CCR: We Heard It Through the Grapevine
Writers talk about the “Soundtrack of Our Lives”.
Each of us has a few genres of music that form a backing track for the picture called “My Story So Far”… and that’s where it gets a bit complicated. We grew up (or grew old – your choice), got caught up thinking we’re very mature and walked away from those formative years.
I walked back the other night into the 1970’s and was caught up to my ears in the deep swamps of yesterday. Swamp Rock that is. Creedence: The John Fogerty Show to be exact, at Fitzy’s Loganholme. Honestly, I didn’t realise how much I had missed the loud & proud, dirty – gritty, no pretensions, full-on rock.
With Mick Lindsay’s solid drumming and fancy drumstick spinning, combined with the power of the left-handed bassist Sol Freeman, it was making the water glasses move around the tables like a bad Bolivian tremor.
And why not? These guys, along with the John Lennon’s Songbook opening artist, John ‘Mouse’ Hayhoe have been ‘playing in a travellin’ band’ with gobsmacking professionalism. There was much squirming in the seats as it appeared magnetic cushions prevented the patrons from dancing. The reality was that dreaded Covid compliance thing again.
Songs rose from the murky mist of the past like… Bad Moon Rising – definitely a crowd pleaser, Suzie Q, Proud Mary, Run Through the Jungle with some red-hot harmonica playing thrown in. Midnight Special… the list goes on. This is “good ol’ boy” music, ya’ hear?
The bands’ singing, with both guitarists’ Andre Lemberg on Lead vocals, and Nathan Ward on Backup vocals (plus Sol, of course) was naturally pitch-perfect and authentically road-worn as any perpetually sell-out band should be. As John Fogarty always was in CCR.
“Creedence: The John Fogerty Show”. It’s not a tacky tribute band where yawning imitations are often classed as art. This is a celebration of some of CCR’s finest songs in Billboard’s Top 500, by a band that Rolling Stone Magazine ranked at #82 in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time – performed by some of Australia’s most professional (and humble) music road warriors.
Wherever they are playing, be that Fortunate Son (or daughter) – go see what all the fuss is about.
www.fitzysloganholme.com.au
www.101fm.com.au
Reviewed by 101FM Radio Presenter Stu Robertson
Photography by Michelle Cop (MC Photography)
