Popular American musician John Fogerty, famous for his rockabilly style inspiring songwriting, vocals and guitar skills, sold out Friday night’s concert at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

The night began with a pre-show barbecue and beer garden, featuring the dynamic Vancouver rock band The Deadwax Collective. Doors opened at 7 p.m. with soulful music performed by the new American rock group Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real. Nelson and his band played with energy and impassioned vocals, and their opening songs meshed well with Fogerty’s style of music and helped amp the crowd’s excitement.

Before Fogerty came on stage, three massive screens displayed a slide-show of his musical history. The bio consisted of many personal photographs. It was like getting a sneak peek into his family albums. Before Fogerty began his first song, the screens showed old interviews with him stating how much performing meant to him.

True to his word, Fogerty stepped on stage and put on a great performance. He sang many classic Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) hits, including music from the Cosmo’s Factory album, and his own songs like Centerfield.

Fogerty impressed his fans with his well-known guitar riffs, swamp-pop sounds and rock roots style. He took time to interact with the crowd and tell personal stories about his music. His connection with the audience was electric, and his powerful rhythms had everyone standing on their feet, swaying and singing to the music they had grown up with.

There was plenty of pyrotechnics, from sparklers and strobe lights, to bursts of flames and smoke machines. The lighting matched the mood of the songs, ranging from fast-paced strobes, to slow flickering lights.

Fans did not want the night to end, and Fogerty was called back for an encore. The concert crowd consisted mostly of middle-aged faces, who knew Fogerty back when he was with CCR, which was popular during the late 1960s and early ’70s.

Fogerty was the lead singer and guitarist for CCR, famous for its southern rock style, inspired by country and gospel music. 
CCR released their Mardi Gras album in 1972, and after receiving poor reviews and discord between band members, the band split.

Fogerty became a solo artist in 1973 with his album The Blue Ridge Rangers. His solo journey was somewhat inconsistent at the start, but eventually his career kicked off again, especially with his 1985 album Centerfield.

Fogerty has won many awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He won a Grammy for best rock album with Blue Moon Swamp.

His passionate vocals have propelled his career and he is still releasing new rock albums. Fogerty is currently working on the album, Wrote a Song for Everyone. This album is scheduled to be released in 2013 and consists of music by 14 famous guest artists.