Blues On Stage - John Fogerty

John Fogerty
@ Northrop Auditorium, June 16, 1998

John Fogerty
Northrop, 6/16/98
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles.
All rights reserved

There was a 45-minute wait after the opening act Whiskeytown finished their 30-minute set of loud alternative rock before the black curtain began to rise. The lights dimmed, the sound of chirping crickets came floating over the sound system and we were greeted with a colorful backdrop painted to resemble a swamp setting complete with an alligator playing a banjo and a huge blue moon. John Fogerty had his back to the audience as he started playing the familiar chords to "Born On The Bayou." What a great start to a memorable performance.

Fogerty was very personable and carried on a pleasant conversation with the audience throughout the show as he stormed though a long, energetic and nostalgic set of classic CCR material. As Yogi Berra would say, "this was deja vu all over again."

John Fogerty
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles.
All rights reserved
We got to hear most of his hits from the old Credence days from Lodi, Suzi Q (Dale Hawkins), Lookin' Out My Back Door, Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising and Traveling Band, to his more recent songs like Centerfield and Blue Moon Swamp. He even did some of his covers like Cotton Fields and Midnight Special and the Hank Williams classic Jambalaya which fit right in with his swam pop backdrop and theme.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame a few years ago, Fogerty continues to blend the worlds of pop, rock & roll, R&B and country into a distinct sound that is as fresh today as it was over 25 years ago.

His web page can be found at: http://www.johnfogerty.com/

E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com

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Copyright © 1998 by Ray M. Stiles
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.