Lynyrd Skynyrd Celebrates Legacy in Southern California return

Today (October 20, 2022) marks the 45th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, along with backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's older sister). A number of other members of the famed group suffered serious injuries in the crash. Below is my review of the most recent time I caught the enduring Rock and Roll Hall of Famers in concert...Robert Kinsler

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photos by Bob Steshetz

Rickey Medlocke, left, with Damon
Johnson on May 13, 2022.

Who: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Where: Los Angeles County Fair

When: Friday, May 13, 2022

Next: Visit www.lynyrdskynyrd.com

Music historians — as well as the rock and roll faithful — know better than to ever count Lynyrd Skynyrd out. Indeed a tragic plan crash on Oct. 20, 1977 that took the lives of three band members including singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines marked the beginning of a series of tragic turns that have seen the passing of guitarist Allen Collins, keyboardist Billy Powell, bassist Leon Wilkeson, drummer Bob Burns, backing vocalist JoJo Billingsley and guitarist Hughie Thomasson.

The latest challenge for the enduring Southern rock troupe included founding guitarist Gary Rossington undergoing emergency heart surgery in July 2021.

Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Fast forward to Friday the 13th (May 13, 2022) and the band was headlining before a capacity crowd at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, CA. Although not able to run about, Johnny Van Zant — who noted he underwent knee surgery a month ago — was on his feet during most of the set and sounded great.

Early in the set Van Zant said of Rossington: "He is still on the mend and getting better." The singer also noted that Rossington had told his band mates to go to California and "I'll be there in spirit."

Peter Keys of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Delivering more than 90 minutes of Skynyrd favorites, this kickoff of the "Big Wheels Keep On Turning' World Tour" (continuing through the end of September) found Southern rock's most enduring Rock and Roll Hall of Famers celebrating their survival and legacy with a set that inspired throughout. Touring guitarist Damon Johnson (Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy) did an excellent job filling in for the recovering Rossington, ably trading lead and slide guitar work with long-time members Rickey Medlocke and Mark Matejka. 

From left, guitarists Mark Matejka, Rickey Medlocke, Damon Johnson
and bassist Keith Christopher. Also seen are backing vocalists Carol Chase and
Stacy Michelle.

Early highlights of the concert included the rootsy blues rocker "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller" bolstered by backing gospel vocals, a rousing "That Smell" featuring all three of the guitar greats in action, and an affecting acoustic medley of "Mississippi Kid" and "Red White & Blue."

From left, Mark Matejka, Rickey Medlocke, Johnny Van Zant, Michael Cartellone and 
Damon Johnson during their mini-acoustic set at the Los Angeles County Fair.

The momentum built as the band performed their biggest hits, ending the night with the audience on their feet for bona fide greats like the powerful "Simple Man" (featuring some of Van Zant's greatest vocals of the night), along with the rollicking "Gimme Three Steps," a cover of JJ Cale's "Call Me the Breeze," rocking "Sweet Home Alabama" and marathon 12-minute run through "Free Bird" from its piano-anchored sing-along early section through the mighty guitars-on-steroids finale.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert Setlist for Friday, May 13, 2022

Guitarist Mark Matejka on May 13, 2022.

1. Workin' for MCA

2. You Got That Right

3. Double Trouble

4. Whiskey Rock-A-Roller

5. That Smell

6. Cry for the Bad Man

7. Saturday Night Special

8. What's Your Name

9. Tuesday's Gone

10. Mississippi Kid 

Drummer Michael Cartellone behind the kit.

11. Red White & Blue

12. Simple Man

13. Gimme Three Steps

14. Call Me the Breeze

15. Sweet Home Alabama

Encore:

16.  Free Bird

Concert review: Doheny Blues Festival 2016 Roundup

Singer-guitarist Roy Rogers, left, with fiddler Carlos
Reyes at Doheny Blues Festival. Photo: Robert Kinsler

Editor's Note: This is an expanded version combining my two reviews that ran earlier this week in The Orange County Register.  A special thank you to photographer Bob Steshetz for letting me use a number of his wonderful photos with my review.


Doheny Blues Festival
When: May 21-22, 2016
Where: Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA

Review by Robert Kinsler

Day 1, Saturday, May 21, 2016

Day 1 of Doheny Blues Festival 2016 featured a number of wide-ranging artists appearing on three stages and elsewhere. Noteworthy performances stretched from a breakfast set staged outside the Dana Point venue courtesy of Steve Copeland & Raging Sun to headliners Lynyrd Skynyrd. 

Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

In recent years Lynyrd Skynyrd has performed at a number of high profile spots including Stagecoach in May 2014, at Pacific Amphitheatre in August 2014 and at the NAMM Show in Anaheim last year. And while guitarist Gary Rossington remains the only original member of the groundbreaking Southern rock outfit (a majority of the members were killed in an October 1977 plane crash), the band's well-chronicled tale of survival and an enduring collection of FM radio favorites is celebrated at each show. 

