John Fogerty returned to Upstate New York Tuesday night for the first time since 2019 on a bill with George Thorogood and Hearty Har at Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Arena (CMAC). The 6,500 fans, ranging in age from 30s through what looked like a lot of retirees were primed and ready for a rock party and that’s exactly what they got.
Hearty Har (fronted by Fogerty’s sons Shane and Tyler) opened with a short set of what could best be described as modern psychedelic garage rock. The band has a significant YouTube presence. The Fogerty boys clearly inherited their musical genes from dad and have honed their skills since forming in 2012. They would return to the stage as John Fogerty’s band.
“Lonesome” George Thorogood and the Destroyers, now in their 50th year, were also ready for a rock party. Though the band appeared visibly more subdued than at their New York State Fair appearance last summer, their music was performed with intensity. Their hour long set was non-stop hits, clearly inspired by many of their heroes; John Lee Hooker, Hank Williams and Bo Diddley. “Rock Party,” “Who Do You Love?” “I Drink Alone,” “Get A Haircut,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” and their ultimate bad-ass anthem “Bad To The Bone” had the crowd constantly on their feet. A huge video screen behind the band displayed colorful artistic graphics for the songs in their set. The double stack of amplifiers on either side of their stage was reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Who concerts from the 70s. Those were not there for show. Their set was one of the loudest concerts this reviewer has witnessed in a long time.
After a short set change, the video screen behind the stage lit up with a “news interview-style” introduction of John Fogerty reminiscing about his musical roots laced with memories of Creedence Clearwater Revival as a prelude to his appearance with a customary flannel shirt and blue jeans center stage to a standing ovation. The billing as “John Fogerty: The Celebration Tour” was apt and for good reason. At 79 years old and with a smile from ear to ear, he proudly announced that finally, after 55 years of turmoil and on-going legal battles with Fantasy Records and then label head Saul Zaentz, Fogerty now owns all of his music -- celebration indeed. He publicly announced that Julie, his wife of 33 years and the love of his life, was instrumental in getting this situation resolved. Years ago, with all the legal complications tormenting him, Fogerty would flatly refuse to perform any of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hits he penned, but now he was beaming.
“It took 55 years but I now own all my songs and I’m going to play ‘em all for you,” he shouted out.
Not only did Fogerty have his family with him on tour (Julie was clearly visible side-stage with cell phone in hand taking photos) but his two sons and their band were backing him up on stage. “Bad Moon Rising,” “Up Around The Bend,” “Green River,” and “Born On The Bayou” were delivered with ferocity. There was no quiver in his voice. He can still hit all the high notes.
After a short pause, he told the audience the history of the Rickenbacher guitar he was playing.
“Years ago after Creedence, I was so dejected that I gave this guitar away to some guy. This was the guitar I played at Woodstock” (in 1969.)
He explained how he came to write “Who’ll Stop The Rain” with this very guitar after Creedence appeared at that soggy festival. He held it up to show it off, proudly telling the hushed crowd how Julie had scoured the internet and with a great deal of luck, found the guitar and was able to buy it back, putting it under the Christmas tree for John. The photos taken that Christmas morning were put up on the giant monitor behind the stage to loud cheers and whistling.
“Looking Out My Back Door,” and later solo hits “Centerfield,” “The Old Man Down The Road,” and “Rock and Roll Girls” (about his daughters) led into more Creedence hits “Down On The Corner,” “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” and perhaps the ultimate protest song of the Woodstock era, “Fortunate Son.” The encore was topped off with “Traveling Band” and the song that Creedence is best known for, “Proud Mary.”
Loyal fans who have waited so many years to hear the Creedence songs performed once again left with smiles on their faces.
Setlist:
- Bad Moon Rising
- Up Around the Bend
- Green River
- Born on the Bayou
- Who’ll Stop the Rain
- Lookin’ Out My Back Door
- Rock and Roll Girls
- Night Time Is the Right Time (Roosevelt Sykes cover)
- Joy of My Life
- Fight Fire
- Keep On Chooglin’
- Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
- Centerfield
- Down on the Corner
- The Old Man Down the Road
- Fortunate Son
Encore:
- Hey Tonight / Travelin’ Band
- Proud Mary
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