Lynyrd Skynyrd
4.12.24 Evansville, IN
Ford Center
Kendra G. Insomnia Photographer
Show Review
On a nice, breezy Friday night, the crowd was at the door anxiously waiting to enter the Ford Center to enjoy the music from the legends of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Merch lines were packed and shirts were selling out. You could feel the excitement buzzing in the halls and inside the stadium. We were all in for a special treat with the classics that were about to play. Buckle up because The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour was a hell of a time. Opening for the show was Black Stone Cherry. The crowd stayed on their feet jamming out with their hands in the air. Even though they had a shorter set starting an hour after doors opened, they brought down the house and got the party started.
Up next, ZZ Top did not disappoint. From their vocals to their impressive guitar playing, they truly live up to the hype. Their intense, bold lighting only amplified the rock-on attitude with their badass playing. Playing classics like Give Me All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, Legs, and Got Me Under Pressure, you couldn’t have asked for a better setlist to take you back to when you first heard these songs for the first time. With a quick glance around the arena, you just knew that the crowd was ready to party to good music for the rest of the night. Ending the encore with La Grange, ZZ Top really set the tone for the remainder of the concert.
The lights dimmed and older video footage begins to play on the screen with a true classic from ACDC playing, Thunderstruck. The crowd gives all their attention to really taking in what is playing on screen. The anticipation builds and builds just waiting for Lynyrd Skynyrd to take the stage. You can feel the excitement and joy around everyone who is on their feet impatiently waiting for them to take the stage. Taking the stage, the whole arena erupted with screams of excitement. Workin’ For MCA started the hour and a half concert. Going directly into the next songs back to back, Skynyrd Nation, What’s Your Name and That Smell kept everyone on their feet, belting out word after word. Engaging with the crowd often, Johnny Van Zant always made the crowd feel like they weren’t strangers.
“We don’t call you our fans, you’re our family, folks.” - Johnny Van Zant
Playing The Ballad of Curtis Loew, the crowd was entranced by the skills of the acoustics - from the wicked talented guitarists to the harmonica to the keys. Keeping the mood mellow, it was only fitting to pay homage to the late Gary Rossington. “For our leader, our brother, our free bird.” With the emotional footage from the beginning of his career to the last times he played, lighters and phone lights lit up the entire arena swaying side to side while “Tuesday’s Gone” beautiful played. “If you guys believe in angels, sing it loud,” Van Zant said while putting the mic out to the audience. Finishing this dedicated song strong, the guitarists shred while Van Zant shows his hat. “Your legacy lives on forever.”
A little over half way into their set, Van Zant asked the crowd if they are all in because we got a long way to go. Taking a moment to get a little more intimate with the audience, Johnny proceeds to talk to the crowd. “This next song is a little more personal. I’ve been doing this for 37 years and I have seen so many different generations. We’re all family.” He goes on to thank and dedicate the next song to our first responders and lists every single branch. Jokingly, he adds “not lawyers” to the list while laughing. Asking the crowd to put up their lights, “Let us see you. Up in heaven. This goes out to our troops. No matter where you are. May God bless each and everyone of them.” Standing on their feet, their lights illuminating the entire building, Simple Man begins. Fans continued to sing each and every word getting lost in the music. Watching the band members play each of their instrument respectively, it was a sight like no other.
As the night was wrapping up, J.J. Cale’s cover Call Me the Breeze started. None other than ZZ Top’s very own Billy Gibbons came out to play with the entire band. If the crowd was getting sleepy from it being almost 11pm, it woke them up to get them ready to finish the night off strong. It was electrifying seeing Billy Gibbons playing alongside members Rickey Medlocke, Mark Matejka, Keith Christopher, and Damon Johnson. Center stage, Van Zant and Billy come together giving a hug. Gibbons, while playing one handed with the other around Van Zant, they sing together as the song nears the end. Giving credit where it is due, Van Zant asked the crowd to help him out in applauding the legend. The crowd didn’t let him down and went absolutely wild. Billy, wearing a bedazzled and floral embroidered vest, impressed everyone breaking it down on his guitar before leaving the stage to finish out the show.
A true American 1974 classic, Sweet Home Alabama, rounds out the 13 song set list for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Going to stage left, center stage and stage right, the entire band rocks out amping up the crowd. Everyone was on their feet dancing and singing the words back without a care in the world. Johnny being the class act that he is, tells the crowd to give it up for his band mates. As the song ends, the lights dim. The crowd wants more and they want what they haven’t given us yet. Free Bird. The crowd chants “Free Bird” over and over again, each time getting louder. The louder the chanting gets, the eagle on the piano gets lit up by a spotlight. After a few minutes of chanting, video footage of all the late original members on the screen starts playing. Free Bird intro music begins to play and they come back on stage. Names next to lit candles are on the screen behind them while playing. As more time goes on, each candle begins to burn out one by one with the first candle burned out being who left this earth first to the last candle burned out being Gary Rossington who most recently left us. During the song where Gary played his legendary solo, they place a mic stand with a flag with a signature Rossington black hat.
Allowing each of their talents to shine, Lynyrd Skynyrd is one you don’t want to miss if you get the chance to see them live. Seeing the amount of respect and love each and everyone of them have for each other on stage is truly amazing. After dealing with the loss of Gary in 2023, Lynyrd Skynyrd continues and carries on the legends within their music. From the amazing guitar leads to the smooth vocals, Lynyrd Skynyrd will forever be one of the greatests of all time.
