LYNYRD SKYNYRD (with Highway Band) Star Plaza Theatre / Merrillville, Indiana Saturday, December 6, 2003 Reviewed by Jim Fox  Arriving at the Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana for the rescheduled Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, I had “Sweet Home Alabama” crankin’ on my cd player. I was anticipating a great show and was eager to get to my seat.
The crowds on this night were obviously faithful and longtime fans of this legendary band judging by the sporting of their Skynyrd shirts and their freak flags a flowin’.
Many in attendance were ticket-holders of the late summer show that was originally scheduled for the Lake County Fairground and cancelled due to Gary Rossington’s health scare. All were happy that the group’s founding guitarist was back in action and feeling well enough to return to the road to to make up missed dates.
The opening act was Northwest Indiana’s own Highway Band. This was the first time I had ever seen them and they did not disappoint. The audience received them quite well and responded to their original songs. Highway Band are a hard rocking group who, in my opinion were a cross between the Black Crowes and Skynyrd themselves. They performed for 40 minutes, proving themselves to be quite excellent musicians. After a 15minute intermission, it was time for the band everyone came to see!
With lighters flickering everywhere amid chants of “Skynyrd! Skynyrd!” emanating from the crowd, the longhaired rockers took the stage by storm. The energy level was off the grid as the band fed off of the wildly enthusiastic crowd. They were in great spirits and in fine musical form as they blasted out hit after hit after hit, playing all the songs that their fans know and love.
With Gary Rossington, and Hughie Thomasson (ex-Outlaws), along with Rickie Medlocke (ex-Outlaws) providing a three guitar assault, there was newest recruit Ian Evans crunching down on bass (stepping in for the late Leon Wilkeson), Billy Powell on piano and drummer Michael Cartellone (ex-Damn Yankees) pounding out his thunderous beat.
Lead singer Johnny Van Zant was in peak performance as the band kicked out such fan favorites as –– “What’s Your Name?” “Gimme Back My Bullets”, “Down South Jukin’, “That Smell,” “Saturday Night Special,” along with a smattering of new songs from their most successful album in many years, “Vicious Cycle.” Among the standouts of the latter day material was the band’s hit from earlier this summer –– “Red, White & Blue” –– which has become a new anthem of sorts for the group.
Of course, the night could not end without the performance of “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird”. Those wrapped up the night on a very positive note as the crowd sang along with Van Zant on every word.
In all, the Skynyrd boys delivered a stellar performance and judging by the roaring applause by the sold out crowd, no one left the hall disappointed.
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