Get ready to rock!
Whiskey River pays tribute to the Ronnie Van Zandt-era of Lynyrd Skynyrd on Friday at 8 p.m. Their concert opens the 2024 River's Edge Summer Series, and is at Riverview Park in downtown Independence. Cool Change, a Portland-based 80's cover band, opens for Whiskey River, beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Submitted photo.
One of the best bands in the country - Whiskey River - pays tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd on Friday at Riverview Park. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.
Whiskey River formed more than 40 years ago and is still going strong. They specialize in performing songs from the band’s Ronnie Van Zandt (RVZ) era.
Standing in for Van Zandt is Rob Oxford, who joined Whiskey River seven years ago. He is only the third lead singer in the band’s history.
Band member Bill Majkut took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us. His answers follow:
Why pay tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, and specifically the Ronnie Van Zandt-era?
Majkut: The RVZ-era of Skynyrd was/is the music that is timeless. They had all the radio hits and are still being played all over radio and satellite stations
Any close encounters with Lynyrd Skynyrd, or any of its members? What was the feedback like?
In 2006 we did a show with Artimus Pyle. He was the RVZ-era drummer that also survived the plane crash that killed (Van Zandt), Steve and Cassie Gaines and four others. Artimus was very gracious, funny and excited to be playing this music again with such a strong band.
(Pyle) acknowledged and thanked us for keeping the RVZ-era Skynyrd music alive for all these years.
Has Whiskey River ever played the Riverfront concert series before? If so, what do you remember about the venue from past performances?
No, but we are definitely looking forward to it. We actually have three dates in a row in Central Oregon. The following week (July 20) we will also be at Harefest in Canby.
You’ve put a lot of time and effort into learning details about all things Lynyrd Skynyrd. What did you learn about the band that surprised you, and how does that translate into your performance?
These guys were extremely intelligent musicians. Every part of every song is deliberate. Al Kooper was their first producer. One of his most memorable remarks is about how well rehearsed they were. They’d go into the studio and no matter how many takes Al would want them to do, they’d always play it the same way - even live. That is extremely rare.
Whiskey River formed 40-plus years ago and is still going strong. Why is the music of Skynyrd timeless? And why has Whiskey River enjoyed such a long run?
Skynyrd fans are a different group of people. Our fan base runs from 7 to 70-plus years old. We think it’s because of the poetry of RVZ’s lyrics and the outstanding talent of their musicianship.
The messages in RVZ's lyrics are extremely powerful. They speak to the common human condition of friendship and brotherhood: “Whiskey bottle, brand new car, oak tree - you’re in my way.” Now…, isn’t that a message you want everyone you love to truly understand?
Where is Whiskey River based, and how did that influence the decision to pay tribute to Skynyrd?
We are based out of the Seattle area. When we started this thing no one was doing tribute bands, with the exception of Randy Hanson (Jimi Hendrix). We are the second longest running tribute band in the world. Right behind Randy.
We started this before the band out there touring under the Skynyrd name restarted in 1988. We did it only out of our love for the music. We are all about the music.
