CCR tribute band The Fortunate Sons is Up Around the Bend, returns to Murphy Saturday

0

WILMINGTON — Some folks are born made to wave the flag, some folks are born silver spoon in hand, but for The Fortunate Sons, they were born to play Creedence.

The Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band is coming back to the Murphy Theatre this Saturday with Jeff Philippe as Doug “Cosmo” Clifford on drums, Steve Schuster as Stu Cook on bass, Andrew Bockelman as Tom Fogerty on guitar, and Jed Taylor as John Fogerty on vocals and guitar.

The group first played back in 2009 after Philippe and Taylor discussed putting a tribute band together.

“I had seen a Beatles tribute band and a Led Zeppelin tribute band, and I thought that isn’t being done a lot right now,” said Philippe, who is also the group’s manager.

They ultimately decided on CCR because it was a favorite. He remembers listening to his dad’s vinyl records and being blown away by their cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”

Philippe admits that it is a tall order to replicate CCR due to the band’s legendary sound. Whether it was tackling John Fogerty’s distinct singing voice — the toughest challenge, according to Philippe — or replicating their rhythm section. But the challenge didn’t scare them away from trying to cover CCR’s music and sound.

Philippe said the band is “really looking forward to being (at the Murphy) again. It’s kind of a highlight for us to make our spring trip out there.”

When asked what are some audience favorites, Philippe mentioned “Midnight Special” and “Susie Q” as favorites, but there was another one that surprised him a bit.

“Sometimes people will get up and dance to ‘Run Through the Jungle’,” said Philippe, “I don’t think it’s a great dance song but that’s one people pop up for.”

Philippe says that he doesn’t mind listening to CCR after all these years, and even his toddler has gotten into them.

“I think that’s a testament to the lasting power of this band. Let me put it this way — if I was in a Doors tribute band and I had to play that night after night, as much as I love the Doors, I’d be like ‘get me out of this’. I could hear Fogerty sing ‘Up Around the Bend’ every day,” said Philippe.

When it comes to why CCR’s music has lasted, it’s because they were “consciously Americana,” according to Philippe.

“They were trying to capture a roots sounds … something that’s older than time. Something that could’ve been a Leadbelly sound. In doing so they kind of sparked the imagination, and that is still going on,” he said.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday,. Tickets can be purchased at the Murphy or at themurphytheatre.org.

CCR tribute band The Fortunate Sons returns to the Murphy Theatre Saturday night.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/03/web1_fortunate-sons-1.jpgCCR tribute band The Fortunate Sons returns to the Murphy Theatre Saturday night. Courtesy photo

By John Hamilton

[email protected]

Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

No posts to display