John Fogerty – Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Prior Lake MN – July 4th 2021

Review and phots by Kyle Hansen

Mystic Lake presents a special July 4th concert with John Fogerty. It was postponed from last year for obvious reasons.

Tonight was filled with excitement as this was one of the first concerts people have been too in a long time. It was an evening with John Fogerty. I have seen him a few times before and he never puts on a bad show.

Before the show I had an extra ticket so I gave it to Judy a wonderful nice lady who was way in the back. I wanted to surprise her with a good seat.

This tonight was a greatest hits set with some covers and solo tunes.  He kicked off the concert with CCR classics Travlin’ Band – Green River – Born on the Bayou – Who’ll Stop the Rain and Lookin’ Out My Back Door. He did bring out one guitar that he said he parted with in the early 70’s and his wife started looking for it and reunited him with it. He even played Woodstock on that guitar. An amazing story, I can’t even imagine what king of research it has to take to get a lost guitar back.

He then brought the band out which consists of three of his kids and did a quick “lets sit at the fire and play some songs” set of Lean on Me and City of New Orleans. It was then back to CCR with Hey Tonight and Up Around the Bend. He then hit the piano for a new song about the world today. “Weeping In The Promised Land” is dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Trump presidency, the late George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and Black Lives Matter movement. John Fogerty said about the writing, “It ended up being the hardest song I’ve ever written. I kept trying to find better words. You can always find a better word to describe a situation.” He stated also “We can do better man”. I agree.

The classics just kept coming, next up one of my favs I Heard it through the Grape Vine which had everyone up and dancing. Included in the song was a drum solo by the great Kenny Aronoff. He had played with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp and many more. His kids also ripped some solos that were unbelievable. It is an amazing family talent that they have. Each song pretty much had a guitar change. I love when artists do this, I guess that goes with being a guitar fan. Keep it Chooglin’ – Have You Ever Seen the Rain and Down on the Corner came into the set next. The only solo tunes were Centerfield which he came out with his baseball bat guitar and Old Man Down the Road. That was my only disappointment of the evening. Would have like to hear more solo songs. Blue Moon Swamp is my favorite solo album from him. Fortunate Son which closed out his set. For the encore they played Bad Moon Rising and Proud Mary.

He seems like he is 25 years old running all over the stage and having the time of his life. The show was an all classic rock anthem. When seeing someone like this it moves you. You have hear these songs your whole life but to see them live is amazing. If he is anywhere you are able to go do not miss him. It will fill your life with joy.