Untitled Document

LYNYRD SKYNYRD
May 24, 2008
Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven Florida

The reigning kings of southern rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, took the stage at Cypress Gardens (Winter Haven Florida) as dusk began to settle under the heat of the southern sky.

The sultry summer evening was kicked off with the in your face, take no prisoners “Working For MCA”.

The song was a perfect opener driving the crowd into a wild excitement. The set rolled through Skynyrd mega-hits such as, “What’s Your Name?”, “Gimme Three Steps”,
“Simple Man”, and “Tuesday’s Gone”.

Lynyrd Skynyrd shirts from the past and present were donned by faithful fans sprinkled throughout the crowd.

Lead singer Johnny Van Zant is nearly reduced to a crowd member as every voice
at the venue sang the classic Skynyrd songs in unison.

Johnny sports a baseball cap turned backwards as Gary Rossington throws guitar picks into a clamoring, hungry audience.

Johnny dons a rebel flag tied to his microphone stand as they surge through
“Call Me The Breeze”. When the song finishes to a thunderous roar Johnny yells,
“The south shall rise again!” and the southern rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama”
grinds into first gear.

In the distance to the south, thunderheads are sparking and bolting almost as if to the beat of the music. The entire crowd is on their feet. People can be seen standing on their chairs, in groups holding large rebel flags.

As the song winds up, Johnny throws the mic stand in the air and catches it as easily
as any pro ball player would catch something as simple as a baseball.

A feeling passed through the night; an unspoken yet known feeling that they would have an encore and that encore would be the greatest southern rock hit of all time, “Freebird”. As the band exits the stage the crowd knows, amongst all the hits there’s one song
left to go. It’s evident. The crowd knows as well as the band that there’s one song
left to play.

The crowd beats on the back of their seats in a tribal, rhythmic style.
They scream and yell and beg for more, just one more. There’s only one song missing.

A rebel flag is draped across the white grand piano and an eagle, a freebird statue
of gold color sits regally atop the draped flag.

The band honors their call for an encore as Johnny takes center stage holding
his rebel flag draped mic stand in the air.

“Freebird” is played and rolls into its hectic end with guitarist Ricky Medlocke’s progressively frenzied solo.

At “Freebird’s” end the band joins in unison at the front of the stage for a collective bow.

The night ends as the crowd disperses as silhouettes against the southern storm
in the sky and the southern storm known as Lynyrd Skynyrd.