Southern rockers The Artimus Pyle Band, landed up North and shook the rafters at The Strand Theater, Lakewood, NJ, on Saturday, March 5, 2016.
Pyle, best known for his work with Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1974–77 and 1987–1991, was inducted in 2006 as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
With a repertoire of Skynryd classics including the 1974 smash, “Sweet Home Alabama,” Pyle and his current group, The Artimus Pyle Band, put on a power-driven show for an enthusastic Jersey crowd at The Strand.
In its current line-up, the APB consists of rockers and friends Brad Durden on keyboards and vocals, Jerry Lyda on guitar, Tony Black on bass, Scott Raines on guitar, and, leader, Pyle, on drums.
Performing a slew of hits including “Simple Man,” “That Smell,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” “I Know a Little,” and “Free Bird,” the band rocked The Strand from the rear of the stage all the way to the balcony, where devoted Skynyrd fans were seen joyfully dancing in the aisles.
All of the classic Skynyrd tunes heard at The Strand were driven by Pyle’s powerful and distinctive drumming — a style which helped define the legendary Skynyrd sound.
In addition to his work with APB and Skynyrd, Pyle has traveled the world, sharing the stage with such rock & roll royalty as The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, and ZZ Top, all thanks to his masterful rock drumming skills.
But behind his drum set at The Strand, Pyle — long considered the “wild man” of Lynyrd Skynyrd — sat on his stool laying down his sturdy Southern beat, just inches from his drum case featuring a bumper sticker only a select few could read: Sow Only Seeds of Love.
For more on The Artimus Pyle Band, go to artimuspyleband.com. For more information on upcoming concerts at The Strand — including The Glimmer Twins tribute to the Rolling Stones on April 2, 2016, and ABBAMANIA on April 23, 2016 — go to strand.org.
Spotlight Central. Your source for Jersey entertainment news and reviews
Love Imagery Fine art stage photography
@allyouneedisloveimagery
