Rock Legends Lynyrd Skynyrd and Peter Frampton Lit up The Greek

Matt Corkill

In a night filled with both celebrities and die hard fans, rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd and Peter Frampton and brought their world tour to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday night. First up was Mr. Frampton himself. Most of the set was comprised of Frampton’s mega hits off of his “Frampton Comes Alive!“ album with “Lines on my Face” and “Doobie Wah,” songs that drew standing ovations. Signature track “Do You Feel Like We Do” absolutely electrified the crowd as Frampton’s guitar sang while Frampton’s “Show Me the Way” and “Baby, I Love Your Way” proved to still work their magic as couples around the venue danced and necked like teenagers.  Frampton’s nod to Chris Cornell and Soundgarden, with an instrumental cover of “Black Hole Sun” is bound to stick with fans forever with Frampton’s talk box on his guitar picking up some of the lyrics.  Other covers included David Bowie’s “Rebel, Rebel” and  closing encore, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” a tribute of the guitarists late friend, George Harrison.

After Frampton had wrapped his set, a large man walked out onto the Greek stage, smoking a cigar with and smiling ear to ear. Comedian Ron White. White (aka Tater Salad) wasn’t quite sure why he was there either, but he was getting the opportunity to live a lifelong dream of introducing the one and only Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Opening with “Workin’ For MCA,” “What’s Your Name” and “You Got That Right” before hitting the next gear into “Saturday Night Special”, everyone in attendance was right there with them on each note and lyric as frontman Robbie Van Zant led them on a proper Skynyrd adventure.  Brandishing a mix of tattered American Flags upon his mic stand RVZ was full throttle the entire set along with guitarists Rickey Medlocke, who spent the evening shredding while having fun making faces at fans, along with Mark “Sparky” Matejka and Gary Rossington who seems to be recovering very well from his recent heart surgery. Peter Keys on piano set the mood perfectly throughout “Tuesday’s Gone” and drummer Michael Cartellone kept the beat all night behind the kit.

The Greek erupted when Van Zant disappeared and reappeared with a new stand with a Confederate flag as the visual backdrop revealed the words “Sweet Home Alabama.” Fans filled the aisles to enjoy the Southern rock anthem in proper Skynyrd fashion.       

The epic evening of rock closed in the only fashion imaginable for a Skynyrd show, an encore of “Free Bird.” People could be seen dancing, singing, laughing and even some were crying while Cartellone made his and Medlocke, Matejka, and Rossington’s respective solos look impossibly easy, playing over their heads and laughing with one another. Overall, Skynyrd and Frampton was incredible night of rock.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and Peter Frampton showed that they are legends of rock at the Greek Theatre  Aug. 18.