The Last of the Street Survivors Tour featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd rolled into Darien Lake this past Friday night before 16, 000 plus people. This is supposedly the last tour featuring the southern rock icons. They brought along Jamey Johnson, The Charlie Daniels Band and The Marshall Tucker Band to celebrate this historic occasion.
Opening up at 6pm sharp, The Marshall Tucker Band took the stage and played a short but solid set consisting of 5 songs. They brought back “Running Like the Wind” into their set and decided to open up with it. The band is still led by original vocalist Doug Gray and he sang all the tracks except “Dog Eat Dog,” in which guitarist Chris Hicks sang lead on. The band closed their performance with their biggest hit “Can’t You See.”
Next up was Country legend, Charlie Daniels. Daniels has been performing for over 60 years but has had the same performing band (outside of drummer Ron Gannaway who joined with him a few years ago) for quite a few years now. Daniels was in fine form as he led the band through a powerful 8 song set that included “Tennessee Fiddlin’ Man,” a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and of course the anthemic “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Daniels went back and forth between his Gibson guitar and his trusty fiddle for their performance. Daniels, who is a very patriotic man, displayed his patriotism throughout the set by dedicating “In America” and reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the crowd. Shannon Wickline handled keys not only for the CDB but also helped out The Marshall Tucker Band as well.
Taking the stage next was country artist Jamey Johnson. Johnson has a decent following and therefore was slotted in the spot before Skynyrd. Unfortunately, any momentum that was built by the first two acts was lost when Johnson took the stage. Johnson’s type of country didn’t fit this bill I feel. He is more of a singer songwriter story type of artist. It wasn’t plugging in and playing more melodic upbeat guitar riff driven songs. Even though he showed his vocal range at times, the audience only cheered when he finished his set and left the stage. If he was billed to bring in a younger demographic, they should have slotted him in first.
Last by not least are the kings of southern rock in Lynyrd Skynyrd. For the consistent touring juggernaut that Skynyrd is, it’s hard to keep the set fresh and lively especially when you don’t consistently release new music (last studio effort was in 2012 with “Last of a Dyin’ Breed). With a the stage setup including a massive video screen that depicting images of years gone past, the band gave everyone a fresh new look and even managed to rearrange the setlist some to keep it interesting and different from years past. Led by the only original member left in guitarist Gary Rossington, this band had more tragedies than any other in music history. This tour and show was to celebrate over 40 plus years of Skynyrd music, fallen bandmates and the fans that love their music.
The band took the stage to “Workin’ for the MCA” then diving into the newest track on their setlist in “Skynyrd Nation” off of 2009’s “God and Guns”’ album. Another track that the band doesn’t play with regularity was an older track called “Whiskey Rock a Roller.” They played that with ferocity and the band was really locked in all night. Along with Rossington, guitarists Rickey Medlocke and Mark Metejka played off each other all night long. The newest band member bassist Keith Christopher played a solid bass and was joined by longtime drummer Michael Cartellone in providing that solid rhythm section. Vocalist Johnny Van Zant has been in Skynyrd for over 30 years now and has been the driving vocal force since joining the band back in 1987. In songs like “Gimme Three Steps” and “Call me the Breeze,” he is able to keep that traditional vocal Skynyrd sound and lets the band do their talking with their instruments.
What was nice was when the band did a memorial on the video screen at the beginning of “Free Bird” with members who passed on with a candle burning when they showed their names. They even paid tribute to former people who worked for the band who passed on as well. It was a nice tribute for all involved.
If this is truly Skynyrd’s last go around, they gave the fans a fantastic send off!
Setlist:
Workin’ for MCA
Skynryd Nation
What’s Your Name
Travelin’ Man
That Smell
I Know a Little
Whiskey Rock a Roller
Saturday Night Special
The Ballad of Curtis Loew
Tuesdays’ Gone
Don’t Ask Me No Questions
Simple Man
Gimme Three Steps
Call Me the Breeze (J.J. Cale cover)
Sweet Home Alabama
Encore:
Free Bird
We would like to thank Brett Marks from Livenation for the credentials to review the show.
