Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsJuly 3rd 2006
John Fogerty
A year ago I went to see my father’s youth hero, John Fogerty, with him for the first time and he really impressed me a lot. Again I was really looking forward to seeing him again. A really prominent fact was that the audience was a mix of younger people and people who had followed him from the beginning. By this fact we can say that Fogerty still addresses all kind of ages, which can not be said of all artists from the ‘70s.
John and his brother, Tom Fogerty, formed the band in El Cerrito, California in the late 1950s as Tommy Fogerty and the Blue Velvets. The name was changed to The Golliwogs in the mid 1960s, but the band remained unpopular. By 1968, things were starting to pick up. The band released its first album, the self-titled Creedence Clearwater Revival, and also had their first hit single, ‘Susie Q’. Other hit singles of Creedence Clearwater Revival were ‘Proud Mary, Fortunate Son, Up Around The Bend, Green River, Down On The Corner, Travelin' Band, Lookin' Out My Back Door, Bad Moon Rising, and Who'll Stop The Rain’. Tensions flared in 1971, causing John's brother, Tom, to leave the band. Mardi Gras turned out to be their last album as Fogerty bought himself out of his contract and officially left the band. John Fogerty began a solo career, originally under the name the Blue Ridge Rangers for his 1973 debut, on which he played all of the instruments and covered others' hits. Fogerty's solo career emerged in full force with 1985's Centerfield, which went to the top of the charts and included a Top Ten hit in ‘The Old Man Down The Road’ . The follow-up was ‘Eye of the Zombie’ in 1986, which was less successful. In 1993, his group Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Fogerty refused to perform with his former bandmates, thus claiming his revenge against them for having sided with Fantasy Records in his disputes with the company. He retired until returning with 1997's ‘Blue Moon Swamp’.He had a very successful tour in 1998 in the United States and Europe. He released a live album from that tour titled ‘Premonition’.In 2004 John Fogerty released ‘Deja Vu (All Over Again)’. Rolling Stone wrote: "The title track is Fogerty's indictment of the Iraq war as another Vietnam, a senseless squandering of American lives and power." On the album, Fogerty succinctly squeezed ten songs into only 34 minutes. A new studio album is planned for 2006 release. On June 13th 2006 was released a live dvd named ‘The Long Road Home - In Concert’ including live versions of his biggest solo hits and hits of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Music
The show started off with a big video screen on which John’s (vocals) history from Creedence Clear Water till now was shown. It ended with Bill Clinton introducing the best musician in history, John Fogerty! Not even a second after that Fogerty’s band got onstage and the audience welcomed them with a big applause. After a little instrumental intro by the band John (vocals) revealed himself to the audience in a big ray of light. With a big smile he started of with ‘Travelin' Band’ followed by ‘Green River’. Never have I seen an artist of this calibre; John voice was still as clear and pure as it had always been and without any kind of troubles he squeezed low and higher parts out of his throat. Big hits like ‘Who’ll stop the rain’, ‘Born on the Bayou’, my personal favourite ‘Heard it through the grapevine’ and many more where played with a lot of pleasure by as well the band as Fogerty himself. After the last tunes of ‘Fortunate Son’ he thanks the audience and left the stage for the first time. A striking point was that John Fogerty switched guitars after every song. A beautiful backdrop was hung up with a lake by a glittering moon and after 5 minutes of loud screaming they came back with ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’. His closed the set with ‘Proud Mary’, leaving the fans extremely satisfied behind. The choice of Heineken Music Hall to play in was a very good one; the sound in this venue is very clear, so every word, as well spoken as sung, can be followed and the music can be well heard.
The show started off with a big video screen on which John’s (vocals) history from Creedence Clear Water till now was shown. It ended with Bill Clinton introducing the best musician in history, John Fogerty! Not even a second after that Fogerty’s band got onstage and the audience welcomed them with a big applause. After a little instrumental intro by the band John (vocals) revealed himself to the audience in a big ray of light. With a big smile he started of with ‘Travelin' Band’ followed by ‘Green River’. Never have I seen an artist of this calibre; John voice was still as clear and pure as it had always been and without any kind of troubles he squeezed low and higher parts out of his throat. Big hits like ‘Who’ll stop the rain’, ‘Born on the Bayou’, my personal favourite ‘Heard it through the grapevine’ and many more where played with a lot of pleasure by as well the band as Fogerty himself. After the last tunes of ‘Fortunate Son’ he thanks the audience and left the stage for the first time. A striking point was that John Fogerty switched guitars after every song. A beautiful backdrop was hung up with a lake by a glittering moon and after 5 minutes of loud screaming they came back with ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’. His closed the set with ‘Proud Mary’, leaving the fans extremely satisfied behind. The choice of Heineken Music Hall to play in was a very good one; the sound in this venue is very clear, so every word, as well spoken as sung, can be followed and the music can be well heard.
