By Joey Kottke, Staff Writer
June 24, 1998:
Creedence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty led the festivities at a night of blues rock marking the beginning of the summer 1998 concert season at Montage Mountain in Scranton.
Before a crowd of more than 4,000 fans and against a swamp-themed backdrop including crocodiles playing banjos, Fogerty opened with “Born on the Bayou” and continued with other Creedence songs, including “Green River,” “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” and “Susie Q.”
“He’s a good man who makes good music,” Mark Colarossi told The Scranton Times at the show. “I’ve had so many good times that have to do with his music.”
Pat and Gino Augelli attended the concert together and noted how they had grown up with that music.
TIMES SHAMROCK ARCHIVES John Fogerty takes center stage at Montage Mountain to entertain a crowd of about 4,000 who turned out for the first summer concert of the season on June 24, 1998.
“I was raised with CCR,” Gino Augelli said. “I’ve got a lot of good memories from a lot of beer parties.”
Montage Mountain also left an impression on fans.
“The reserved seats are great,” Ralph Jenkin told the newspaper. “I just drove right up and came right in. No waiting. I tried to come up here last year for Aerosmith and couldn’t get in. Reserved seats are the way to go.”
Fogerty continues to perform and recently was on tour.
Contact the writer: jkottke@times (shamrock.com; 570-348-9140
Who else was at Montage Mountain in 1998?
June 27: The Allman Brothers Band
June 28: Yes with the Alan Parsons Project
July 6: The Spice Girls
July 8: Furthur Festival featuring the Other Ones (Mickey Hart, Bruce Hornsby, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir), Rusted Root and Hot Tuna
July 21: Boyz II Men with Destiny’s Child
July 22: Tim McGraw
July 28: Van Halen with Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Aug. 1: HORDE Festival featuring Blues Traveler, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Barenaked Ladies, Alana Davis, Paula Cole, Catonia, Getaway People and Marcy Playground
Aug. 4: Rod Stewart
Aug. 28: Backstreet Boys
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
