Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Lynyrd Skynyrd are one of the great eminences of music, no one can deny their place at the heart of American Rock, especially the Southern variety which they exemplified with panache and style in their distinguished career, no one can understate the enormous loss felt, and which still resonates today, as the story of the infamous airplane crash which devastated the group just at their absolute zenith; and yet as the group celebrate the release of Live At The Ryman, that sense of legendary performance is almost metaphysical, it is rejoiced.
The special nature of this release will not be lost upon the legions of fans, the passing of founding member Gary Rossington in 2023 providing the necessity of the release recorded in Nashville the year before for being heard by the majority, those that could not feel the emotion first hand at just how significant an occasion this would turn out to be.
You may have a deep understanding of just how revered the music of the band is, however, in Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman what comes across is the paramount of Time, that even the often used compliment afforded the group when someone at a gig, no matter who the band, will either joke or be deadly serious in their call for the song Freebird to be played for the assembled crowd; that is a fact of greatness, and as the swagger of musical procession flows as the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers continue past the tragedy that they have refused to define them, through the rebirth, and with some incredibly special guests pounding on eternity’s door with them, so celebration is the apt response to the experience.
With Jelly Roll, John Osbourne, Brent Smith, Marcus King, and the appearance of the Donnie Van Zant, the energy and freedom of the band is uninterrupted, it is dynamic and pulsing with drama. Across tracks such as You Got That Right, Down South Jukin, Cry For The Bad Man, Saturday Night Special, Give Me Three Steps, and the never-failing Sweet Home Alabama and Freebird leaving their distinguished marks on a splendidly captured evening.
End of an era perhaps, and with all eras that pass there is sadness to be found in the memory; but as with most things in life we should feel blessed to have either lived alongside the band at their height, their resurrection, or their passionate continual presence, or be blessed in the knowledge that we have the ability to discover them as they release Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman to an audience always ready to embrace them.
A fantastic framing of life in its most tantalising of expressions, Lynyrd Skynyrd, no matter the line up, embow the public with a feeling of grace and progression.
Lynyrd Skynyrd will release Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman on June 27th via Frontiers Music SRL.
Ian D. Hall