have been recorded by Johnny Cash and Ray Charles), and the guitar-driven “Halfway Down,” each with gorgeous four-part vocal harmonies. 
    When the audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation at the end of the evening, Loveless kept everyone on their feet with an encore of the crowd favorite “Blame it on Your Heart.”
    The Lucas proved to be an excellent venue for both sets, with a clear front-of-house mix and expert lighting that accentuated the performances.
    Memorable moment: Loveless joining Mattea on stage for  “Blue Diamond Mines,” even though Loveless had to use a cheat sheet for the lyrics.