Santana Concert Review 1981

Sometimes in your life or your culture, music is just there. You don’t remember when you first heard certain types of it or performers, its just there. Was it from his wonderful performance at Woodstock, or was he just a part of Americana ? And that’s how Carlos Santana was with me. When my friends asked me if I wanted to go to a Santana Concert, my answer was always yes.

I went to see Carlos Santana perform on June 9 1981 at the New Haven Coliseum in New Haven Connecticut, as well as 3 other times during the 1980's.

As best as I can remember, some of the songs played that evening included Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen, Oye Como Va, Europa, Evil Ways, Soul Sacrifice and Hold On. It wasn’t only the songs, it was the 3 man percussion section as well as this version having perhaps its best singer Alex Lingertwood. Seeing Santana is the best rock funkfest of your life, you’ll shake your booty all night long. In my mind he’s not only about the music, for some reason his music has a rare quality not often found in song, and to me its love.