Music review: Lynyrd Skynyrd – 鈥極ne More for the Fans鈥�
At first glance, it would appear that this week鈥檚 review is part of another Throwback Thursday.
It鈥檚 easy to get Lynyrd Skynyrd鈥檚 latest release confused with the iconic band鈥檚 1976 live album 鈥淥ne More from the Road.鈥�
I proudly admit to owning a copy as a young teenager and constantly playing it at a deafening volume, until my parents pleaded with me to stop the bombardment of guitars, drums and blustering swagger as 鈥淔ree Bird鈥� played over and over again.
At the time, the Florida band lit up Atlanta鈥檚 Fox Theatre with a steady helping of Southern rock.
Thirty-seven years after the devastating plane crash that killed three band members, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd returned once again to the Fox Theatre to deliver a momentous celebration of the band鈥檚 amazing musical legacy from November 12, 2014.
Fronted by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (lead vocals), Rickey Medlocke (guitar) and longstanding drummer Michael Cartellone, Lynyrd Skynyrd shares the stage with a star-studded group of guest artists delivering some gracious Southern hospitality.
鈥淥ne More for the Fans鈥� contains 19 rousing tracks highlighted by a spirited performance of 鈥淔ree Bird鈥� and a show-stopping rendering of 鈥淪weet Home Alabama鈥� delivered by the band and the all-star ensemble. An emotional offering of 鈥淭ravelin鈥橫an鈥� is performed as a duet as Van Zant is joined by his late brother via archival video.
Standout guest performances include Cheap Trick knocking out a hard-driving cover of 鈥淕imme Back My Bullets,鈥漃eter Frampton鈥檚 enthusiastic interpretation of 鈥淐all Me the Breeze,鈥� Atlanta鈥檚 own Blackberry Smoke tearing it up on 鈥淲orkin鈥� for MCA鈥� and a soulful performance by Gregg Allman on 鈥淭uesday鈥檚 Gone.鈥�
Other guest appearances include Randy Houser, Trace Adkins, Alabama, Jamey Johnson, Charlie Daniels, Jimmy Hall, Donnie Van Zant, O.A.R., moe., Robert Randolph, Gov鈥檛 Mule, Warren Hayes, Jason Isbell, Aaron Lewis and John Hiatt.
With a catalog of over 60 albums and sales exceeding 30 million worldwide, Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to keep the true spirit of the band鈥檚 early beginnings alive and well. What song is it you want to hear? I鈥檒l take everything on 鈥淥ne More for the Fans鈥� as long as it鈥檚 turned up loud.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.