Skynyrd Brings 5 Decades Of Hits To Chicago
It was a beautiful summer evening when I arrived at the Credit Union One Amphitheater in Tinley Park, IL, to see Lynyrd Skynyrd and Uncle Kracker perform live on stage. The amphitheater was packed with excited fans, and there was an electric energy in the air that promised a memorable night ahead.
I couldn't help but feel nostalgic as I gazed at the stage. It was hard to believe that Lynyrd Skynyrd had been around for over five decades and was still able to fill arenas like this. They were the band of my youth, and their music still held a special place in my heart. This is a celebration of their 50th anniversary.
Uncle Kracker opened the show, and his laid-back style was the perfect way to ease the audience into the night's entertainment. His music had always been a mixture of country, rock, and hip-hop, and his performance tonight showcased his ability to blend genres effortlessly. From the first chord of his song, "Follow Me," Uncle Kracker had the audience singing and swaying along with his easy-going, catchy tunes.
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Uncle Kracker also surprised us with a cover he has made famous, Drift Away by Mentor Williams which had the audience singing along at the top of their lungs. As the sun set over the amphitheater, Uncle Kracker brought the house down with his hit single "When The Sun Goes Down, one that was cut with friend Kenny Chesney" which left the audience begging for more.
The crowd was pumped up and ready for Lynyrd Skynyrd's entrance as Uncle Kracker made his way offstage. It wasn't long before the lights went out, and the crowd erupted into a roar of excitement as the first chords of "Workin' for MCA" rang out. From the moment they stepped onto the stage, Lynyrd Skynyrd's energy was electric. The band played some of their greatest hits from "Sweet Home Alabama" to "Simple Man," and the audience never stopped cheering.
Each song felt like a celebration, a moment in time when we all remembered what it felt like to be young and wild and free. There was an unbridled energy in the air as the band played on, and the crowd sang along to every word. When they performed "Tuesday’s Gone," there wasn't a dry eye in the house. The heartfelt lyrics struck a chord with everyone in attendance; we all felt connected in that moment. It didn’t help that the song was dedicated to the last surviving member of the band Gary Rossington, who passed away earlier this year.
As the night wore on, the energy never let up, and the band continued to pump out hit after hit. It was terrific to see Lynyrd Skynyrd still going strong after all these years, and it was clear that the audience was there to pay tribute to their legendary sound. As the night drew to a close, Lynyrd Skynyrd returned to the stage for an encore, and the audience roared with approval. There was only one song left to send out to the Chicago crowd, & that was “Freebird”. The guitar solos were top notch & Ronnie Van Zant’s hat hung on the microphone for one last tribute to one of the greats.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Set-List
Workin' for MCA
Skynyrd Nation
What's Your Name
That Smell
I Know a Little
Whiskey Rock-a-Roller
Saturday Night Special
The Ballad of Curtis Loew
Tuesday's Gone (Dedicated to Gary Rossington)
Simple Man (Dedicated to military service)
Gimme Three Steps
Call Me the Breeze (J.J. Cale cover)
Sweet Home Alabama
Encore:
Free Bird
