On This Day in History

On this date in history, 6/13/1998, I got to see John Fogerty for free! At the previous night’s show at Deer Creek (the 10th Anniversary Lynyrd Skynyrd/Peter Frampton show) they made an announcement that in appreciation for our support over the course of their first decade in business, if we brought our ticket stub, we could come back the following night for free admission to see John Fogerty and Whiskeytown. So, that is exactly what I did. Whiskeytown opened the concert and I wasn’t familiar with them, and honestly don’t really recall having much of an opinion on the night of the concert. Pretty bland stuff, but they obviously weren’t the main attraction. John Fogerty was fantastic. He played a set heavy on the classic Creedence Clearwater Revival hits and a generous portion of his solo hits as well. In addition to his vocals and guitar work (both outstanding), Fogerty told some cool stories about his gear, telling us that his amp had been to some pretty impressive places (like the original Woodstock festival), and dedicating a song to his wife, basically making us feel truly welcome. The lighting was impressive, from the opening of the concert, where the backdrop and greenish lights combined to transport us into the swamps where the spirit of a lot of his great songs resides. I love a free show and this was one of the best I have experienced. I had always respected John Fogerty’s skills and legacy, but this concert made me a true fan.

Written By Braddon S. Williams aka The Concert Critic