Classic rock was alive and well as CMAC hosted their final concert of the season on September 5. John Fogerty and Steve Winwood would share the stage in what was an all out parade of beloved hits.
The mortality of our musical heroes is as clear as ever. In just the past couple of weeks, from the same stage, Brandi Carlile paid tribute to Dolly Parton days before her passing. Days later, Jerry Garcia was celebrated with a Symphonic concert, which obviously included the memories of the more recent departures of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. So it carried a little extra weight watching the 78-year-old Winwood and 81-year-old Fogerty command the CMAC stage on Saturday night. Neither was just mailing it in, these are artists with more to give musically, even if it is just rehashing the classics.
Both Fogerty and Winwood were extending their legacies to the next generation. Winwood’s band included his daughter Lily on backing vocals and percussion. Fogerty was flanked by his two sons on guitars, all watched by his wife who visibly sat just off stage the whole set.
Winwood took the stage first, cramming in a hefty career retrospective and showcasing his immense musical talent in just under an hour. Set-closing “Gimme Some Lovin'” was released by the Spencer Davis Group exactly 60 years ago! He kicked it off with the jazzy Traffic instrumental “Glad,” that had him bopping behind the piano. From there the set list jumped between his solo, Traffic and Spencer Davis hits, while Winwood moved from guitar to organ to mandolin and back around again. Every tune was a portion of the crowd’s favorite, with standing O’s popping up between each one. And the set was merely scratching the surface of possibilities from his catalog. Some microphone tech issues didn’t help matters, but it was also clear his voice was running a little ragged at times. Still, distinctly Steve and a thrill to hear. “Roll With It” extended into a bopping B3 and saxophone coda that rode a nice wave of calypso rhythms. “Dear Mr. Fantasy” gave Winwood a chance to show off some youthful verve with a blistering guitar solo.
As he ceded the stage to his contemporary, John Fogerty, the blistering guitar solos would continue. As would the recognizable rock classics.
The headlining set started with a bit of an explanation, by way of a short video presentation before the band would take the stage. A quick highlight reel gave way to a message straight from Fogerty himself, explaining how he just had a milestone birthday and with the help of his wife, won the rights to his Creedence Clearwater Revival catalog after many years of litigation. So this show, he explained, was a celebration of both. He was proud to be the one to decide the songs’ legacy before he too passes away.
Then with some cracks of thunder and flashes of lightning, a full moon rose on the screen and the band took their spots on stage, kicking into “Bad Moon Rising,” followed in quick succession by ” Up Around the Bend” and “Green River.” “I just got my songs back and I’m gonna do every one of em!” Fogerty cried. Not quite, but he wasn’t messing around. There couldn’t be a CCR or even classic rock fan alive who would be disappointed with the set list.
He strapped on his Rickenbacker guitar which he explained he bought in 1969, played it at Woodstock, and soon after wrote “Who’ll Stop the Rain” which they then played in front of Woodstock crowd footage. The history lesson continued when they polished off “Fight Fire,” a song from his pre-CCR band called the Golliwogs, which had son Tyler wildly gyrating while shaking the maracas and singing, British Invasion style. The energy remained high with “Keep On Chooglin’,” Fogerty tearing into his guitar, even pulling out some metal-style finger tapping before both his sons joined in a triple threat Fogerty family jam. His vocals, guitar prowess, and active stage presence were impressive at any age, but particularly at 81 years. He was clearly having a blast and enjoying the opportunity to take his music for another ride after a long time away.
Before the encore, Fogerty would sanctify the celebration with a toast and a quick drink before closing it out with a couple more unmistakable classics (how many can one man have?) “Lodi” and “Proud Mary,” the latter he had explained in the opening monologue, was the first song he wrote for CCR, scrawling out the title in a small notebook he carried back in 1967. “Gimme Some Lovin'” might have been playing on a radio nearby.
Setlists
Steve Winwood
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, Dear Mr. Fantasy, Higher Love, Gimme Some Lovin’
John Fogerty
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, Long as I Can See the Light, Centerfield, Down on the Corner, The Old Man Down the Road, Fortunate Son
Encore: Lodi, Proud Mary
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