Thursday night in Birmingham and “it’s hotter than box of frogs in forest fire” to quote Ronnie Van Zant.  Well, maybe not that hot but for good old blighty it’s glorious sunshine and a balmy evening and not just any gig I’m heading to.  This is the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd, albeit now only featuring sole remaining original member, Gary Rossington. 

First up is the Aynsley Lister Band, seen the name mentioned in various gig guides but never seen him live. Featuring Aynsley Lister on guitar and vocals, Midus on bass, Simon Small on drums and Morg Morgan on keyboards, this four piece got a rousing reception from the Birmingham crowd.  Lister is an excellent blues guitarist and the set was helped by a great sound.  By the 4^th song Lister gets all southern blues with some tasty slide guitar.  The set is rounded of with the 5^th song, a cover of Prince’s Purple Rain and The Aynsley Lister Band do the song justice.  Only 8 pm and already the support band are done, we must be in for a long night. 

8.30 pm, the lights go down and AC/DC’s 'Thunderstruck' booms from the PA and the various members of Skynyrd walk on stage, the crowd roars their approval and the band kick straight into 'Workin’ For MCA'.  The God ‘N Guns World Tour hits Birmingham like a tornado.  Just for tonight this crowd are ass kickin’, redneck rockin’, Confederate flag waving Southerners.  2^nd song in 'I Ain’t the One' and the band are on fire, then it’s 'Saturday Night Special' before 'Gimme Back My Bullets' and they’ve hit cruise control! 

New bass player Robert Kearns looks relaxed, moving around the stage with ease, like he’s been with the band for years. The other new boy, Peter Keys, a very apt name indeed, looks equally at home tinkling the ivories.  Michael Cartellone, who used to be in Damn Yankees with Ted Nugent, is a blur of flailing arms as he pounds the skins and crashes the cymbals. Johnny Van Zant may not have the vocal nuances of his dearly departed brother but he has honed his stage craft over the years and commands this audience, striding across the stage and informing us “there ain’t nuthin’ like a Skynyrd crowd!”  The triumvirate of duelling guitarists, Gary Rossington, Ricky Medlocke and Mark “Sparky” Matejka provide the ammunition, especially Medlocke, who at 59 years old has the energy of a 25 year old, baiting the crowd throughout with every foray to the front of the stage.   I can see why Matejka has the nickname Sparky, a livewire on stage, all guitar licks flailing hair.  Gary Rossington meanwhile seems quite content to let his cohorts rampage around the stage as he projects a laidback demeanor, wandering to the front and peeling off a few licks here and there.  This crowd are left in no doubt tonight that the musicianship within the Skynyrd ranks is still of the highest calibre. 

The 5^th and 6^th songs of the night, sees the band playing 'What’s Your Name' and 'That Smell' from my favourite album 'Street Survivors' and I’m beginning to think we’re just gonna get a greatest hits set.  New album 'God ‘N Guns' won’t be released until September so the band have chosen not to feature any new material.  In fact they don’t play anything after the 'Street Survivors' album which is a shame cos they’ve recorded some great songs with Johnny Van Zant. 

Johnny Van Zant takes time out to dedicate Simple Man to all the former members who have “moved on to Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven”.  As on previous tours the band have put together a medley of tunes from a vast back catalogue and tonight we get 'Down South Jukin’/Needle and the Spoon/Double Trouble' which sees the crowd clapping along and dancing in the aisles, although security soon puts a stop to that fun and ushers em back to their seats, before they round it off with a sublime 'Tuesdays Gone'. 

The next two songs up 'Gimme Three Steps' and 'Call Me The Breeze' sees the crowd practically yee-hawing throughout the building, that is until the band kick into 'Sweet Home Alabama' and every last one becomes Southern By The Grace Of God, as they sing their hearts out and security has their hands full stopping the dancing in the aisles. 

The band leave the stage after this and I glance at my watch to see they’ve only been on 70 minutes and after 5 minutes of yelling Skynryd and stomping their feet the band return and launch into a 15 minute version of 'Freebird' which included a Pink Floyd moment when the follow spots hit a giant mirrorball and bathe the crowd in a million points of light. 

So much for the long night I thought I was going to experience, 90 minutes of pure nostalgia. I don’t think anyone left the NIA disappointed or disbelieving that Lynyrd Skynyrd can still give the young guns more than a run for their money.  

Feeling euphoric after the gig I ventured to the merch stall intending to grab a t-shirt, although £20 was a bit steep I felt.  Unfortunately the shirts didn’t come in size FFB (Fuckin’ Fat Bastard) and the XL for the one I wanted seemed more like a medium so I only have my ticket as a memento of a truly great gig. 

Review by: Brassy