The band (fronted by singer Johnny Van Zant, younger brother of original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant) finally made its first-ever appearance at the Doheny Blues Festival on Saturday, delivering a rousing and memorable 90-minute show that blended classics ("Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Simple Man"), a sweet tribute to the late Merle Haggard (a spirited version of the Hag's "Honky Tonk Night Time Man") and more obscure material ("Cry For the Bad Man," "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller"). 

James Hunter at Doheny Blues Fest.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The single best set of day 1 may well have belonged to the James Hunter Six, who blasted through more than an hour of exciting, dynamic and fun songs that blended rock 'n' soul, R&B and blues. From the opening notes of their first song, the uptempo "She's Got a Way" to the two dozen or so songs that followed, Hunter and his five talented band mates personified how much fun a great concert can be in the hands of masters. Highlights came fast and furious, from the title track of Hunter's latest album ("Hold On!") to the spirited "The Gypsy" (where Hunter unleashed some amazing guitar work to finish out the track) and beautiful ballad "Something's Calling," this set was a complete triumph for the soulful Hunter.

No artist traveled further to get to Dana Point that Finland-based songstress Ina Forsman with the Helge Tallqvist Band. Forsman, who noted this was her first time in California, made the most of the trek to showcase a mix of her emotive originals and beloved material from both Etta James and Amy Winehouse. Highlights included her own reggae-meets-blues nugget "Farewell" and the potent ballad "Don't Hurt Me Now," the latter showcasing Forsman's incredible soprano. Harmonica master Helge Tallqvist impressed throughout their set.

Making a well-deserved return to the concert stage were the Rockin' Rebels, a loose and fun-styled rockabilly quartet that delighted discerning listeners on the Backporch stage. The area quartet is set to release a new CD on Rip Cat Records this summer.

The first artist to appear on the Backporch via an early Saturday turn, singer-songwriter John Long performs authentic original songs that sound as if they were being written and performed in the early 20th century. His first song, the Delta blues-styled "Pressure Cooker ('Bout to Blow)" and the infectious slide guitar-anchored "Baby Please Set a Date," the latter the wonderful lead-off track off Long's 2016 return Stand Your Ground (his first studio album since 2006's Lost & Found). Guest Al Blake blew some great blues harmonica during "Baby Please Set a Date." During much of the set, Long was joined by Fred Kaplan (piano), Bill Stuve (upright bass) and Washington Rucker (drums).

Kicking off the day was an appearance of Steve Copeland & Raging Sun. The talented Copeland (guitar, vocals), was joined by lead guitarist-vocalist Terry "The Count" Medeiros and harmonica virtuoso River Blue for an acoustic set that displayed the power of one of the ensemble's full-band outings. While a medley featuring Rolling Stones, Steve Miller and Creedence Clearwater Revival classics was fun, an artistically-reworked version of Kris Kristofferson's "Me & Bobby McGee" was amazing. …Robert Kinsler

The Walter Trout Band remains a force of nature.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Day 2, Sunday, May 22, 2016

Two things marked the 2016 entry of Doheny Blues Festival: amazing weather and great guitar playing. That was especially true on Sunday, with Roy Rogers, Walter Trout, Tommy Castro, Tommy Harkenrider (guesting with England's Si Cranston and his Soul Revue) and Brian Setzer displaying some flat-out amazing guitar work. 

Concertgoers certainly didn't have to wait long to take in amazing music making on Sunday. Widely considered one of the greatest slide guitarists ever, Roy Rogers' performance on the Backporch stage offered the chance to see the legendary artist in an intimate performance that offered a chance to see the artist as he put his virtuoso guitar talents in the service of a wide range of material with his trusted Delta Rhythm Kings and guest fiddler/Paraguayan harp player Carlos Reyes.

Songs from Rogers' latest album, 2015's Into the Wild Blue, provided fuel for part of the 70-minute set, including the blues rocker "She's a Real Jaguar" and the Keb' Mo'-styled "Don't Let Them Win." Among the selections perfectly suited for Rogers and Reyes to shine while playing in tandem was an uptempo take on Willie Dixon's "Built for Comfort."

Walter Trout's appearance at the blues fest was his first since undergoing a liver transplant in May 2014, and the Huntington Beach singer-songwriter-guitarist made the most of his set by featuring songs from his latest album Battle Scars, which documents his brush with death and miraculous recovery. "Almost Gone," "Haunted By the Night" and acoustic-flavored "Please Take Me Home" were powerfully rendered and captured the depth of the songs during the performance. Trout also brought up his sons Jon (on guitar) and Dylan (on drums) to play a few tracks too. Trout's winning vocals and flat-out impressive guitar chops are as strong as ever, and the crowd cheered his return to Dana Point.

