From: nin15b66@merrimack.edu
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll,rec.music.misc
Subject: REVIEW: .38 Special / Lynard Skynard
Date: 26 Aug 92 23:28:24 GMT
Organization: Merrimack College, No. Andover, MA, USA

REVIEW - Lynard Skynard / .38 Special

*** If you hate Southern rock, go to the next message now.

	August 20th at the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts, there
was a Southern rock extravaganza as .38 Special opened up for Lynard Skynard.
This show was full of classic tunes from both bands.

	As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw Dixie flags everywhere.  Lynard
Skynard lovers were out in force.  I was more interested in .38 Special though.

	.38 Special took the stage in front of a small crowd of maybe 200.
But by the end of the show, the place was packed and screaming for more.

	The biggest surprise from .38 Special was the return of Don Barnes
to .38 Special after a five year absence.  Barnes said "A lot has changed in
five years, except for maybe Donnie's hat!"  Barnes' vocals didn't change either
as he boomed out the old classics like "Caught Up In You" and "Hold On Loosely".

	Don Barnes at one point in the show called Donnie Van Zant the "hardest
working man in rock and roll".  With the way he was connecting with the crowd,
and the way he tore up the stage, I'd believe him.

	Van Zant boomed out three tunes from their 1991 release, "Bone Against
Steel".  He dedicated what I feel is one of their best tunes, "Rebel to Rebel",
to his late brother Ronnie.  After listening to the lyrics and hearing
Donnie sing it live, I thought about the lyrics, and have to feel now that
Donnie Van Zant, Jeff Carlisi and former Survivor keyboard player Jim Peterik
wrote it for Ronnie.  It was an emotional moment for Donnie, and all the
Skynard fans.

	.38 Special performed these songs (in no order)

		Hold On Loosely
		Wild Eyed Southern Boys
		If I'd Been The One
		Caught Up In You
		Fantasy Girl.
		Rough Housin'
		Same Old Feeling
		Back Where you Belong
		Stone Cold Believer
		Twentieth Century Fox
		Rockin' In To The Night
		Sound of Your Voice
		Last Thing I Ever Do
		Rebel To Rebel

	They also played a tune that I heard was by Linda Ronstadt.  I can
only remember the lyrics "I'm so glad to be living in the USA."

	In short, they were an awesome performance.

	After a 20 minute intermission, Skynard took the stage.  To be
honest I had never liked Skynard except for the biggest hits.  I enjoyed this
show though, even though I didn't know many of the songs.

	The only tunes I knew by Skynard were "What's Your Name", "Gimme 3 
Steps", "Sweet Home Alabama", "That Smell", and "Free Bird".  They were on
for an hour and 45 minutes, which included what a local paper called the "most
predictable encore in rock and roll."  A spotlight came on, illuminating a 
metal Eagle.  It stayed that way for five minutes as the crowd screamed for
more.  Lynard Skynard did not disappoint.  They did an awesome, 10 minute
version of "Free Bird".  Johnnie Van Zant did sing "Free Bird" which he 
didn't do at earlier concerts, saying "no one can sing it like Ronnie"..
Before he started singing, he held the microphone as high as he could, almost
as if he was wishing Ronnie would sing it from heaven.  Well Johnnie did it,
and did it well.

	Johnnie also dedicated "That Smell" to his late brother Ronnie, saying
"I really believe it's one of Ronnie's best."

	There was only one thing that disappointed me...I wanted to see
Donnie and Johnnie do a tune together in memory of Ronnie.  That would have
been the perfect ending.  It didn't happen though.  Maybe next time.

	For Southern rock lovers, this was a show you shouldn't have missed.
I've never been a huge Southern rock fan, except for .38 Special, but I'm glad
I didn't miss this one.

Kevin

Second Best IS Second Rate!!!  The only thing that matters is being the best.
If you ain't the best, you're nothin', number two just won't do.  -me 1992