Proud Mary

Headline Act: Sunday 1:00 pm - Main Stage

Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute:
Featuring the internationally renowned ex rythym section fron the 90s platinum recording act the Baby Animals, and with the front line being two of WA's most talented young musicians this band is rapidly gathering momentum as not only the country's best CCR tribute, but one of the nation's best new live bands period.

Unlike some tribute acts, Proud Mary are all about the music and don't spend hours rehearsing stage moves and working on costumes.  These guys lovingly and authentically re-create CCR's music in all it's glory so that it can't help but impress the true fan as well as the casual listener!

Proud Mary are:
Ryan Rafferty - Guitar/Vocals
Paul Cushing - Guitar/Vocals
Eddie Parise - Bass/Vocals (ex Baby Animals)
Frank Celenza - Drums (ex Baby Animals)

Review 29/1/11 by Mark Diggins (www.therockpit.net)
Australia is the home of cover bands, born out of necessity back when bands just didn't make it over here too often. Today it means that we have some of the finest cover bands in the world on our doorstep – even though we often get to see the originals these days!

Proud Mary's take on the Creedence catalogue is well worth taking in if you get the chance. Now you could argue that you can't go far wrong covering a band like CCR and to an extent of course that's true enough, but like anything in life there's cover bands and there's cover bands. Tonight you can hear the authenticity and feel the love of the music in every drop of sweat that hits the stage (though most of that sweat is actually evaporating in this heat before it hits the ground).

As for the band: Frank and Eddie are both flawless throughout the evening as you might expect from such respected local musicians. The best part though is that they really seem to be enjoying themselves up there.  Paul Cushing (ex-Stillfire) too, really seems to be revelling in this style of music and is completely at home rolling off the timeless Creedence riffs: there's plenty of soul in those strings of his!

It's Ryan Rafferty, though, that is perhaps the biggest surprise. I had heard him sing a little with his cover band 'Rockstar' and so knew he had a decent voice, but when he absolutely nails the Fogerty vocal on 'See the Light' you feel that this is pretty damn close to the prefect cover.

Not that there aren't plenty of other highlights too, and the crowd here at the Boat in Mindarie are dancing from start to finish despite the oppressive heat tonight in Perth. It's also nice to see the guys from Ragdoll Ryan's original band in the crowd out supporting him on this hot night. And when we get to hear 'Who'll Stop the Rain' (always one of my CCR favourites) I swear it actually sounds better than last time I heard John play it!

On 'Sunday Never Comes' Ryan again nails the voice. It's a voice like cigarette smoke tempered with angel's tears, someone says half-jokingly. Well maybe tempered by sour-mash whiskey?

One of the most memorable moments is Paul's solo in 'Grapevine' and when they hit 'Hey Tonight' I'm transported back to when I first heard the song covered by 'Lords of the New Church'. 'Fortunate Son' of course that they close the set proper with is always great to hear live.

Proud Mary is certainly one of the best cover bands you will see in Perth at the moment and perhaps one of the best CCR cover bands you will hear. The frontline of Cushing, Rafferty and Parise is as tight as anything you will hear locally and if there is a better sticksman than Frank around let me know. On top of that if you want a down-to-earth unassuming front-man then you have it in Mr Rafferty: he announced his band at least four times tonight and never once himself. Thankfully the guys do that for him.

Tonight reminds you of what a great and important band CCR was. Proud Mary is pure and simple a great night out. I hear there was a moment when they were almost called Suzie Q, but that's another story entirely...

see programme for performance details