SANTANA
The Doobie Brothers
BB&T Pavilion, Camden, NJ
Saturday, August 24th, 2019

Santana brought his 2019 "Supernatural Now Tour" into the BB&T Pavilion with special guests The Doobie Brothers.

The Doobie Brothers, who took the stage at 7:10, featured co-founders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons with John McFee (who joined in 1978), plus a five-piece backing band. With their 13-song, 75-minute set, they opened with "Rockin' Down the Highway", "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While",  "Spirit" and "Ukiah".  After a band intro from singer and guitarist Tom Johnston, the set was loaded with hits that included "Clear as the Driven Snow" and "Eyes of Silver” that segued into "Takin' it to the Streets", with bass player John Cowan taking on vocal duties.  This received a rousing applause from the crowd that was just starting to get into the sing-a-long mode. After their next song, "Maxine", they chose a trio of hits to close out their first set: "Jesus Is Just Alright", "Long Train Runnin'” and "China Grove."

After a short break, they returned for their encore with Johnston, on acoustic guitar, shouting to the crowd, "Let’s tear the roof off this sucker!" They played "Black Water" and closed their show with "Listen To The Music", as the crowd joined in singing every word.

The Doobie Brothers got their start in 1970, so hopefully fans can expect a 50th Anniversary Tour in 2020. Let’s hope.

As the crowd waited for Santana to take the stage, the huge video screen in the back of the stage was projecting footage of the "1969 Woodstock Festival" that Santana took part in almost 50 years ago to the date. Not only that feat, but on this tour they are also celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their album Supernatural from which the tour takes its name.

When the lights went down and Santana and his eight-piece touring band, which includes his wife, drummer Cindy Blackman, took the stage at 8:55 opening with a Woodstock era tribute with the instrumental "Soul Sacrifice", "Jingo" and "Evil Ways", all from his debut album released in August 1969. With a mix of English and Spanish singing, the group played a variety of rock, jazz, pop and even a little rap throughout the two-hour set. From the Supernatural album came "Put Your Lights On." Santana then surprised the crowd by inviting Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons out on stage to help them play "Some Kind of Wonderful" to a thunderous applause from the sold-out crowd. After “Da Le Yaleo", they played the only one song from his just released (June 7, 2019) Africa Speaks album, "Breaking Down the Door". As the show went on, some songs turned into little jams that went on for several minutes. Santana now says, "When you come to a Santana concert, it’s therapeutic and we love you and I’m glad to be here with you;” then the band went into their two fan favs "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Oye Como Va". To close out their first set, they went all over the charts with "Hope You're Feeling Better", "Total Destruction to Your Mind", "Corazon Espinado" and "Maria Maria” with Santana playing an acoustic guitar, giving those on-fire Paul Reed Smith electrics a break. And then "Foo Foo" and "Sentient Sphere" before thanking the crowd and saying goodnight.

After a short break, the band returned and opened with a cover of The Chambers Brothers "Are You Ready." At the end of the song, all the band members exited the stage for another highlight as drummer Cindy Blackman brought the house down with an extended and entertaining drum solo that was just incredible. You don't see many drummers doing solos anymore these days, let alone a female drummer. She'd make Joe Mama and Keith Brooks proud. Another song from the Supernatural album, "Smooth", got the loudest response of the night. The only thing missing was Rob Thomas, who sang on the original song on the album. Then a cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" and another Chambers Brothers "Love, Peace & Happiness" and the Youngblood's "Get Together" to finish their set.

As the band walked off stage, Santana remained and told the crowd to strive for "Peace and Harmony all over the world" as he waved to the crowd and made his way offstage.

That show was the second to the end of his "Supernatural Now Tour" and he does go back to Las Vegas for a lengthy stand that starts back up mid September and runs off and on until late May of 2020. Not sure what will happen in between these dates but you can always check at Santana | The Official Carlos Santana Website.

 

Gary Crouthamel, concert photo journalist