One of Americas greatest musical treasures is Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty. He just started another leg of his ‘Celebration Tour.” You may be asking, What is he celebrating? Earlier this year with his wife Julie’s assistance he acquired a majority interest in the worldwide publishing rights to his song catalog from Concord. This tour was in celebration of that feat.
The show started at 8:03pm with smoke bellowing about and John Fogerty standing on a small platform adjacent right to the drumkit. He played the first few chords to “Bad Moon Rising” and we were off. Also flanking John Forgerty’s right were both his sons Shane and Tyler who were also playing guitar. I thoroughly enjoyed the video screen that was his backdrop. The screen was used on various songs like “Green River,” as it’s showed video going up a never-ending stream. On the track, “Born on a Bayou,” it showed old footage of Fogerty in the swamplands. Fogerty shared the story on how Christmas a few years back he was surprised when under the Christmas tree was his old Rickenbacker guitar. That same guitar he wrote a lot of his iconic songs on. The guitar was given away by him in the early 70’s and it was a regret he had ever since. After the story he then proceeded to go into “Who’ll Stop the Rain.” A few songs later, John dug deep into the old CCR catalog and dusted a B side gem in in “Effigy” The song was only played live once before 2023. Both he and his son Shane co-lead on the song. It was a pleasure to see and hear this live. It was one of the highlights of the set for me. That song was followed by a love ballad that John penned for his wife Julie. That song was played and various images of the happy couple were shown over their 30 year plus marriage. One of the highlights to any John Fogerty show is when he runs around the stage with his baseball bat guitar playing “Centerfield.” That will never get old. Fogerty had a sax played on this tour Rob Stone who really added a lot of luster to the tracks “Rock and Roll Girls,” “Joy of my Life” and Travelin’ Band.” Fogerty added harmonica on “Rock and Roll Girls” and “Keep on Chooglin.’ Before the encore started, there a small table with a bottle of champagne next to John’s microphone stand. John then toasted to the audience in their belief getting his songs back. He quipped, “he didn’t know if he live long enough for this come to pass.” Then said, “well I guess I did outlive those bastards” which he received a rounding applause. Then the band had everyone on their seats for “Travelin’ Band” and “Proud Mary.”
The show locked in at exactly an hour and a half. When you have an extended catalog of songs like Fogerty has, there will always be some be omissions. “Susie Q” and “Long as I Can See the Light” are two immediate ones that come to mind. Even though Fogerty looks great and plays like musician’s half of his age, he is still 78. His show has been significantly reduced since the 50-year Trip tour back in 2019. He may have never sounded better, reducing the show about 20 minutes takes away at least 4 songs. That 2019 setlist was simply the gold standard. If it at all possible, Let’s hope they get the setlist back to where it once was.
Setlist:
Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Up Around the Bend (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Green River (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Born on Bayou (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Who’ll Stop the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Lookin’ Out my Backdoor (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Rock and Roll Girls
Run Through the Jungle (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Effigy (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Joy of my Life
Keep on Chooglin’ (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Have You Ever Seen the Rain? (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Centerfield
Down on the Corner (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
The Old Man Down the Road
Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Encore:
Travelin’ Band (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
*PHOTOS FROM 2019 BETHEL WOODS PERFORMANCE. NO PHOTOS WERE ALLOWED FOR THIS SHOW*
We would like to thank Steven Cahill from the Niagara Casinos for the credentials to review the show.
