Live from Freedom Hall

Live from Freedom Hall is a live album by the "post-crash" lineup of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on June 22, 2010 after their eleventh studio album God & Guns. The set includes a CD with 15 live tracks and a DVD of that concert. Ean Evans and Billy Powell died before the release of this album, and it is also their last live album with the band.
'Live From Freedom Hall' not only captures the band in its most natural state-on stage, but is also one of the last concerts to be recorded with longtime members Billy Powell and Ean Evans, both of whom passed away last year (2009). The release a celebration of Skynyrd. The set features all the classics including 'Sweet Home Alabama' and 'Free Bird.'

With the dust and the haze of the decades cleared, it’s now apparent that Lynyrd Skynyrd in their original configuration were one of the greatest rock bands to come out of the South, or anywhere in America for that matter, and the band’s legacy, based around classic songs like “Sweet Home Alabama” and the iconic, ever-unwinding “Free Bird,” is assured. Skynyrd were one of the most haunted of American bands, and the litany of deceased members is a long one -- original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines died in 1977, guitarist Allen Collins died in 1990, bassist Leon Wilkeson died in 2001, replacement bassist Ean Evans died in 2009, as did keyboardist Billy Powell. The group now features one original member, guitarist Gary Rossington, with Ronnie's brother Johnny Van Zant handling lead vocals and former Blackfoot frontman and Skynyrd's once drummer Rickey Medlocke heading up the guitarists. It was a good night, and this is a fine live set, anchored by crisp versions of Skynyrd staples like “What’s Your Name,” “That Smell,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” and “Free Bird,” and if Johnny Van Zant doesn’t quite have the same sassy soul as his brother Ronnie did, he comes close enough to make all of this work. It’s nice, too, that pianist Powell is up in the mix here, because he was much more central to Skynyrd's (generally thought of as a guitar band) sound than most folks realize. He won’t be easy to replace, but then this is a band that is increasingly defined by its classic songs more than it is by its particular lineup on a given night.


Line-up:
Gary Rossington-Guitar
Johnny Van Zant-Lead Vocals
Billy Powell-Keyboards
Rickey Medlocke-Guitar, Background Vocals
Michael Cartellone-Drums
Ean Evans-Bass, Background Vocals
Mark Matejka-Guitar, Background Vocals
Dale Krantz-Rossington-Background Vocals
Carol Chase-Background Vocals