Still Flying Free: Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Outlaws Continue to Inspire Five Decades On

Photos and Words by Scott Roos

Southern rock ain’t just a genre - it’s damn near a gospel. And on Friday night at Saskatoon's Sasktel Centre, The Outlaws and Lynyrd Skynyrd delivered poignant musical sermons. Both bands stood tall on stage, guitars slung low, channeling the spirits of their fallen brothers with conviction and soul. It wasn’t just a show. It was a living, breathing tribute to a half-century of grit, sweat, and harmony-laced fire.

Opening with the classic “There Goes Another Love Song,” The Outlaws came out swinging- no hesitation, no rust. With founding member Henry Paul front and center -decades deep into this game yet showing no signs of slowing - this lineup of Outlaws was every bit as deadly as its legacy demands. The true surprise was the four-guitar attack, anchored by Paul himself and joined by Jeff Aulich, Jimmy Dormire, and Henry Paul IV (aka "Little" Hank). The harmonic layering on tracks like “Hurry Sundown” and “Stick Around for Rock and Roll” wasn’t just tight - it was surgical.

The set moved at a steady clip, but the band really found its pocket on “Born to Be Bad” and the emotional gut-punch of “Grey Ghost,” a heartfelt tribute to Ronnie Van Zant that felt deeply personal. And of course, “Freeborn Man” brought the house down with dueling solos that felt more like conversation than competition.

Still, for The Outlaws, the night’s undisputed climax came with the closing epic, “Green Grass & High Tides.” It was eight to ten minutes of peak Southern rock ecstasy, every guitar voice having its say, winding in and out like a battle hymn. This wasn’t a band resting on old laurels. It was a band with history in its bones and fire in its blood.

However, the moment Skynyrd took the stage, you could feel the gravity shift ever so slightly. 2025 marks the band’s 50th anniversary, and the absence of Gary Rossington - one of Skynyrd’s last original members, who passed in 2023 - hung heavy in the air. But rather than mourning, the band honored their fallen brother the only way they knew how: by keeping the songs alive.

From “Workin’ for MCA” through “Gimme Back My Bullets,” the current lineup - led by vocal wizard Johnny Van Zant and the guitar picking of Rickey Medlocke - played with reverence and rage. Damon Johnson filled Rossington’s shoes with class, while Michael Cartellone and Robbie Harrington anchored the rhythm section with lockstep precision.

The dedication of “Tuesday’s Gone” to Rossington was an emotional moment . The cell phones lit up accordingly during this fitting tribute. But the one-two closer of “Sweet Home Alabama” and the inevitable encore, “Free Bird,” pushed things into near-religious territory. When that slide solo hit, you could practically see grown men blinking back tears (I know I was).

To sum it up, on this night, it wasn’t about whether the members were all original. With both bands experiencing their fair share of tragedy and loss, having a complete original lineup on either front is just not possible. The night, in its entirety, then, was about the brilliance of the music - and the legacy - being treated with respect and passion. The Outlaws proved they’re still a musical force, not just a name on a tour poster. And Lynyrd Skynyrd showed that the flame, though passed down, still burns bright.

This wasn’t just a concert. It was a love letter to Southern rock - and one hell of a night to be alive.