John Fogerty brought decades of rock ’n’ roll history to Toronto on August 21 for The Legacy Tour, and the setting was perfect for a night built around the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. At 81, Fogerty remains remarkably energetic, delivering a 90-minute performance packed with songs that have become permanent fixtures of American rock.
The show wasted no time getting started. “Bad Moon Rising,” “Up Around the Bend,” “Green River,” and “Born on the Bayou” came early, immediately establishing the kind of set this was going to be. Fogerty wasn't interested in stretching things out or spending half the night talking. He and his band simply kept rolling from one classic to another.
The Creedence material dominated, exactly as it should. “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Run Through the Jungle,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” and “Down on the Corner” gave the crowd one familiar moment after another. “Fortunate Son” was predictably one of the biggest explosions of the night, with the audience recognizing every note before the song had even fully kicked in.
Fogerty also made room for his solo career. “Rock and Roll Girls,” “Centerfield,” “The Old Man Down the Road,” and “Joy of My Life” demonstrated that his musical identity extends beyond Creedence, although there was no question which songs the Toronto crowd had come to hear.
The final stretch was especially strong. “Fortunate Son” led into “Travelin’ Band,” followed by “Proud Mary” as the encore. Ending with two of the most recognizable songs in the Fogerty/Creedence catalog was an obvious choice, but sometimes the obvious choice is the right one.
What made the night work was Fogerty himself. His voice still has the gritty character that made those Creedence recordings so distinctive, while his guitar playing remains a major part of the show. The band behind him was equally tight, giving the songs plenty of power without overwhelming their straightforward roots-rock character.
Toronto got a genuine trip through Fogerty's musical history, from swampy Creedence rockers to his solo hits, all delivered with very little unnecessary filler. The Legacy Tour lives up to its name: this is a celebration of an extraordinary catalog, performed by the man who helped create it.
Setlist / Track Start Time
00:00 Intro
06:32 Bad Moon Rising
08:45 Up Around the Bend
11:30 Green River
16:36 Born on the Bayou
20:55 Dialogue: Guitar
22:38 Who'll Stop the Rain
25:23 Lookin' Out My Back Door
28:24 Rock and Roll Girls
31:43 Run Through the Jungle
36:09 Joy of My Life
43:55 My Toot Toot
49:08 Fight Fire
53:02 Keep On Chooglin'
01:00:05 Band Introductions
01:01:29 Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
01:04:40 Centerfield
01:08:42 Down on the Corner
01:11:21 The Old Man Down the Road
01:18:47 Fortunate Son
01:23:02 Dialogue: Getting My Songs Back
01:25:40 Travelin' Band
01:27:49 Proud Mary