On a pristine Sunday summer afternoon, Tanglewood opened the doors for the final time this season, welcoming in a huge crowd excited to see rock legends John Fogerty and Steve Winwood. The lawn was quickly populated by early arrivals who took advantage of Tanglewood’s BYOB (and food) policy, which is one of the many reasons Tanglewood is a summer destination for many in New England and Eastern New York.
Promptly at 7pm, Steve Winwood took the stage with his band. The legend of Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic and solo career fame was welcomed with cheers and a full shed as he dove into the Traffic instrumental “Glad,” highlighted by Randall Bramblett’s saxophone. The Blind Faith number “Can’t Find My Way Home” was sung with as much expression and emotion as heard on the original, as Winwood referred to it, “music of a certain vintage.”
“Why Can’t we Live Together” and “I’m a Man” followed, despite some sound issues, but Winwood sailed through, a pro who’s been performing on stages since age 8. Dialed in for “Forty Thousand Headmen,” Winwood picked up the mandolin for a passionate “Back in the High Life Again,” which had Bramblett performing double duty on keys.
The final three songs of the night highlighted some of the greatest of Winwood’s extensive catalog – Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” 80s solo hit “Higher Love” and Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some Lovin’,” an outpouring of love from one of the best all-around musicians and songwriters of all time.
After a short set break, a film played as an intro for John Fogerty, appearing as his own hype-man, pumping the crowd up to his level, now that a legal battle for rights to his own songs is over. A moon rose on the screen behind the now-assembled band, who kicked off the night with “Bad Moon Rising.” The night continued with memories of Time Life classics commercials in the 90s, which often featured Creedence Clearwater Revival hits, as there were many. “Born on the Bayou” rang the greatest hits bell, as did the Woodstock-inspired “Who’ll Stop the Rain?” and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.”
Gladys Knight & the Pips’ “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” was delightful, and highlighted Chad Fogerty’s guitar skills that will keep the Fogerty name on stage for decades to come, as does multi-instrumentalist Tyler Fogerty. Papa Fogerty noted his wife Judith, who recently celebrated 35 years of marriage, with his own “Joy of My Life.” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” gave way to the big solo number peppering the merch stand, “Centerfield,” followed by “Down on the Corner,” “The Old Man Down the Road,” and the Vietnam era protest song, “Fortunate Son,” with an appropriate, protest friendly montage from the era.
Closing the set with “Coming up round the Bend,” an encore of “Lodi” and the much-hyped hit “Proud Mary” paired well, putting on an impressive show with an equally impressive band, not missing a note and playing all the hits. Years of CCR listening on PYX 106 and numerous infomercials paid off with knowing nearly every song this evening.
Steve Winwood Setlist: Glad, Can’t Find My Way Home, Why Can’t We Live Together, I’m a Man, Forty Thousand Headmen, Roll With It, Back in the High Life Again, Dear Mr. Fantasy, Higher Love, Gimme Some Lovin’
John Fogerty 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, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Joy of My Life, Fight Fire, Keep On Chooglin’, Have You Ever Seen the Rain?, Centerfield, Down on the Corner, The Old Man Down the Road, Fortunate Son
Encore: Lodi, Proud Mary
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