30 May 1997 Toronto

When I made my way to my seat in the seventh row at Maple Leaf Gardens as a thirteen year old back in 1970, I only had the vaguest idea what was going to happen to me. Yes I was an avid CCR fan, but I had never been to a rock and roll show before. By the time John, Tom, Doug and Stu had cooked there way through a string of all my favorite songs, and then run off the stage without an encore, I was left with this insatiable appetite for MORE! I never got it that night, but finally, after all these years, I got my wish. John Fogerty delivered!

The show started when Tom Wilson, of Hamilton band "Junkhouse" plugged in his guitar and stepped through a very entertaining solo set of down and dirty blues based rock. The appreciative crowd had to laugh when he joked that he wouldn't string us along for too long, since he was well aware that we were all waiting for "the voice of God", who was getting ready backstage.

When the lights went down, and the crickets started chirping, signaling the start of the feature presentation, you could feel the electricity of anticipation peaking. The spotlights came on, and with the first notes of Born on the Bayou, the applause roared back at the stage. It was Blue Moon Swamp time! Green River of course, invoked the same enthusiastic response, and I could see smiles all around as I checked out my friends. John then stopped for a minute to greet the crowd, and then launched into a beautiful version of Lodi, followed by Lookin' Out My Back Door. The show really found it's gear when they kicked into Susie Q, and I Put a Spell On You. The notes sizzled off John's guitar and I felt myself getting dizzy with excitement (or was it the Jack Daniels?). Anyway, by this time, the master had the crowd just where he wanted them, so he decided to introduce us to some of his new stuff, off Blue Moon Swamp.

Now I'm sure that there were many in the audience, like myself who hadn't heard a lick of the new stuff, but this didn't seem to matter at all. The mix was crisp, and you could hear every word that John sang. The dude on the sound board did, however, make his one error in judgment at this point, shaking the wax in many a fan's ear loose when he gave the volume slider an an extra crank at the climax of Bring it Down To Jellyroll. I'm pretty sure that everyone loved Southern Streamline as much as I did on that first listen. John then went back to the CCR well.

The show proceeded along the same course as the set list for the Chicago shows. The band played all the same songs. Unfortunately I can't remember all the details, because by this time the music really had its hooks in me, and I couldn't stop dancing. I was riveted to the spot, however, when things slowed down for the bluesy Hundred and Ten In The Shade. This song simply blew me away! Next up was a fine rendition of Working On A Building, with some nice dobro from John.

He then stopped to talk about his wife Julie and how he had written a love song for her. "As you probably know, I don't write many love songs... actually," he said smiling, "this is it!". Beauty. The next few songs put a charge into the audience again, with some fine picking in Big Train, the baseball bat guitar in Centerfield, and the head-bob inducing Down On The Corner.

It was about this time that I decided to maneuver my way up to the front, for a closer look. A minute later I was about ten feet from Fogerty, watching that precision string bending of his, and of course, blissfully bopping away! The next song to blow me away was Old Man Down The Road. John really leaned in to it and scorched his way through this one - a memory that will be forever imprinted in my mind! Grapevine lit things up too, again with some extra fine guitar work from John.

By the time he was going through his passionate repetitions at the end of Fortunate Son, I was simply frazzled! Then with a smile and a wave and a thank you, they were heading off.

After a couple of minutes of hootin' and hollerin' from us fans though, they were back. I stared in a daze as they played Proud Mary and then powered their way through Traveling Band.

This was IT! The "MORE!" I had waited twenty seven years to see! Yes. Now, over those years I've seen many excellent rock'n'roll shows, but it would be extremely difficult for me to say that any one of those shows was better than this one. I know only too well that I'll probably never get to see such a masterful performance in such an intimate setting again. I will always treasure these memories.

John seemed very relaxed, and was in a rather jovial mood all night as he chatted up the audience between songs. At one point he remarked "I haven't seen you for 27 years...thanks for sticking around!" At another point he related that he was having a lot of fun taking his music on the road again. "I was born to play!" he said to the appreciative crowd. He seemed genuinely touched when someone in the audience sent him a belated birthday greeting, and then the rest of the crowd chimed in with their wishes. I thought this was too cool since I was there having my own 40th birthday celebration. What a night!

In closing, I'd just like to add that this edition of the John Fogerty band is top notch. Especially the rhythm section of Kenny Aronoff and Bob Glaub (sorry Doug and Stu, I love you guys too!).

If this show comes to your town, don't miss it!

Gunnar Rynnimeri