Southern Rock royalty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, have released several live albums, most notably the phenomenal One More From The Road in 1976. Arguably, though, few can close to matching that vertigo-inducing heights as much as this latest twin disc set. Marking the final performance of the sole and longest serving founding member, Gary Rossington, Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman has an emotional heft and historical importance for the band, and that seeps out of every groove here. Joined by some special guests, this is peak Skynyrd, the track listing all that could be hoped for, and pretty much a run through of their greatest hits.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Kicking off with the driving swagger of What’s Your Name, the band sounds like they’re firing on all cylinders, the crowd with them from the opening note. Throughout, that unmistakable triple guitar sound brings both fire and harmony, the hellraising Workin’ for MCA and You Got That Right pulsating with muscle.
Whilst the band can effortlessly do wild rock ‘n’ roll as illustrated on Down South Jukin, it’s on the slower numbers that they often shine the brightest, the Gospel-tinged Tuesday’s Gone and the emotionally powerful Simple Man, particularly fine as Johnny Van Zant does not just sing the lyrics but lives them.
There’s a rich seam of songwriting here, and the riotous Gimme Three Steps and an epic That Smell highlight that there are few that can touch them as far as telling tales of ordinary hard-working people trying to get through life.
As is oft mentioned, this is certainly the most American of outfits, and whilst Red, White and Blue may border on the jingoistic for some, there is a national pride here that permeates all they do. This is a group of brothers and sisters bonded by blood and hard knocks and the foreboding storm of Saturday Night Special, along with the epic Cry for the Bad Man, make it impossible not to be gripped.
Everyone plays their part, and Peter Key’s piano skills get their own spotlight in Call Me The Breeze, the barroom boogie still sounding exciting, Skynyrd sounding tight. The addition of Shinedown’s Brent Smith, rapper Jelly Roll, and brother Donnie Van Zant, along with guitar hero Marcus King and John Osborne, adds different textures to the sound.
But all are respectful to the source material, fitting perfectly with their chosen tracks. The inevitable climax of Sweet Home Alabama and Freebird brings things to an unbeatable end, and it’s game, set, and match for Lynyrd Skynyrd as they once more claim their top spot in the annals of American music storytellers.
A fitting tribute to their late guitarist, for anyone curious as well as the committed, this is how it’s done. Timeless music, great performances, and with a legacy that still lives today and will continue to do so for many years to come, this bird cannot be chained.
