Lynyrd Skynyrd swamps Pompano Beach

Three other bands join the famed group

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – The Pompano Beach Amphitheater was sold out on Friday for a terrific bill of Southern rock from three excellent bands who all got their starts right here in Florida. 

Blackfoot kicked off the packed concert at 7 p.m.  

The band hails from Jacksonville and most people know them for their hits "Train Train" and "Highway Song." They got the overflow crowd going, but they didn't need to do much to set it off.

 Everyone had come to party!

Next up on the stage were The Outlaws, who are from Tampa.  

They treated fans to Southern rock classics like "There Goes Another Love Song," "Green Grass and High Tides" and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."

 Their set raised the energy level of the venue yet another notch, but the headliners were going to blow the roof off (if it had one). 

Everyone was there to see Lynyrd Skynyrd. 

 I spotted so many Skynyrd shirts, jackets and other merch on fans in the crowd.  You could feel the electricity when the band came out and launched right into one of my favorite Skynyrd tunes, "Workin' for MCA."  

Lead singer Johnny Van Zant can definitely fill his older brother Ronnie's shoes on classic hits like that one and the second song, "What's Your Name." 

Guitarist Gary Rossington is the only original member of the group to still be performing.  Sadly, longtime keyboardist Billy Powell died in 2009.  

Guitarist Rickey Medlocke, who first wrote and performed with the band back in 1971 has been back with the group since 1996.

Skynyrd didn't waste any time trotting out the hits.

Fans were on their feet and dancing the minute they came out on the stage.

 One of the best parts of The Amp is that are really no bad seats in the house.  And it is really easy to get great pictures or video of the performers.  So many phones were being held up, snapping pictures or just recording it all. 

Despite the show being sold out, it was still relatively easy to get around to get a drink or some food or hit the bathrooms. But it was best to wait for a song to start!  It was such a beautiful night to be outside, hearing live music with a gorgeous full moon hanging over us all in the sky. 

Here is the setlist (or should I call it the hit-list):

 1. Workin' for MCA

 2. What's Your Name

 3. You Got That Right

 4. Saturday Night Special

 5. Honky Tonk Night Time Man (Merle Haggard cover)

 6. That Smell

 7. Simple Man

 8. Gimme Back My Bullets

 9. The Needle and the Spoon

10. Tuesday's Gone

11. Gimme Three Steps

12. Call Me The Breeze (J.J. Cale cover)

13. Sweet Home Alabama

Encore:

14: Free Bird 

Lynyrd Skynyrd put on a hot show for a very appreciative crowd on a beautiful South Florida night.  A great time was had by all. 


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