Filmed over the course of two nights in early 2015, Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd & Second Helping: Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre is a new Blu-ray package from Lynyrd Skynyrd that finds the Southern rock giants performing their first two studio albums in their entirety. When we speak about Skynyrd, we're talking about a band with a huge collection of rock radio staples, and both Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd (1973) and Second Helping (1974) deliver the hits. "I Ain't the One," "Gimme Three Steps," "Tuesday's Gone," and "Free Bird" can all be found on their debut platter; while Second Helping features gems like "Workin' for MCA," "Swamp Music," "Call Me the Breeze," and "Sweet Home Alabama."
So, yeah, some of the band's biggest and most beloved songs appear in the setlists for the special live occasions, but how are the performances? Well, I'm happy to report that the veteran musicians that make up Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2015 don't drop the ball on either night captured for this Blu-ray. Led by longtime singer Johnny Van Zant, the core group (seven members in total) plays note-perfect renditions of both albums, with background vocalists Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase also turning in impressive performances. The female vocal component of Skynyrd's sound is one that gets overlooked at times, but it's clear from the live mix that the group understands how important that aspect is to what they do.
A horn section also appears during the concerts, giving the sold-out crowds a listening experience as close to the original albums as possible in a live setting. One of the Blu-ray's surprises for me was learning that former Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt is now a member of Skynyrd. I always thought the guy was a badass, and he fits in perfectly with the Southern rock masters.
With the holidays around the corner, Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd & Second Helping: Live From Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre is definitely a great gift for the classic rock aficionado in your life.
Get It
- Amazon (Blu-ray)
