BY HOLLY GLEASON

With temperatures just under 100, The Band Perry took to Facebook for an all-day social media extravaganza that culminated in an industry event for 200 or so media types at event space Ruby to celebrate their new signing and return to making music. Introduced by label prexy Cindy Mabe to a crowd that included Grand Ole Opry czar Pete Fisher, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Sony/ATV‘s Troy Tomlinson, uberwriter/producer Luke Laird powermanager Coran Capshaw and Bruce Flohr, as well as Red Light’s Tom Lord and Ed Green, the sibling trio shared their heartfelt comments about being so glad to be back making music.

Label promo domos Damon Moberly and Royce Risser, along with A&R champs Brian Wright, Stephanie Wright and Media VP Lori Christian–as well as co-producer Benny Cassette–cheered for the five-song performance, which included “Comeback Kid,” their very pointed evoking new single, which evokes non-sibling Katy Perry’s “Roar” and is about being knocked down and getting back up.

The time away has allowed brothers Neil and Reid to grow up; they return looking very much like young men with fantasy-launching cheekbones. Lead singer and sister Kimberly has taken her hair to a deep mahogany, but she maintains the same sunny buoyancy that suggests she could well be the 21st Century Amy Grant.

Whether the hand-clapping “Best One Yet” or the Beach Boys’ harmony-driven “Stay in the Dark,” BP Mach 2 works from a fountain of hope, youth and joy. Even their mini-set-closing “Done,” which felt as much like business commentary as a #1, had an energy that suggested a rebirth for the trio that found pop success with the career-launching “Die Young.”

As "Comeback Kid" declares, “Imma comeback, Imma comeback kid/Down for a minute, I’ll get up again/ Looks like I’m breaking, but it’s just a bend/It’s not over yet, cause in the end/I’m not leaving, I’m not leaving, I’m not leaving again... I’ll save you a spot at my big parade/You’re all invited on my comeback day/I’ll serve you ice cream and lemonade.”

Dressed in various pieces of creamy deconstructed muslin, which suggested something between Greek tragedy and early Norma Kamali renderings, they indeed served Tito’s and lemonade chillers to the crowd who braved the heat. Though Ruby’s acoustics did nothing for the sound, the exuberance coming from the tiny stage was undeniable—and The Band Perry showed themselves revving, ready and able to hit Country radio with their new music.