Performance
That John Fogerty was having a blast on stage was obviously clear. When introducing songs he made a lot of jokes towards the audience and involved them a lot in the show. During ‘Déjà Vu’ the video screen was dropped again and Fogerty explained that this song was for families. It was written when inspired by his time in the army during the Vietnam war (and like he said: it was bad) and by the fact that it is sadly happening all over again. A movie about the war victims, families left behind, sadness and in the end John with his own daughter was played during this song. It made quite an impression to both me and the audience to see so much grieve and it makes you realise that it really is happening al over again, causing a lot of grieve and unhappiness in the world. That John is very grateful that he still has so many fans after such a difficult period was shown by the fact that he intervened a lot with the audience. He even took the time to explain a couple of accords when a fan at the front row asked for it. Also he was smiling all the time and giving us his very best and thanking us all the time. The band had a great time too and made a lot of fun among each other and with Fogerty. Two times they formed a line up together and walked while playing their song up to the front of the stage. The lightshow superb as well; very clear and a mix off all colours followed up by each other , where yellow stripes seemed to be the absolute favourite. It suited the show very well. The man may be over 60, he still knows how to rock and perform. Never have I seen such an incredible and inspiring show!!
That John Fogerty was having a blast on stage was obviously clear. When introducing songs he made a lot of jokes towards the audience and involved them a lot in the show. During ‘Déjà Vu’ the video screen was dropped again and Fogerty explained that this song was for families. It was written when inspired by his time in the army during the Vietnam war (and like he said: it was bad) and by the fact that it is sadly happening all over again. A movie about the war victims, families left behind, sadness and in the end John with his own daughter was played during this song. It made quite an impression to both me and the audience to see so much grieve and it makes you realise that it really is happening al over again, causing a lot of grieve and unhappiness in the world. That John is very grateful that he still has so many fans after such a difficult period was shown by the fact that he intervened a lot with the audience. He even took the time to explain a couple of accords when a fan at the front row asked for it. Also he was smiling all the time and giving us his very best and thanking us all the time. The band had a great time too and made a lot of fun among each other and with Fogerty. Two times they formed a line up together and walked while playing their song up to the front of the stage. The lightshow superb as well; very clear and a mix off all colours followed up by each other , where yellow stripes seemed to be the absolute favourite. It suited the show very well. The man may be over 60, he still knows how to rock and perform. Never have I seen such an incredible and inspiring show!!
Unfortunately we cannot show you any photos of the show. We did not have any chance to get our photographer in with all the main press knocking at the label's door.
Setlist
00. intro (video)
01. Travelin' Band
02. Green River
03. Who'll Stop The Rain
04. It Came Out Of The Sky
05. Lodi
06. Lookin' Out My Backdoor
07. Commotion
08. Born On The Bayou
09. Cotton Fields
10. Almost Saturday Night
11. Ramble Tamble
12. Midnight Special
13. Bootleg
14. Déjà Vu
15. Heard It Through The Grapevine
16. Have You Ever Seen The Rain
17. Rock And Roll Girls
18. Sweet Hitch-Hiker
19. Long As I Can See The Light
20. Keep On Chooglin'
21. Hey Tonight
22. Down On The Corner
23. Centerfield
24. Up Around The Bend
25. Old Man Down The Road
26. Bad Moon Rising
27. Fortunate Son
Encore
28. Rockin' All Over The World
29. Proud Mary
00. intro (video)
01. Travelin' Band
02. Green River
03. Who'll Stop The Rain
04. It Came Out Of The Sky
05. Lodi
06. Lookin' Out My Backdoor
07. Commotion
08. Born On The Bayou
09. Cotton Fields
10. Almost Saturday Night
11. Ramble Tamble
12. Midnight Special
13. Bootleg
14. Déjà Vu
15. Heard It Through The Grapevine
16. Have You Ever Seen The Rain
17. Rock And Roll Girls
18. Sweet Hitch-Hiker
19. Long As I Can See The Light
20. Keep On Chooglin'
21. Hey Tonight
22. Down On The Corner
23. Centerfield
24. Up Around The Bend
25. Old Man Down The Road
26. Bad Moon Rising
27. Fortunate Son
Encore
28. Rockin' All Over The World
29. Proud Mary
Rating
Music 10
Performance 10
Sound 10
Light 10
Total 10
{jos_sb_discuss:17}
Music 10
Performance 10
Sound 10
Light 10
Total 10
{jos_sb_discuss:17}
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