DATE: Sunday, June 22, 1997                 TAG: 9706230187

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Music review

SOURCE: BY JEFF MAISEY, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   62 lines

LYNYRD SKYNYRD REKINDLES SOUTHERN ROCK SONGWRITER PAUL RODGERS' NEW WORKS ALSO GET A GREAT RESPONSE.

Stars and bars and beer.

Does anyone remember the 1970s?

Friday night at the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater, two of rock music's biggest acts performed their classic trademarks and at the same time presented some new offerings.

It has been 20 years since guitarist Steve Gaines and singer/ songwriter Ronnie VanZant died in the plane crash. Ten years ago, the surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd re-formed under the band's original name with VanZant's brother, Johnny, of .38 Special, fronting the group.

Today's lineup is an all-star cast of Southern rock's finest, with the Outlaws' Hughie Thompson on guitar, joined by Blackfoot's Ricky Medlocke, to provide an inexhaustible barrage of blistering lead guitar Southern boogie.

Lynyrd Skynyrd was the greatest crop of music the South has ever yielded, and the band had no problem recapturing the spirit.

``We Ain't Much Different'' was accurate for sure, as Skynyrd opened with a new tune from its album ``20.'' Guitar solos ruled supreme on the straightforward, nothin' fancy explosive sound of ``Saturday Night Special.''

The crowd loved it.

The headband-wearing VanZant boogie-woogied on ``What's Your Name'' as the band played with note-for-note precision. The rock predators pounced on a rarely performed ``On the Hunt'' that only true fans would recognize.

It was a fantastic feast of musical meat and potatoes.

Medlocke and VanZant combined for a fantastic vocal duet on ``You Got That Right.'' A nearly full moon rose behind the crowded lawn section as Lynyrd Skynyrd oozed a low-covering blue fog on ``Voodoo Lake'' before striking a familiar chord on ``That Smell.''

``Sweet Home Alabama'' and ``Free Bird'' brought down the house. Big surprise.

Legendary singer/songwriter Paul Rodgers opened his set with the classic hit, ``Can't Get Enough.''

With a new album out, Rodgers was eager to display some of his new material like ``Saving Grace'' and the Bad Company-sounding ``All I Want is You.''

Though unfamiliar to the audience, the new songs received a great response.

``Feel Like Makin' Love,'' from the ``Straight Shooter'' album, was much weaker musically than with the original band.

Positioned behind the piano, Rodgers and the rhythm section perfectly executed ``Running with the Pack.'' The lead guitarist, however, needs to go back and listen to the old albums. He blew it.

Sticking with the classic hits that made him famous, Rodgers performed the powerful ``Bad Company'' to the delight of the crowd.

``Shooting Star'' sent the reminiscing fans into euphoria, showering the band with applause. He then returned to his glory days with the band Free, with the power chords of ``All Right Now'' sounding as fresh as ever.

So much for the unoriginal-sounding originals of blues rockin' Corey Stevens. Vocally, he was an Eric Clapton double. But as a guitarist, Stevens fell far short of the Stevie Ray Vaughan brilliance he was trying to imitate. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

CONCERT

Lynyrd Skynyrd with Paul Rodgers and Corey Stevens, Friday at the

GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater

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