Though billed as a tour in support of new album Gods & Guns, Skynyrd are acutely aware of why they are still filling arenas in the UK, and attracting fans young (That Smell – played to an ecstatic response – recently used on the popular vampire soap opera, True Blood) and old – the majority of the set drew heavily from the original line-up’s pre-1977 material. Albeit, the few new songs promoted did fair well; opening in suitable fashion with the exuberant Skynyrd Nation (“Put your hands in the air/Give us what you got… Rock this joint the way it’s supposed to be…”), the mood was set for a celebration of arguably the best rock outfit of the ‘70s. Although only one founding member remains (lead/rhythm guitarist Gary Rossington), this is still an older band, but this didn’t show in the relentless delivery of classic song after classic song, with the audience out of their seats throughout – cue impassioned sing-alongs, flag waving and chest thumping for a steroid enhanced version of Gimme Back My Bullets; a moving highlight in Tuesday’s Gone; and a spectacular, if predictable, Free Bird encore, which gave the three guitarists and bassist plenty of opportunity to strike standard ‘guitar god’ poses, and lap up the crowd’s adulation. Taken in the cold light of day, this was essentially a tribute band, with six aged southern rockers (replete with cowboy hats, tight/flared jeans, long hair, shades, US flag emblazoned denim…) pulling out all the clichés, but with Johnny evoking the spirit of his late brother, Ronnie Van Zant, such faithful/well executed renditions, and a good spirited fanbase urging them on throughout, you couldn’t help but find yourself lost in the goodtime nostalgia.