The Record Company rocking the Backporch.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The Record Company is clearly one of the better young bands that have tapped into hard rocking blues elements of the 1970s and found a way to work those influences into something new that connects and excites modern-day audiences. At the trio's incredible performance on Sunday afternoon, the Record Company attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd with its sure-fire and infectious sound. "We are the Record Company," said singer-guitarist/harmonica blaster Chris Vos when he took the Backporch stage with band mates Alex Stiff (bass) and Marc Cazoria (drums). "We play rock 'n' roll."

Indeed, the Los Angeles-based threesome tore through a set of original rock, many of the songs from the group's 2016 debut Give It Back To You. The amped-up opening shot "On the Move," nuanced country-flavored "Hard Day Coming Down" and blues-drenched "Rita Mae Young" were among the many great songs performed by the exciting outfit.

Closing out the action on the Sailor Jerry Stage were long-time favorites Tommy Castro & the Painkillers. Like Trout, Castro is as talented as a singer-songwriter as a guitarist, so his 75-minute set worked on a number of levels. Early, he honored his hero B.B. King with an inspired Chicago blues take on "Bad Luck," the arrangement showcasing Castro's skilled lead guitar work. Castro also brought soul into his blues mix via the infectious "I'm Qualified" and tore up the place with his anthem-styled blues rocker "Can't Keep A Good Man Down."

Brian Setzer at Doheny Blues Fest.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The festival's final act was a great one. Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot offered up a dream set of Stray Cats gems (a scorching "Rumble in Brighton," extended "Runaway Boys" with some great guitar work, the crowd-pleasing "Stray Cat Strut"), as well as great material off his 2014 Rockabilly Riot! album; the song "Vinyl Records" featured some of Setzer's greatest vocals of the set. Everywhere his lead guitar work impressed, including on some great covers (Carl Perkins' "Put Your Clothes On," Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire," Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and more). 

Make sure to read writer George A. Paul's comprehensive report of the Doheny Blues Fest. We both covered the two-day festival for The Orange County Register, and he was able to cover several of the acts I missed. You can access his day 1 report here. His day 2 report is here.

A special collective "thank you" to the talented staff at 100.3 FM (better known as "The Sound") who spent some time with the Register's writing crew and shared musical stories. I got to meet Mimi Chen, Cynthia Fox and Uncle Joe Benson after listening to all of them for many years on the Southern California "airwaves." It was very cool and they are truly passionate about music - and great people too.

From left, writer George A. Paul, 100.3 FM radio host Mimi
Chen and Robert Kinsler. Photo: Bob Steshetz

Review by Robert Kinsler 

Sights and Sounds: Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Pronouced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd & Second Helping' coming October 23, 2015

Good morning all. Lynyrd Skynyrd's resurgence continues with the forthcoming release of the band's 'Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin'nérd & Second Helping – Live From Jacksonville At The Florida Theatre. Here is the official media release on the multi-format release. 

On October 23, 2015, Eagle Rock Entertainment Will Release

LYNYRD SKYNYRD

Pronouced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd & Second Helping

–    Live From Jacksonville At The Florida Theatre

~On DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Formats~

~Available as DVD+2CD exclusively at Walmart~

On October 23, 2015, Eagle Rock Entertainment will issue the simultaneous release of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin'nérd & Second Helping – Live From Jacksonville At The Florida Theatre on DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Formats. This will also be released as DVD+2CD set exclusively at Walmart.

Recorded this year, this release captures the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd performing their first two studio albums, Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd and Second Helping, live in their entirety for the first time, at two specially staged concerts at the Florida Theatre in their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.

Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd was released in 1973 and includes “I Ain’t The One,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and the seminal “Free Bird.” Second Helping was released the following year and includes “Workin’ For MCA,” “Swamp Music,” “Call Me The Breeze,” and the classic southern rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama.”

The shows captured on Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd & Second Helping – Live From Jacksonville At The Florida Theatre represent a special occasion for both Lynyrd Skynyrd and their fans, as the band performed tracks they’d never or rarely played live before along with classic songs that are an essential part of any Lynyrd Skynyrd live show.

With the Bonus Features offering a special created behind-the-scenes with Lynyrd Skynyrd section, this release offers nearly two hours of peerless musical entertainment.

For a sneak peak, check out “Gimme Three Steps”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcDT-0XkUCc&feature=youtu.be

Band line-up:

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Gary Rossington - Guitar

Johnny Van Zant - Lead Vocals

Rickey Medlocke - Guitar

Michael Cartellone - Drums

Mark Matejka - Guitar

Peter Keys - Keyboards

Johnny Colt - Bass Guitar

HONKETTES

Dale Krantz Rossington - Background Vocals

Carol Chase - Background Vocals

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Jim Horn - Alto Sax

Paul Jackson - Trumpet

Myles Moore - Baritone Sax

Nick Campbell - Percussion

Steve ‘Boxcar’ Traum – Harmonica

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton and Aerosmith. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 40 multi-platinum, over 80 platinum and over 144 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Paris and Hamburg.

