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That's right Gator Fans it is finally happening. Lynyrd Skynyrd is playing Gator Growl. Since 1964, loyal rock n' roll/gator fans have been begging for this double team cream dream of kickasstitude. The question is why now? Has Skynyrd become so commercialized that they have joined the ranks of Sugar Ray and Wayne Brady? It is pretty tough to call Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band that invented the music which I hold so near and dear to my heart (southern rock) a bunch of sellouts, and I would never do such a thing. Because Lynyrd Skynyrd died in a plane crash in 1977. Four years before my birth. Now I have seen the current "Skynyrd" in the flesh. Back in 2001 Alden and myself attended a Lynyrd Skynyrd at Universal Studios (bad sign). They played quite a set which included Sweet Home Alabama, 1/2 of Tuesday's Gone, and about 13 other songs that weren't Free Bird. God forbid they open with Free Bird. People would get trampled trying to get out of there.
Every other song should be called "NOT Free Bird" because that's what it is!
Today Skynyrd is a bunch of old guys losing their hair and riding the coat tails of one of our states greatest artists. Go see a Van Zant (Current lead singer Johnny Van Zant's other band) show and bring an extra big shotgun, because with all the SUCKING going on it is gonna be pretty hard to BLOW your brains out.
However, let's not get out of hand here. There are obviously some sour grapes up here on the north side of the swamp. Yes, since I have left Gainesville Tom Petty (Gainesville's Greatest Son) and now Skynyrd are playing literally across the street from my house. Unbelievable. But as mediocre as this show may be, there is one thing you can always count on at a good southern rock show. There will plenty of nasty white trash biker chicks ready to dump out their snacktrays at the drop of a rebel flag skull cap.
DUMP 'EM OUT!!!
Anyways, I hope you all have a good time at this years Growl. Don't bring ear plugs though, otherwise you won't be able to hear Johnny boy's vocals over the sound of brother Ronnie rolling over in his grave. I'll tell you one thing though. If the real Lynyrd Skynyrd were alive today. They would not be at Gator Growl, they would be at 16 1/2 doing GatorHead Funnels and eatting Five Star... or at Balls.
NH