We now get to the part of my music room wall where the poster that is hanging marks a new level of concert experience for me, personally. I have always taken pictures at concerts. Even when I was in grade school and my sister took me to see The Jacksons (yes Michael!) at the Circle Star Theater. I brought my little instamatic camera and flashed away. Starting with this Santana concert I began to take a decent point and shoot camera to the shows. I captured a few shots at this show but as I gained more experience, the photos actually started to improve.
Carlos Santana has probably played in a building called the Fillmore over 1000 times. Between Bill Graham’s Fillmore East and West and Carlos’ longevity, it could be 2000 times! This was one of those times HOWEVER this time has been preserved forever via video. Santana had this show at the SF Fillmore video taped and the result is a memorial to a spiritual, joyous evening. This would be my second time seeing the guitar hero at the Fillmore. I had a tremendous view that night of Carlos and the rest of his locomotive band.
Stellar Band
Being really close to a performing band is very exciting to me. One can find so many things to pay attention to. With Santana, I particularly love watching the timbale player, Karl Perazzo. I almost feel like I know the guy because he is a local kid from San Francisco. He actually lived next to my former bro-in-law and was very cool. Besides all that, Karl is exciting to watch and listen to. He continues the tradition of dynamic timbale players in Santana. So many of the Santana classics feature the timbale that Karl gets a lot of work during a set. His enthusiasm is always out front!
In a band like Santana, there are multiple drummers, multiple lead singers but only ONE lead guitarist. Of course, like everyone else in the place, I was mesmerized by Mr. Santana. His hands and fingers touch that fretboard ever so lightly and just the littlest bend in his finger elicits a wail from that instrument that sounds like a soaring eagle. Carlos relays emotion through his guitar with the greatest of grace and ease. His melodic punctuations and solos pull the audience in as each lick flows into the next. There is no time in rock where a guitar sounds more like a voice than when listening to Carlos Santana play it.
Band Leader, Train Conductor
I was impressed with the level of control Carlos had over his band. I have always likened the band Santana to a freight train. They might start off quietly and slowly but when they are operating at full capacity, there is nothing that even comes close. Also there is NO stopping them while in the groove. Each member waits for his nod from Carlos to solo and stand out. Carlos is more of a cheerleader than a bandleader, encouraging his band to push their limits.
I happened to have a good view of the roadie who took care of Carlos that night. The guy who brought out his guitars and such. Apparently, one of the guy’s jobs was to mix Carlos a few cocktails during the show. I could see him, just off stage, pouring the vodka and then orange juice into a plastic cup. I had to laugh when I saw the dude do a quick stir of the drink with his index finger. Not that I was paying too much attention to it, but I noticed more than a few screwdrivers being stirred up for Carlos. And I swear that I noticed Carlos getting a little tipsy, maybe, silly – FOR SURE. He definitely played a nursery rhyme in the middle of a solo. Carlos was loose and having fun on this night in his old hometown. Why won’t he? It doesn’t get much more tranquil than a Santana concert.
Find the Lost Tapes!
This concert was videotaped. Quite an exciting thought, knowing that the show you are witnessing will be available to view again. Unfortunately, I do not think it was released widely in any format. I have seen many individual videos on YouTube but finding the original DVD has been difficult.
Important Collaboration
I also remember keyboardist Chester Thompson. Carlos seemed extra interested in playing off of Chester’s keyboard licks. The two men exchanged a musical conversation all evening long. Check out the video for the song ‘Praise” below from that night and the beautiful interaction that starts the song. This video is an excellent example of the kind of night it was. It was a spiritual experience, a rocking experience, a JOYOUS experience. That tiny Fillmore stage was crowded with a horn section, 2 singers ,and multiple percussionists. The place was packed, obviously a sold-out show, but the vibe was casual. The setlist was scattered with Santana classics as well as newer material. The band was as tight as ever! Firing on all cylinders as can be seen in the videos. Carlos himself was wearing a colorful button down shirt with SANTANA written across the chest and a leather newsboy hat.
The Poster
Another one by Scrojo! This poster, again, harkens back to the psychedelic 60’s Fillmore posters with a stylized guitar image, front and center. The words Santana and “The Fillmore” are prominent, if not legible. Scrojo also painted the Steve Miller poster from earlier in 2008 for the Fillmore. His posters are clean and beautiful!
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