At first I thought this was a nondescript token 50th anniversary concert. What I found was much more, bordering on sacred. On November 22, 2022 (coincidentally, the feast day of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music), Lynyrd Skynyrd performed in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Tennessee to celebrate 50 years of Skynyrd with the last surviving founding member, Gary Rossington, on stage. This would be the last concert for the guitarist as he passed away in the following March. Special guests abound with the Southern Rock icons as they sling their hottest hits with surprising energy.
A brief history of the band is hard, but I’ll try. Lynyrd Skynyrd was born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA in 1968. They’re style had a southern flavor blending country, blues and driving rock rhythms, which took the US by storm. Through the 70s, the band picked up steam until a plane crash in 1977 took the lives of several band members including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. The band split up for about a decade until a reunion tour sparked a revival of the band with Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s youngest brother, taking over the mic duties. They have been active ever since.
I never owned a Skynyrd album, but their music is embedded in my own musical journey. From Metallica’s cover/jam session of “Tuesday’s Gone” to kids covering songs like “Simple Man” and “Free Bird” in the local talent shows, to the incessant “Sweet Home Alabama” playing on the local rock station, their music was never too far away. Even my youngest son’s theme song is “Gimme Three Steps” to help coax him to walk so he can ride in our local amusement park. This personal connection with Skynyrd with the gravity of Gary’s last concert on earth was actually quite sobering. Add Ozzy’s passing and I am in existential mode, contemplating life, death, and purpose. Instead of wallowing in a doom metal abyss, I pressed play on this album.
What a difference! This album is full of life! There is this effervescent joy that is beyond many (if not all) live recordings that I have ever heard. At fifty years, they play just as strong live as their studio records of the 70s and with the full Skynyrd family on stage. The organic blend of voice, guitars, piano, bass, drums, backup singers sounds clear and balanced and translates the bluesy honky-tonk energy of the concert venue very well. Although for most of their 50 years, the band has been in reunion mode with Johnny at the helm, the setlist is made of the classics from before the plane crash.
For a live album, this is really one of the best that I have heard. Comparing to the latest Blue Öyster Cult live 50th anniversary recordings where songs were simplified or even Metallica’s “S&M2” where Kirk Hammet’s playing had significantly diminished over the years, Skynyrd rocks hard from beginning to end with top notch performances of the songs exactly how the fans want them. Johnny nails the southern swagger his older brother was known for and shows how he is a big reason Skynyrd is still a viable band today. Songs with backing choirs and vocals like “That Smell” and “Simple Man” sound perfect with every note in place. The rhythm section nails the vibe and tempos to keep the energy flowing through the night. The solos from guitars and piano are top notch and even the little details that mean a lot to the song were present on stage. I specifically enjoyed the excellent piano playing by Peter Keys. Perfect name, huh?
There is an intimate atmosphere like a family reunion. Guests and friends of the band come join for songs throughout the setlist like Jelly Roll on “Tuesday’s Gone,” Marcus King on “Saturday Night Special,” and Donnie Van Zant on “Red, White, and Blue.” But there is no doubt that the songs lead up to the finale, “Free Bird.” This is the classic Skynyrd rock anthem and jam that features one of the quintessential rock guitar solos of all time. On stage for this momentous finale is Gary Rossington on rhythm guitar and longtime member/friend of the band Ricky Medlocke landing a beautiful performance. Knowing that this is the last song of Gary’s last concert, melancholy sets in as the amplifiers fade. However, tacked on the end of the concert is a 30-minute interview track with band members, family, and others giving background on the concert and Skynyrd through the years. This is a very thoughtful ending for those interested in more depth on the band and the concert.
In the end this is a fantastic live performance of Skynyrd’s greatest hits and a great introduction to the band if you needed one. The setlist is great, the songs are beautiful and performances are heartfelt. What are the weak points? So the album goes over two discs, but what good live album doesn’t? The last track sounds like a radio program, but it gives a deeper meaning to what you just heard. Should there have been more newer material? I don’t think so, as I see the classic Skynyrd as something everyone can agree on. The production was great, especially for a live album. In my opinion this is a landmark live album commemorating one of Rock’s greatest acts in Skynyrd and guitarists in Gary Rossington. If there was any hesitancy in getting a copy, I give you permission – enjoy Gary’s last concert on earth.
Rating: 10/10
Written by Sean Bailey
Tracklist
Disc 1:
1 – What’s Your Name
2 – Workin’ For MCA
3 – You Got That Right
4 – I Know A Little
5 – Down South Jukin’
6 – That Smell
7 – Cry For The Bad Man
8 – Saturday Night Special
9 – Tuesday’s Gone
Disc 2:
10 – Red White And Blue
11 – Simple Man
12 – Gimme Three Steps
13 – Call Me The Breeze
14 – Sweet Home Alabama15 – Free Bird
16 – Celebrating 50 years of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd personnel:
Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals
Gary Rossington – guitars
Mark Matejka – guitars and backing vocals
Keith Christopher – bass
Ricky Medlocke – guitars and backing vocals
Michael Cartellone – drums
Peter Keys – piano and keyboards
Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals
Carol Chase – backing vocals
Guests:
Jelly Roll – vocals on “Tuesday’s Gone”
Marcus King – vocals on “Saturday Night Special”
Donnie Van Zant – vocals on “Red, White, and Blue”
Brent Smith – vocals on “Simple Man”
John Osborne – vocals on “Working for MCA”
Release Date: June 27, 2025
Record Label: Frontiers Records
Discography:
(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) (1973)
Second Helping (1974)
Nuthin’ Fancy (1975)
Gimme Back My Bullets (1976)
Street Survivors (1977)
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (1991)
The Last Rebel (1993)
Endangered Species (1994)
Twenty (1997)
Edge of Forever (1999)
Christmas Time Again (2000)
Vicious Cycle (2003)
God & Guns (2009)
Last of a Dyin’ Breed (2012)
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Video for Simple Man
Video for Tuesday’s Gone
Video for Sweet Home Alabama
Video for Free Bird