Review by Ros Madigan
Photos by Alessio Michelini
Considering my last venture to the 02 was to see Crosby, Stills and Nash,(as reviewed by Goldenplec here ) I find it quite humbling that my next venture to Ireland’s most prestigious venue is to see yet another act who graced the stage of Woodstock, Santana. At Woodstock, one day separated those two acts (August 16th 1969 – August 18th 1969), on this occasion 91 days separate the acts on Dublin’s O2 stage. While both acts on their night turned back the hands of time and talked about the hippie ethos of love, life and peace. It is here I talk about the man who pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion, both today and all those years ago, Carlos Santana.
A stage time was strictly set and enforced by MCD before hand and Santana on the night of 8pm. We had also found out before hand that there was to be no support act on the night, explaining the early start. Near enough on the button, while the audience were largely still taking their seats, Santana arrived on stage. Carlos dressed in a multi-coloured dream shirt, spiffing white trousers and a hat to match heads straight into ‘Yaleo’. The first noticeable attraction apart from his mesmerizing trousers were the bongo players leopard print drums and skins. The clapping began, a theme that continued throughout the night. Singers Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay began as they mean to go on with flawless vocal performances. ‘Singing Winds/Crying Beast‘ then shows us the first glimpse of the guitar master class Santana was to treat us to as he toys and plays around with notes as if in his sleep. In hindsight he plays ‘Black Magic Woman‘, his signature tune, very short like on the recorded album version. For most of the songs in the rest of his set, he plays the live version where he elongates them by adding in long drums, guitar, wind or percussion sections.
After hearing ‘Black Magic Woman‘, I thought to myself that I was after just witnessing one of those musical moments in life that makes you feel a better person having seen it. He then kicks into ‘Oye Como Va‘. This song is coupled by visuals from the earlier days of Santana. It was like looking into a musical time warp, hearing perfect audio mastery along with fuzzy, grainy visuals from the 70’s. Even Carlos gets in on the act by providing rare vocal harmonies to the song. After 4 songs, Santana takes to the mic to say ‘Good evening, it’s a great pleasure to be here, thank you for your love, thank you for your light’, then ‘we want to focus all purpose and feelings to the females’ which obviously goes down very well with a large section of the crowd. Naturally enough after womanizing the crowd he treats us to ‘Maria Maria’.
One of my favourite instrumentals from the Santana back catalogue was up next in the form of ‘Foo Foo‘ from the album Shaman. This samba boogie was added to when Vargas and Lindsay made the whole standing area of the O2 jump up and down which they had no problem in doing. Santana’s next trick up his ever so brightly and multi-coloured sleeve was to introduce his fiancé onto stage to join him for ‘Corazon Espinado‘ on drums. On this track they showcase the drum section of the backing band by giving solos to Karl Perazzo on percussion, then Raul Rekow on bongo who uses every part of his body including his elbows to play. Then topped off by the soon to be Ms.Santana (Cindy Blackman) who pleasures the whole crowd by giving us an extensive drum solo which saw the rest of the band leave the stage. Cindy came to fame as the drummer of 15 years to Lenny Kravitz. The drum solo itself was incredibly long which left you wondering how her arms still remain attached to her body. Blackman departs as ‘Jingo‘ begins. ‘Incident at Neshabur‘ from the 1970’s album Abraxas is next. Next provided the best Happy Birthday one is likely to wish for as none other than Santana leaded the well wishes to band member Andy Vargas. ‘Batuka’ blended well and effortlessly into ‘No One To Depend On’. Santana sits on his amp and belts out, at least a ten minute guitar solo groove. As he winds down from this master class he plays a few notes from ‘Danny Boy‘, teasing us more than anything. ‘Taboo‘ was next which was blended in with a cover of Led Zepplin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love‘. As if one cover wasn’t enough, The Rolling Stones ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking‘ was next on the set list. The two singers then provide the best vocal of the night on ‘Evil Ways‘, again mixed in with ‘A Love Supreme‘.
Santana halts and fills us in by saying ‘Your significant, your meaningful, you matter and you can make a difference’. That’s great but more guitar please San’. He duly obliges by knocking out Cream’s ‘Sunshine of Your Love‘. That particular guitar riff has never sounded better in my opinion. Everyone goes crazy as ‘Smooth‘ plays and is mixed with ‘Dame Tu Amor‘. The whole band leave and we are greeted with darkness and the sound of silence for the first time in a matter of hours. A video of clapping and Woodstock now begins to play upon the big screens on stage. The video for Santana is like looking into a mirror into the past. A brilliant juxtaposition of video and sound. Denis Chambers, the drummer, comes to stage and treats us to another drum solo. This solo again goes on very long with Chambers playing with his eyes closed at one point and pausing the heavy solo to wipe his bald head under his hat. Not only was this a superb solo but also had the crowd laughing. A drum solo but with character, something not seen often. ‘Soul Sacrifice‘ then provides dove visuals and choir backing tracks bellowing out. ‘Bridegroom‘ then merges with ‘Into the Night‘. Finally he plays ‘Love, Peace & Happiness/Freedom‘.
Santana exits stage, and as the lights go up one quick glance to the watch reveals a quite staggering fact. Carlos Santana, a man of 63 played on Dublin’s O2 stage for 2 Hours 41 Minutes. Yes! 2 Hours 41 Minutes. No song throughout the whole night, apart from Black Magic Woman, was under 5 minutes in duration. Most songs stretching to near 10 -15 minutes. Towards the end, people where bemoaning the length of time and maybe a slight bit of self-indulgence toward the end. But to be frank, I didn’t care too much, because I just saw Santana!
Set List
1. Yaleo
2. Singing Winds / Crying Beast
3. Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen
4. Oye Como Va
5. Maria Maria
6. Foo Foo
7. **Corazon Espinado
8. Jingo
9. Incident at Neshabur
10. Batuka / No One To Depend On
11. Taboo / Whole Lotta Love
12. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
13. Evil Way / A Love Supreme
14. Sunshine Of Your Love
15. Smooth / Dame Tu Amor
WOODSTOCK CHANT
16. Soul Sacrifice
17. Bridegroom / Into the Night
18. Love Peace & Happiness / Freedom
**W/CINDY BLACKMAN-SANTANA