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv

TRACK LISTING

1) I Ain’t The One  

2) Tuesday’s Gone  

3) Gimme Three Steps  

4) Simple Man          

5) Things Goin’ On  

6) Mississippi Kid  

7) Poison Whiskey  

8) Free Bird  

9) Sweet Home Alabama*  

10) I Need You  

11) Don’t Ask Me No Questions  

12) Workin’ For MCA  

13) The Ballad Of Curtis Loew  

14) Swamp Music  

15) Needle And The Spoon  

16) Call Me The Breeze

* Track One of CD2 format

Catch LYNYRD SKYNYRD on tour this fall:

September 3 – St. Paul, MN – Minnesota State Fair

September 4 – Alton, IL – Liberty Bank Amphitheater

September 5 – New Lenox, IL – Village Of New Lenox

September 6 – Wauseon, OH – Fulton County Fair

September 11 and 12– Lincoln City, OR – Chinook Winds Casino

September 15 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery

September 17 – Jackson, CA – Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel

September 18 – Pomona, CA – La County Fairgrounds

September 19 – Tucson, AZ – Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater

September 20 – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort & Casino

September 25 – Lewisville, TX – 2015 Western Days

September 26 – Houston, TX – Sam Houston Race Park

October 1 – Seviersville, TN – Smokes Stadium

October 2 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater

October 3 – Muncie, IN – Emens Auditorium

October 4 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Music Festival

November 7 – Montgomery, AL – Alabama National Fair

December 5 – Mescalero, NM – Inn Of The Mountain Gods Casino

Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" 2CD, Digital Format coming June 2, 2015

Having caught Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert several times last year, I'm happy to hear the Southern rockers' legacy will be further celebrated thanks to the upcoming 2-disc/digital release "Sweet Home Alabama" coming later this spring. Here is the official release from Eagle Rock Entertainment...

On June 2, 2015, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd on 2CD and digital formats.  This classic 1996 Rockpalast concert  - released for the first time on CD - features the band performing all their classics: “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Free Bird,” “Working For MCA,” “Saturday Night Special,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “I Ain’t The One,” and many more. A 2LP release will follow.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is the ultimate Southern Rock band. Their signature three-guitar attack coupled with superb songwriting and onstage charisma has rightfully earned them a reputation as one of the greatest live bands of all time. The original band infamously had their career cut short by a disastrous plane crash in 1977, which took the lives of three band members (vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and vocalist Cassie Gaines) plus assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray, and seriously injured several others. In 1987, the surviving members reformed the band with Johnny Van Zant taking the place of his brother Ronnie. This concert from 1996 captures the band in top form at Rockpalast’s Loreley Festival on June 23, 1996. The band line-up for this show includes Johnny Van Zant (v), Gary Rossington (g),Rickey Medlocke (g, v), Hughie Thomasson (g), Billy Powell (k), Leon Wilkeson (b, v), Owen Hale (d), Dale Krantz-Rossington (bv), Carol Chase (bv).  

As a bonus, Sweet Home Alabama also includes extremely rare recordings of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd line-up. Captured at the Hamburg Musikhalle on December 5 1974, Ronnie Van Zant (v), Gary Rossington(g), Allen Collins (g, v), Ed King (g), Billy Powell (k), Leon Wilkeson (b, v), and Bob Burns (d) deliver incredible versions of “Working For MCA,” “Free Bird,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Sweet Home Alabama proves that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s signature and sizzlin’ Southern-fried sound was able to enthrall fans the world over. It is a testament to the legendary band’s resilience to tragedy (which would have railroaded many other acts) and their ability to carry on and continue to rock stages with fervor and spirit. 

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton and Aerosmith. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 40 multi-platinum, over 80 platinum and over 144 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Paris and Hamburg.

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv

TRACK LISTING:

Disc 1: 

1.  Workin’ For MCA   
2.  I Ain’t The One   
3.  Down South Junkin’   
4.  Double Trouble   
5.  I Know A Little   
6.  Saturday Night Special**   
7.  Swamp Music   
8.  What’s Your Name   
9. That Smell   
10. Simple Man***   
11. Gimme Three Steps   
12. Call Me The Breeze

Disc 2: 

1. Sweet Home Alabama****   
2. Free Bird  

CD Bonus Tracks From Hamburg 1974: 

3) Workin’ For MCA   

4) Free Bird   

5) Sweet Home Alabama

**Side B of 2LP format  

***Side B of 2LP format  

****Side D of 2LP format