LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-Nerd & Second Helping Live From Jacksonville (2CD+DVD via Eagle Vision)
Southern Rock legends and trail blazers, whose hits include ‘Free Bird’, ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, have had a tumultuous career, yet influenced many. From their Allman Brothers Band influenced roots and 1973 debut album to their original breakup when, 38 years ago this month, when several band members were killed in a plane crash, the band epitomised the 3 guitar pronged Southern Rock style. Largely at the Americana end of the spectrum, the heavier final album ‘Street Survivors’ would strongly influence the direction of the likes of Molly Hatchet.
The band reformed in the late 80s, with singer Johnny Van Zant replacing his departed older brother and, despite a more AOR direction and rotating line-up (largely due to more deaths in the Skynyrd family) , the band have continued to receive much acclaim.
This show was recorded at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville and sees the current band, featuring original guitarist Gary Rossington accompanied by Johnny Van Zant, guitarists Rickey Medlocke (ex Blackfoot, Skynyrd drummer 71-72 and Mark Matejka, bassist Johnny Colt and pianist Peter Keys.
And on stage there’s backing vocalists Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase.
Revisiting the band’s first two albums, the band take to the stage with a big glamourous intro and kick straight off with ‘I Ain’t The One’. It’s a catchy rocking number and from the outset the performance is solid, tight, and the mix is good. The ‘Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd’ debut continues with ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ (Johnny Van Zant dedicates to original pianist Billy Powell during the song, but really doesn’t say much if anything between songs, his crowd interaction done by action). There are strings too – which make it too close to the studio version, detracting from a raw live feel.
The band oft wander around the stage, backs to the crowd, Medlocke the only one to really posture and relish the position.
‘Gimme Three Steps’ is one of the stronger songs on the album, one track that deserves more airplay.
The album is a wonderful set and essential to any record collection, Southern or otherwise, albeit it’s at the heavy country end of the Southern spectrum. ‘Things Going On’ and ‘Mississippi Kid’ thoroughly enjoyable. Last up on this part of the set is the epic and classic ‘Freebird’, slide guitar and all. Live it is to be relished as it is one of the few tracks (if any) that is extended live. Van Zant emulates his brother well and mid song, when things pick up (you know that bit) it’s the first time so far you see any evidence of real passion and energy in the performance. Medlocke seems to overly grimace on the whole band’s behalf in his soloing.
‘Free Bird’ may now be so over played and well known its cliché, but it’s still a wonderful song.
Especially live.
The second half of the show sees the band enter the stage in the same way and run through the band’s second album, ‘Second Helping’ (the first Skynyrd album to feature the full triple guitar beginning to end). Opening with ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (another live staple, favourite and radio regular) the band run play many a song that’s rarely (if ever) played live.
Like before, the bulk of the enthusiasm (and spotlight hogging) comes from Medlocke, and Van Zant spends much time hand on heart before pointing to the crowd.
And like most of the Lynyrd Skynyrd albums, there are some standouts, some corkers, but some fillers too.
The performance is excellent throughout, but the brass, strings and backing vocals that bolster the big band effect means it is very close to the original recording. That’s great if it’s what you want, but it is slightly stodgy for a blistering live performance.
The DVD and Blu Ray add interviews and plenty of graphics.
There is an element of living in the past, has been for years, so this is really a set for die hard fans only. 7.8/10
Joe Geesin