While fans of "Susie Q" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" might have been disappointed Fogerty and his band didn't take a stab at any of their famous covers, this was a show and tour meant for the songs Fogerty wrote.
From the opener "Bad Moon Rising," Fogerty ripped through eight of the nine Top 10 hits he wrote for Creedence Clearwater Revival from 1968 through 1972. Clad in a blue flannel shirt, jeans, and a bandana tied around his neck that I'd only seen cowboys and a teenager trying to hide a hickey wear, Fogerty was backed by a five-member band. The band included two of the star's sons, guitarists Shane and Tyler Fogerty. The brothers opened the evening with a set by their band Hearty Har, which played 1960s garage rock.
For the most part, the senior Fogerty and his band did a passable job of replicating the recordings. John Fogerty's voice is now less wild, more wholesome than on the albums. But even at age 78, he still has the energy and charisma to capture attention.
Unfortunately, while he was moving around the stage spryly, the crowd was dead. It was a little jarring to hear all these fast-paced, catchy ditties surrounded by a silent and seated audience that was more reminiscent of a dinner theater than a rock show. Still, they were attentive and laughing when Fogerty told stories, especially the one about his red Rickenbacker guitar.
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John Fogerty's 2010 solo show at the Hard Rock Hollywood
John Fogerty's 2010 solo show at the Hard Rock Hollywood
The highlight of the night was in the longest song, "Keep on Chooglin'," which Fogerty started by noodling with a blistering guitar solo. As the band went into psychedelic territory, Fogerty seemed to struggle with some technical difficulties with his harmonica, but he finally got the acoustics to work and choogled some amazing sounds into the microphone before slamming the harmonica to the stage floor for emphasis.
Also of interest was "Fight Fire," a song by his band before Creedence Clearwater Revival, known as the Golliwogs. It sounded less like the Southern rock jamboree sound CCR is known for and more like a band influenced by the Sixties British Invasion.
After an uneven version of "Fortunate Son," Fogerty poured himself some Champagne and toasted his good fortune. All these years later, he finally owns his art again. "I outlived those sons of bitches," he said as he sipped from the Champagne flute.
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"
- "Fight Fire"
- "Run Through the Jungle"
- "Effigy"
- "Joy of My Life"
- "Keep On Chooglin'"
- "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"
- "Down on the Corner"
- "The Old Man Down the Road"
- "Fortunate Son"
Encore:
- "Centerfield"
- "Proud Mary"