Marisa and I attended a very special 80th birthday party, last Wednesday (May 28, 2025).  We very much enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member (with Creedence Clearwater Revival) John Fogerty.  John performed on his 80th at The Beacon Theatre, probably the most beautiful venue in which to attend any show. John and his band including sons Shane and Tyler played with energy, enthusiasm and expertise, covering a catalogue of great Creedence, Fogerty solo and even one tune, Fight Fire, by The Golliwogs -- a name given to what became Creedence by its label to replace "The Blue Velvets.  The other band members are: Jesse Wilson (bass), Richard Millsap (drums), Douglas Lamothe (keys) and Nathan Collins (sax). In a nice surprise for this commentator, I found myself seated next to two long-time friends, Dennis and Denise Richards; it was a total coincidence; Dennis and I had bonded some two decades back over the music of Poco and its founder, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member (with Buffalo Springfield) Richie Furay.  I noted the coincidence on X; Dennis on Facebook.

Marisa posted some nice pics and video to Facebook, including the one upper left which included John's daughter, Kelsey joining her dad and brothers on Keep on Chooglin'.

Interestingly, John opened the show with Proud Mary, usually the final encore.  He followed with my favorite Creedence (and depending on my mood my all-time favorite) song, Up Around the Bend.

An amazing setlist (See below.), it included Effigy, the closing tune from Willy and the Poor Boys that I never saw John play live and is not included on any live recording by Creedence or Fogerty.  The amazing concert is already preserved; I found it on YouTube.  

Before the encore, John sat at a chair and shared how he recently came to own his catalogue of music and that, in August (actually August 22), he will release a new album, Legacy, on which his sons joined him to re-record a fair portion of his Creedence catalogue. As a special treat after the show, we got to listen to  the opening selection, Up Around the Bend, which sounded better than the original, IMHO.

The setlist:

Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)

Up Around the Bend
 (Creedence Clearwater Revival
 song)

Green River
 (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)


Born on the Bayou
 (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)


Who'll Stop the Rain 
(Creedence Clearwater Revival song)


Lookin' Out My Back Door
 (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)


Rock and Roll Girls 

Effigy 
(Creedence Clearwater Revival song) 

Joy of My Life (Dedicated to John's wife of 34 years, Julie)

Mystic Highway
 

Fight Fire (The Golliwogs song; Tyler Fogerty shared lead vocals)

It Came Out of the Sky (Creedence Clearwater Revival song) 

Keep On Chooglin' (Creedence Clearwater Revival song) (Drum solo, John on harmonica)

Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
 (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)

Centerfield



Down on the Corner (Creedence Clearwater Revival song) 


The Old Man Down the Road


Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)



Encore:

Travelin' Band (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)

Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)

Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival song)