Clearwater Creedence Revival live, Gebr. de Nobel, Leiden Thursday 13 April

Photo: Wout de Natris

A friend asked months ago if I was interested in a guestlist ticket to a Creedence tribute band. We saw John Fogerty together, most likely close to 20 years ago, so why not? His hits are there forever but the fans are on average even older than I am, looking at the grey heads around me, including my own of course.

I can remember the first hit entering the Top 40 in 1969, 'Proud Mary', followed by an immense string of hit singles. The first four weren't even big hits. That came in 1970 and beyond. The band's biggest hit, 'I Put A Spell On You' was released only after the band had broken up in 1972, with a hit in 1973 to follow. And then it was all over. With John Fogerty playing live to this day, it is still possible, for a few more years perhaps, to hear the real thing. Soon tribute band will be all that there's left live.

This group of British musicians are paying tribute and being paid to tribute CCR for over two decades already. The announcement of De Nobel mentions legendary musicians. Three have played in later incarnations of famous 1960s bands like The Animals and The Hollies and in Danny Laine's solo band. It was the bass player who impressed me most. Why wasn't Alan Sagar asked to replace John Entwhistle in The Who?, I asked myself.

John Fogerty's songs can't be broken. They are simply too good and melodically extremely strong. An interesting fact is that some of the songs that were hits here, were the b-side to hits in other countries. A number 1 hit here, 'Up Around The Bend' was not played. The B-side 'Run Through The Jungle' was. 'Commotion' was not played. 'Green River' was. There were a few songs that I truly missed not being played, but most of them were there. Singing along and dancing on the spot all happened.

Then Clearwater Creedence Revival itself. As I already wrote, CCR's songs can't be broken and they weren't, but I know bands who play for free at the local village fest and play better. For a band playing these songs for 25 years simply too many mistakes were made. Of course they can all play and certainly sing very nice harmonies together but with a full house of people paying money to see this band, it simply should be better. I enjoyed myself with the songs but was not far away from being annoyed. Perhaps because I play in a band myself and listen more critically to music, including my own flaws and mistakes. In fact, we may do a better 'I Put A Spell On You', actually. Many people in the venue seemed very happy, and that is what counts in the end.

It is a long time ago that I heard a better bass solo than the one Alan Sagar played. Rhythm and melody in one. John Entwhistle worthy.

Wout de Natris