26 Jul 1997 Helsinki

Barely two months ago, John Fogerty's place in history was secure. Numerous gold discs, inauguration in the Hall of Fame, and an acknowledged influence on everyone from U2 and REM to thousands of honky tonk and cabaret singers worldwide. Yet that influence, and his vivid illustrations of contemporary America, seemed frozen in another era, like Watergate, Woodstock or even Huck and Jim on the Mississippi...

Rumours of a comeback filtered through even to the oases of the British music press. Starved for so long of new material, we could even forgive their grudging reviews of Blue Moon Swamp. But after listening to it, I was still uncertain. The tempo was gentle, even sentimental. John clearly delighted in domestic life with his young family. Clinton and the California government need not fear his criticism as Nixon and Reagan did in the 1960s. Southern Streamline and Walking in a Hurricane rocked like like the old Creedence, but some of the album strayed close to AOR. Your intrepid reporter hesitated momentarily, then headed for the airline sales office. I had to see Fogerty live, even if he now sounded like Fogelberg...

I needn't have worried. This concert wasn't just a landmark event. It was a fast and furious show, with an energy and emotion that few other performers could have matched. From the first chirping crickets of Born on the Bayou, to drummer Kenny Aronoff's somersault from the stage that climaxed Travelling Band, the boys sparkled through a two-hour plus set of hits, forgotten classics like Working on a Building, and the surprisingly lively yet intimate acoustic selections from Blue Moon Swamp. Bassist Bob Glaub reproduced those Creedence lines superbly, while guitarists Johnny Lee Schell and Michael Canipe showed a deft touch on tambourine for the slower numbers.

Suzi Q segued neatly into I Put a Spell on You, John and the band visibly growing in confidence as the crowd danced and surged forward. Pouting and duck-walking to the stage edges, he expertly stepped up the tempo, and all of Scandinavia seemed to join in on the Midnight Sun Special. Mid-set, John explained that his "favourite part of the whole shenanigans" was his tribute to wife Julie, Joy of my Life. Apparently Julie likes to dance on their coffee table, but she would have struggled to match the band's exuberance in this show. Incidentally - John is as versatile on dobro as all his other instruments. Spine-chilling!

The home run leg began with Centerfield and Down on the Corner, 15.000 Roosters and Blinkies helping out the Poorboys on a series of choruses. By now the familiar props were everywhere - the baseball bat guitar, that amazing vinyl amp. from Woodstock, and every illegal smoker in the Hartwall Areena joining in on Long as I can see the Light. I heard it through the grapevine that John doesn't hit the high notes any more, but this version was still superb. The much-loved hits - Rising, Fortunate Son and encores of Proud Mary and Travelling Band - completed the night's show, leaving the Finnish audience and at least two mad Irishmen exhausted but happy. Fogerty is back and he is BETTER than ever. Dublin here we come!

Many thanks to Jukka Leino for his help with this article. Kiitos!

Review by Mika Rekonen