REVIEW
Who: John Fogerty
Where: Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre
When: Last night
Rating: 4.5 (out of five)
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In June, rock icon John Fogerty performed for what was only the second time in the U.K. since the early '70s.
Amazingly, Fogerty appearances have been even less frequent in Victoria: last night's sold-out performance at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre was Fogerty's debut in the Garden City. Here's hoping -- is begging too strong a word? -- it won't be his last.
The former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman is geared-up and ready to go at it again with Revival, his first new studio album in three years. He played only one song last night from the projected Oct. 2 release -- Don't You Wish It Was True -- but for the most part the Berkeley, Calif., native kept to the classics.
Thanks be to that; the string of CCR hits was almost unfathomable. Even more awe-inspiring, if you can imagine, was the gusto displayed by the 62-year-old Fogerty, whose guitar skills simply cannot be underestimated.
"Man, I'm so happy to be here," he beamed, shortly after the night's opening tune, Travelin' Band.
"Let's have some fun. I ain't here to talk, I'm here to rock 'n' roll!"
Fogerty stayed true to his word. With precious few missteps, this was a rock show unlike any other so far at the city's arena. Filled to capacity? This sold-out show was well over the boling point.
Fogerty and crew took care of the music end, but much of the credit for the unhinged atmosphere goes to the crowd, which was composed mainly of baby boomers.
They showed the healthy dose of youngsters in the mix how to party, from fights and dancing to kissin' and cussin'.
His band is terrifically solid (at some points there were five guitars on stage) but two names in particular stand out: Memphis-bred guitarist Billy Burnette and drummer Kenny Aronoff.
Burnette fronted Fleetwood Mac after Lindsay Buckingham's departure and had one of his songs covered by Ray Charles in the mid-'80s. Aronoff played with John Mellencamp from 1980 to 1996, after which time he found session work with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Willie Nelson. They were both in superb form last night, delivering steady accompaniment to the main attraction.
Aronoff in particular, was mind-blowing during two of the night's longer jams: Ramble Tamble and I Heard it Through the Grapevine.
It would have been hard for anyone to beat Fogerty on this night, however.
Not only did he sing, but he also played lead guitar and took a solo on nearly each of the 27 songs.
Fogerty has stuck to a similar set-list for well over a year --- last night's was identical to his Tuesday performance in Kelowna -- but he was hardly going through the motions.
Anyone who witnessed last night's superb, gospel-groove performance of The Midnight Special can attest to that. Amen!
Setlist:
1. Travelin' Band
2. Green River
3. Who'll Stop The Rain
4. It Came Out Of The Sky
5. Born On The Bayou
6. Lookin' Out My Backdoor
7. Lodi
8. Cotton Fields
9. Hot Rod Heart
10. I Will Walk With You
11. Ramble Tamble
12. Midnight Special
13. Bootleg
14. Deja Vu
15. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
16. Have You Ever Seen The Rain
17. Don't You Wish It Was True
18. Keep On Chooglin'
19. Down On The Corner
20. Rock And Roll Girls
21. Centerfield
22. Good Golly Miss Molly
23. Old Man Down The Road
24. Up Around The Bend
25. Fortunate Son
26. Bad Moon Rising
27. Proud Mary
