Las Vegas Weekly

May 27, 2009 · 1:44 PM

Santana begins residency tonight and promises hits and new material

By Robin Leach

Carlos Santana.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Guitar genius and music legend Carlos Santana promises that you’ll hear the hits when his Supernatural Santana -- A Trip Through the Hits two-year residency begins at The Rogue Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel tonight, but he also says he’s going to take a “backflip into the unknown” and his band will just have to catch up with his impromptu material as fast as they can!

Carlos has said that the first and last parts of each show will feature hits, but in the middle, only he knows the uncharted, experimental territory he wants to explore!

“I think it is an honor and privilege to be able to play ‘Black Magic Woman’ every night, but I also want to experiment,” he said. “Vegas is an illusion, and I want to bring something genuine. Vegas is about luck and fortune, and I’m bringing in the grace.” He makes no bones about his mission to reawaken spirits and seek souls through his music, adding, “I’ve learned to think in a new way. I know now when eternity nears, time disappears.”

The 61-year-old master musician told our colleague Kiko Miyasato at our sister publication Las Vegas magazine: “I feel really inspired. Every time I come here, it’s a new experience. The first time I came here was in ’67 or ’68 with The Grateful Dead. Who would have thunk it that we’re still here, relevant even? I’m really grateful to God.

“All the principles that I’ve learned, positive things, whether it’s Woodstock or Supernatural or where I am today, we have an agenda. It’s not necessarily about Santana; it’s about bringing the collective unity and harmony and party. So to come here, to Las Vegas, where great people have performed, is really a joy and honor.”

Carlos promises that he and the band are ready with a set list of their entire repertoire, but he’s made an open offer to other artists to join him onstage during his residency, everyone from Prince to Willie Nelson to Bob Dylan to African musicians.

He said: “We extend an invitation to everyone. Whoever wants to partake in this big piece of chocolate cake, they are welcome to do so.” He admits that he never thought he would perform night after night “doing the Broadway thing, but everybody has the capacity not to be stuck in old ways.”

Before starting his residency, Carlos told USA Today that when it’s over, he wants to move to Maui, start his own church and launch a 24-hour TV channel dedicated to beauty and excellence.

“We’ll see what God wants to do with me, but I’d like to do that. I know that my life has meaning beyond my musicianship, and I aspire to affect human consciousness.”

Over the next two days, we’ll have coverage of the two opening nights, so be sure to check back here to Vegas DeLuxe for our Santana stories and photos.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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