VALDOSTA — The Southern rock band Lynard Skynard opened up the 2010 Wild Adventures concert series Saturday night.
The band took the stage shortly after 8 p.m. to an audience of both old and young fans, ready to rock out to the band which originated in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Southern rockers started the show singing such hits as “Skynard Nation,” “Simple Man” and “What’s Your Name,” with the only original Lynard Skynard member, Gary Rossington, providing intensifying guitar licks with fellow guitar player Rickey Medlocke.
Johnny Van Zant, who took over as lead singer for his late brother, Ronnie, when the band reformed in 1987, kept the crowd engaged the entire evening. Van Zant held the audience’s attention during the concert, traveling from one end of the stage to the other.
He may not be the original lead singer of the band, but he’s the next best thing and did his job perfectly.
The entire band made contact with the audience in some form or another. Whether it was throwing out guitar picks to fans or reaching out to shake their hand in the middle of a long note, the crowd was not ignored.
Lynard Skynard packed in as many hits as they could into the nearly hour and a half show such as “Gimme Three Steps,” “Down South Jukin’,” and “I Know a Little.” They also included a few new songs off of their 2009 album, “Gods and Guns,” such as the title track and “Still Unbroken.”
The band ended the concert with the southern rock classic, “Sweet Home Alabama.” The crowd jumped to their feet at the beginning licks of the song and rushed the stage.
For an encore, Lynard Skynard came back out to perform their second biggest hit, “Free Bird.”
Before leaving the stage, the band leaned over to shake hands with their fans, sign autographs and give out guitar picks before jumping on their bus for their next gig.
Wild Adventure’s concert season continues this Sunday with George Thorogood and the Los Lonely Boys.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Johnny Van Zant, left, and Gary Rossington, the only living original member of Lynard Skynard, perform Saturday night at Wild Adventures
-
Johnny Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynard Skynard and brother of original front man Ronnie Van Zant, thanks the crowd at Wild Adventures Saturday after performing "Sweet Home Alabama."
Discussion
Lynard Skynard opens 2010 concert season
A concert review
- Local News
-
-
Tropical storm brings much needed rain to drought-stricken region
Lowndes County is in for a soaking today as Tropical Storm Beryl passes through the area, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Wild Adventures unveils revamped animal show
A Chilean Rose tarantula, an albino Burmese python and American alligators headline Wild Adventures’ revamped “Creature Feature Extreme” show, as the exhibit kicked off its summer schedule last week in a newly constructed amphitheater.
Previously titled “Creature Feature,” the new variant of the show features some of the most popular animals from the previous exhibit. -
Pausing to honor those who gave all
Two Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery Monday to honor the fallen veterans of our country’s past and current wars.
-
Fallen hero memorialized
Amid cries of jubilation from the mother of a fallen local veteran, a new memorial was unveiled Saturday afternoon, at the intersection of North Valdosta Road and Inner Perimeter, in honor of the late Petty Officer First Class Joseph Adam McSween.
-
VHS Class of 2012 graduates
Valdosta High School’s Class of 2012 gathered Friday night at the Valdosta State University PE Complex to celebrate the graduation of roughly 350 seniors.
-
Qualifying ends
Citizens engaged in their local political landscape will have plenty of options this July and November as dozens of candidates qualified on Friday.
-
Resident escapes from blaze
A citizen escaped an aggressive fire with only minor cuts and bruises Friday afternoon, as wind amplified the flames from the blaze that started inside of his St. Augustine Road residence.
-
Weekend preview with Brittany McClure
Find out what's going on this weekend with Brittany McClure.
-
Popular vendor taken out of the ballparks
With a wagon-load of fresh cakes, hot boiled peanuts and ice-cold bottled water she has witnessed generations of children, or as she refers to them, her angels, grow into adults with children of their own.
-
Three candidates file for election
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries continue with the addition of a couple new candidates interested in running for elected office.
- More Local News Headlines
-
