Long overdue review of one of the best shows I’ve seen all year, by the American singer/songwriter I’d consider second only to Springsteen. (There–that oughtta start a flame war.)
Fogerty was smoking from the second he hit the stage, spearheading a serious band that included Billy Burnette on guitar, sensational fiddle player Jason Mowery, James Pennebaker on pedal steel, and Oren Waters as one of the backup vocalists.
A scorching fiddle opened the set, then “Hey Tonight” kicked in, with a BIG sound. Fogerty still bounces around like a kid and looks like he’s having the time of his life.
Right off the bat, Santos’ gutbucket bass had the crowd up and dancing. After “Green River,” “Susie Q” featured some updated, rocked-up solos as Fogerty switched from his blue guitar to a candy apple red, then used yet another guitar for “When Will I Be Loved.” Interesting note: you don’t often hear a male singer covering a female singer’s trademark song; it’s usually the other way around. Fogerty is real smart.
The fiddle highlighted “Looking Out My Back Door, then the guitars flexed their muscles on “Down the Road I Go,” stretching out the solos. Billy Burnette really sizzled up “Ramble Tamble;” the recorded version is tame compared to his rendition. “Just As Long As You Love Me” followed, done Johnny Cash/Buck Owens style, with pedal steel guitar.
Fogerty peppered his set with familiar crowd favorites; “Midnight Special” followed, then “Back Home Again. “ “Big Train from Memphis,” from the Blue Moon Swamp album, took off from the original version like a rocket, Mowery’s fiddle doing train impersonations. For “Keep on Chooglin’,” Fogerty choogled on harmonica, and people boogied in the aisles. Springsteen wasn’t there to duet with him on “Have You Ever Seen The Rain,” so the crowd took his part and sang along.
Next up: the gospel-sounding “Working on A Building,” and the singing was sanctified, all right. “Pretty Woman” followed– a great choice. “Haunted House” was memorable for James Pennebaker’s pedal steel work.
Cleverly, Fogerty doles out the biggies, then slips in a non-original or at least a lesser-known Fogerty tune: first “Born on the Bayou,” then Rick Nelson’s “Garden Party.” I’m sure he chose that song for its message; the man must be sick to death of having every audience for the last 40 years shouting “Proud Mary!” at him.
He followed “Comin’ Down the Road” with “Down on the Corner,” then let loose a machinegun burst: “Centerfield,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “and Old Man Down the Road”—at which point a five-man guitar lineup took the front apron and the audience went berserk.
For an encore we got “Fortunate Son” and “Good Golly Miss Molly,” a perfect song for Fogerty— in fact, I wish he’d done the whole Detroit Medley of “Jenny Take A Ride,” “C. C. Rider,” and “Devil With A Blue Dress On.” Of course, “Proud Mary” had to be the finale. I wonder if he’ll ever be able to get away with leaving it off a set list? I for one would’ve liked to hear more from Blue Moon Swamp… but when your fans are stuck in the ‘70s, I guess you gotta give the people what they want.
The Blue Ridge Rangers Band:
John Fogerty-Guitar, Lead Vocals
Jason Mowery-Fiddle/Mandolin David Santos/Bass
Matt Nolen-Keyboards, Guitar
Kenny Aronoff-Drums
Billy Burnette-Guitar
Hunter Perrin-Guitar
James Pennebaker-Pedal Steel
Buddy Miller-Guitar (*Special guest South Street and selected dates)
Jodie Windal-Kennedy-Vocals
Oren Waters-Vocals
