I was going to see him in 2018 Riverport with ZZ Top on Father's Day, but at the last minute I balked on buying tickets. I regret that now, as that was really ZZ Top with the three original members and less wear on Fogerty. But here in 2024, Fogerty is still out there rocking. And in late spring a date was announced at the Family Arena in St. Charles. It must have been late in the process as he was playing mostly outdoor sheds and indeed Five Finger Death Punch was at Riverport on this Saturday night. But this made my dad happy as we were inside versus the outside heat. Of course on this day, the highs were in the low 80s and it would have been a nice outside show.
We got there before it started filling up and looking on Ticketmaster, it looked like there was still a lot of open seats. Once the main acts started playing, it filled up better than 90% I would say. The crowd did definitley skew a lot older than some shows I've been to. But the people to the left of us never showed, so again I had nice spacing. In the presale, I got some in the second row, stage left. The only downside was the speaker stack obstructed the view. And of the two screens, one was behind us and up to the right and the one on the other side was partially obstructed by the lighting rig.
At 7 PM, the opening act Hearty Har took the stage for six songs and thirty minutes. This was a six piece that featured Fogerty's two sons. They have an eclectic sound, but very loud. There was 60's-70's Hippie vibes, electronic music and hard rock. They weren't bad, but loud and a little hard to follow. During the set change, we noticed they peeled the logo off of the drumhead and replaced it with Johny Fogerty. This led us to correctly surmise that they were going to be Fogerty's backing band.
Next up was George Thorogood & the Destroyers. Like Joan Jett this was an act whose songs and sound I liked an was always intrigued on seeing. After the 30 minute set change, Mr. Thorogood like Jona Jett, a few weeks ago, delivered the goods. Backed by a four piece including a sax player, the first notes brought out that blues and boogie sound. During the set change, two massive racks of speakers were brought out and placed on each side. My dad noted later that Thorogood's sound and mix was better than Fogerty's, whose sounded louder and muddied. Thorogood's was sharp and clear.
Thorogood's nine song set, clocking in at around an hour was well paced and he brought his bad boy image to work with the crowd. But it was sort laughable, still running a shtick when's he's in his 70s and been doing it for 40 years. Also he cleaned up his languague, to mother-humper, and used witch instead of bitch on Cocaine Blues. Not quite the bad boy, especially considering Fogerty used the term, "sons of bitches," during his encore speech.
But the variety of blues and rock was well played. He played almost all of his well known songs, including Haircut and One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer. And he changed and ad-libbed quite a few lyrics, including in the latter to calling out Budweiser. And several shout-outs to St. Louis and Missouri. He knew where he was at and could deviate from the same show different city aspect.
After a half-hour set change, John Fogerty and his band took the stage with Bad Moon Rising a little before 9:30 for their 90 minute set. It was preceded with a video of Fogerty talking about getting his songs back. This was the reason for this tour, a celebration of Creedence songs and he mentioned it quite a few times throughout the night.
At almost 80, Fogerty still brought his engery dancing across the stage and putting his all into his songs. His voice is still pretty song, even though on some of the deeper voiced Creedence songs, he doesn't have that power he did at age 24.
Fogerty hit early with a salvo of Creedence and quick to change songs. Only on a few songs did he draw them out and jam. One of the dangers with so many hits is that running through them can make it sound like jukebox, paint-by-numbers feel. Thankfully the quick short burst of Creedence songs that's almost the point.
The middle part featured a run of lesser known songs that dragged down the feel. Most of the crowd sat for these songs. It definitley gave the highs and lows of the concert. I definitley prefer mixing and matching where there isn't such lulls. Unless going full acoustically for a run.
At one point telling a story he began with, "Way back in history. 3000 years ago...Well you know I'm quoting Chuck Berry there right?...We're practically in his back yard."
There was a few Creedence songs he didn't do. But even if he played all of Creedence's Chronicle, he'd have still missed a few songs. Only one I would have hoped to hear, was his solo Rocking All Over the World.
For highlights, definitley Cottonfields. I don't look at set lists except for set lengths sometimes or if they're artists who won't play the same set, same city same show. So that song was one I was really expecting. And of course the baseball anthem Centerfield.
He came back for the fake encore, with a champagne toast of getting his songs. And he did it by "outliving all those sons of bitches" record executives.
Overall a solid concert. Thorogood and Fogerty delivered what you wanted to hear. And as a bonus this wasn't Riverport. So only half the people trying to leave at the same time.
John Fogerty Set List
Bad Moon RisingUp Around the Bend
Green River
Born on the Bayou
Who'll Stop the Rain
Lookin' Out My Back Door
Rock and Roll Girls
Effigy
Joy of My Life
Fight Fire
It Came Out of the Sky
Long As I Can See the Light
Keep on Chooglin'
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Cotton Fields
Centerfield
Down on the Corner
The Old Man Down the Road
Fortunate Son
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Travelin' Band
Proud Mary
George Thorogood Set List
Rock PartyWho Do You Love?
Mama Talk to Your Daughter
I Drink Alone
House Rent Blues/One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer
Cocaine Blues
Gear Jammer
Get A Haircut
Bad to the Bone
Hearty Har Set List
Can't Keep WaitingCalling You Out
Scream and Shout!
Radio Man '56
Say Something
Canyon of The Banshee
Boogie Man
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