Sammy Hagar & Lynyrd Skynyrd Live in Mansfield, MA
By
Tokemaster General,
Contributor
Sunday, August 31, 2003 @ 3:33 PM
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REVIEW BY: Robert Lang
My man Sammy looking a bit portly but still having fun. After apologizing for being a bit tardy (he was spotted running from his tour bus into a Barnes & Noble to grab some CDs by his hotel 30 minutes prior to stagetime), the Man from Montrose ripped it up for the next 75 minutes.
If you have the new live album, then you know the set list -- a mix of solo material, VH hits with some Montrose mixed in. One surprise was a souped-up cover of "Rainy Day Women" by Dylan, as well as the exclusive bleacher seats on the stage for a select group of fans. The rumor is if you clicked on a link on his web site, you could score them. Sammy spent half the night with the lucky devils, letting them sing the choruses, etc. Still the party master live, he even won over the old timers there for Skynyrd.
As for the South's heaviest success, they still delivered. Gary Rossington stood center stage behind Johhny Van Zandt, playing the rowdiest licks I've seen in five shows over the last decade. The sad footnote is that he suffered a seizure (he had heart surgery over the winter) in August, so this could be his last tour -- maybe that's it for the band? But with the new blood of veteran guitarists Ricky Madlocke of Blackfoot and one of the Outlaws mainstays, Hughie Thommass (who handles the country licks -- like "I know a little"), it would be a shame to halt their successful longevity.
New songs off Vicious Cycle, like "Red White & Blue," blended seamlessly with classics such as "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man", leaving everyone happy. As for Madlocke, his stage presence has single-handedly rejuvenated this band from seventies has-beens to kick ass. If you want to see a Southern jam band go to the Allmans, if you want a rock show-see Skynyrd.
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