It’s summertime in America, time to listen to some Creedence. Not that there is ever a BAD time for that, but summertime is really when you’re choogling around town, dropping in to listen to street performers and dance barefoot in the moonlight, blast Buck Owens from the record player in the living room while sitting on the porch etc. Things fall out of the sky in the summer. And we are exceedingly lucky to have John Fogerty still with us, singing and playing his songs well, to get us through it.
Somebody interviewing him pretty recently noted that he still practiced the guitar every single day, and asked him “why?” “Well, I’m trying to get better.” That’s a real American musician, and you should go see him this weekend. After the fireworks have died down, you might ponder the lyrics to “Fortunate Son”. But also the ones to “Born On The Bayou”. I know, John Fogerty was born thousands of miles from the bayou and learned about it from records – that’s also part of the American story. I might not have been born on a bayou, but I have been there, to hang out, and when I hear those chords that start that song, I’m right back there. I’ve never played a gig in Lodi either, but at the same time, I feel that I have. I’ve had that feeling he’s singing about, myself, the exact zip code isn’t that important. Those simple songs carry a strong feeling, that’s the best thing you can ask for from a rock song.
John Fogerty appears at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, July 6 at 7:30pm. Tickets from $24 are available at the Hollywood Bowl website.
