Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd: Rock and Rebels Concert Review

Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd played to a sold-out crowd at Darien Lake, NY on July 14. Since everyone wants to know how the concert was, I'll cut right to the chase: It was Awesome!

As I sit down to write a concert review, the old saying, "People remember feelings, not facts" comes to mind. So forgive me if this isn't exactly factually accurate. What matters is: Kid Rock and Lynryd Skynyrd are amazing!

After a brief set by a warm-up band- I don't know who- Lynryd Skynyrd took the stage. They sounded great, they looked great, they put on a great show!

The Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Darien Lake/Darien Center was packed. As soon as Lynyrd Skynyrd took the stage, the PAC turned into a 15,000 person sing-along. Everyone was singing and dancing like crazy. It was really more like a huge party than a concert.

Lynyrd Skynyrd did all the favs: "What's Your Name", "Gimme Three Steps", "Saturday Night Special", "That Smell", "I Know a Little", "Call Me the Breeze", and (of course!) "Sweet Home Alabama". Like I said, the crowd sang and danced through the entire set.

There were probably more songs, but I don't remember. Anyway, when Lynyrd Skynyrd walked off the stage the crowd hooted and hollered, "Freebird!" until Lynyrd Skynyrd came back. "Whoa-whoa- whoa-oa- whoa! And this bird you cannot change... Won't you fly high, freebird?" The crowd went nuts!

Lynyrd Skynyrd was flyin' high at Darien Lake, indeed!

As if that weren't enough, Kid Rock took the stage next. I have to say, Kid Rock knows his crowd. Darien Lake is in the middle of seemingly endless cow pastures. So instead of his ghetto pimp gear, Kid Rock wore blue jeans and one of his own concert t-shirts. (And he looked good!)

I can't even remember what Kid Rock opened with. I know he did "Son of Detroit", "Cowboy", "Wastin' Time", "All Summer Long", "Picture", and "You Never Met a Motherf***er Like Me". He also did some MoTown- "Different Strokes for Different Folks"- and Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever". I can't remember all the songs now. Anyway...

"Picture" was cool because it opened with a sax solo. (Wow!) Then a woman- no one knew who, most likely one of his backup singers- joined him on stage for the duet. It was really good! In the back of my mind I couldn't help but think that Kid Rock could have done the duet with the crowd. (Smile.) The crowd was singing that much!

The real highlight of the night was Kid Rock's especially soulful delivery of "Amen". Oh my God! You had to be there! (If you don't know the song, click on the link for the video.) Now imagine Kid Rock singing it live, with a gentle intensity. Imagine 15,000 people holding their arms up, swaying, and singing the word "amen" along with him. Truly amazing. That's a feeling that stays with you.

I'm not sure if it was before or after "Amen" that Kid Rock had us turn to someone we didn't know and greet them. Good idea! I had been singing and dancing with these people for two hours already!

If you have the chance to see Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd: Rock and Rebels Concert, GO! Bring your friends, bring your family- it's a great time!