(RockAndMetal.com) (05/27/04)

Edited By Michael Bennett

NEW YORK, NY, USA - Last year's "Vicious Cycle" release was a triumph for Southern Rock veterans LYNYRD SKYNYRD, and by far the biggest highlight of the band's 2003 30th Anniversary.

It was their biggest selling studio album in decades, and contained Classic Rock's #1 song of the year, 'Red White And Blue.'

Not long after the release of "Vicious Cycle" came the filming and release of the soon to be Gold DVD, "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve."

The audio from that release has since been remastered for the ultimate Skynyrd sound on the companion double-CD "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve" set, which is scheduled for release on June 22nd via CMC International/Sanctuary Records.

Recorded live on July 11, 2003 at the Amsouth Amphitheatre in Nashville, TN, "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve" contains 19 tracks in total and runs 105 minutes in length.

"Live shows are really what this band is about," says Lynyrd Skynyrd founding guitarist Gary Rossington.

"We love to play live, there's nothing else like it. We don't know anything else to do. We got it down now, people are enjoying it so were enjoying doing it for 'em."

Performed on a stage made up like a mock whiskey still with wooden kegs strewn all about, Disc 1 of "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve" kicks off in a big way with the roar of 'That's How I Like It,' a strong new tune from "Vicious Cycle" that packs a pounding, visceral wallop.

Highlights abound on "Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve," including the addition of a string section on such classic songs as 'Tuesday's Gone,' 'The Way' and 'Freebird." A horn section is also featured on several tracks, including 'What's Your Name' and 'Call Me The Breeze.'

The rocking 'What's Your Name'' features a fiery solo by guitarist Rickey Medlocke, formerly of BLACKFOOT, and founding member Hughie Thomasson smokes his six string on the intro to 'I Know A Little.''

LYNYRD SKYNYRD's secret weapon is long-time member and pianist Billy Powell, who plays perfect fills and aggressive solos as he pushes the tunes higher and higher, while frontman Johnny Van Zant sings with power and conviction to the crowd like they were family friends over for a BBQ.

Fancy guitar licks fly on 'I Know A Little,' and the emotional 'Simple Man'' hits hard, while 'Red White And Blue' is a moving moment, stocked with country, common man themes -- the same as LYNYRD SKYNYRD's been singing since day one.

Disc 2's 'Gimme Three Steps' turns into a guitar party straight from Jacksonville with rhythm section members Ean Evans (bass) and Michael Cartellone (drums) digging deep, wide grooves, while the classic 'Free Bird' features Powell and Rossington raising a million goosebumps in that song's sweet sentimental intro all the way through its double-time, triple-guitar outro.

Disc One:
1. That's How I Like It
2. What's Your Name
3. I Know A Little
4. Pick 'Em Up
5. Simple Man
6. That Smell
7. Red White And Blue
8. Down South Jukin'
9. Gimme Back My Bullets
10. Double Trouble
11. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew
12. Tuesday's Gone
13. Mississippi Kid

Disc Two:
1. Workin'
2. Gimme Three Steps
3. Call Me The Breeze
4. Sweet Home Alabama
5. The Way
6. Free Bird

Upcoming Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour Dates:
05/28 Columbus, OH Polaris Amphitheatre
05/29 Antioch, TN Am South Amphitheatre
05/30 Montgomery, AL Montgomery Amphitheatre
06/02 Glen Allen, VA Innsbrook Pavilion
06/03 Portsmouth, VA Ntelos Pavilion
06/05 Valdosta, GA Wild Adventures
06/09 Clio, MI Clio Amphitheatre
06/10 Orilla, OH Casino Rama
06/12 Big Flats, NY Tags Summer
06/13 Burgettstown, PA Post Gazette
06/18 Skullbone, TN Skullbone Park
06/19 Birmingham, AL City Stages
06/20 Pensacola, FL Civic Center
07/01 Muskegon, MI Heritage Park
07/04 Bottineau, ND Wildrose Amphitheatre
07/07 Livermore, CA Wente Winery
07/10 Las Vegas, NV Aladdin Theatre
07/11 Pala, CA Pala Casino
07/15 Walker, MN Moondance Jam
07/17 Kansas City, MO Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
07/18 Comstock, NE Second Wind Ranch
07/23 Morton, MN Jackpot Junction
07/24 Stillwater, MN Town Square
07/25 Twin Lakes, WI Country Thunder
08/06 Louisville, KY Waterfront Park
08/07 Greenville, WI Lions Park
08/10 Manchester, VT Hunter Park
08/12 Hamburg, NY Erie County Fair
08/13 Lewisburg, WV West Virginia State Fair
08/14 Rome, GA Ridge Ferry Park
08/18 Cleveland, OH Tower City Amphitheatre
08/19 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Center
08/21 St Louis, MO UMB Pavilion
08/22 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Center
08/25 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook
08/27 Cohasset, MA South Shore
08/28 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod
08/31 Allentown, PA Allentown Fair
09/03 Westbury, NY Westbury Music Fair
09/04 Danville, VA Carrington Pavilion
09/17 York, PA York Fair
09/18 Montclair, NJ Yogi Berra Stadium

Copyright 2003-2008 Internet Music Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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