Review: Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks the house at Mohegan Sun Arena

UNCASVILLE _ Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd headlined the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday night performing a 90-minute set in front of a near sellout crowd.

Led by longtime vocalist Johnny Van Zant the band took fans on a 15-song trip down memory lane, performing a string of classic rock classics that helped to define Southern rock.

Van Zant was joined by original guitarist Gary Rossington, guitarists Rickey Medlocke and Mark Matejka, drummer Michael Cartellone, bassist Johnny Colt, and keyboard player Peter Keys. Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase handled the background vocals.

The show began with a recorded version of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" getting the crowd riled up before Skynyrd hit the stage to tackle "Working for MCA."

Medlocke soloed through "What's Your Name," and Rossington worked the slide guitar on "You Got That Right."

The stage looked like a scene out of a 70s concert film, a Spartan set-up with just instruments and the requisite stacks of Marshall amps.

"Skynyrd is in the house," shouted Van Zant at the outset. "Thank you for keeping the music alive."

Van Zant does an admirable job with legacy, handling the vocals with aplomb and serving as a great host for a rock 'n roll outing.

"Do you still believe in America?" he asked the crowd before dedicating "Simple Man" to military personnel and first-responders. "We have to unite again." He also flew the Confederate flag before "Sweet Home Alabama" and declared its symbolism was "heritage, not hate."

Keys opened the encore on piano, setting up "Freebird" as the finale. The band tore into the solos, stretching the song to 14-minutes in length while playing in front of a video /mural of an eagle in flight clutching the American flag with the names of deceased band members written in the clouds.

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