Jun 24

Jun 24 Show Review: Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire Bring Phenomenal Show to Concord

Santana
Earth, Wind & Fire
Concord Pavilion
Concord, CA
June 22nd, 2022

Photos and Review by Jared Stossel

When I was in college, I had to write a paper for one of my classes about a person that I felt was the embodiment of the “American Dream”. I chose Carlos Santana. I had never seen Santana, but I knew his story, his music, and that he is truly one of the greatest musicians to ever pick up the instrument. On Wednesday night in Concord, I got to see that dream come to life as Santana took the stage along with Earth, Wind & Fire for an absolutely phenomenal show at Concord Pavilion.

There was no opener this time around; just performances from two of the most legendary artists in all of music. Earth, Wind & Fire kicked off the evening with an irresistibly groovy hour-long performance, with a setlist comprised of all the hits that fans have known and loved for generations. While the lineup of Earth, Wind & Fire has shifted and evolved over the last several decades, three core members remain with vocalist Philip Bailey, vocalist/percussionist Ralph Johnson, and bassist Verdine White leading the lineup through their collection of hits. They’re a truly electrifying band to watch, and you can’t help but want to get up and dance in the aisleways of the pavilion as you witness their show (many people around me did). You can’t call this set a “warm-up” to Santana; the party started right at 7 PM.

After a change-over, Santana took the stage for a truly entrancing twenty-song performance, featuring a band comprised of some of the greatest musicians I’ve ever seen in the decades I’ve been going to see live music. Every musician in this band is a star, with Carlos Santana acting as the band leader and moving everything along. The band impeccably glides through song after song, pulling out fan favorites like “Black Magic Woman”, “Oye como va”, and “The Game of Love”. A few times throughout the evening, Carlos Santana would take the microphone and speak to the crowd, sharing a story or two and letting the crowd know how blessed he was that they were there together. In reference to his band, Santana stated, “Pardon my French, but we don’t fuck around”. The statement was met with smiles and a roar of applause throughout Concord Pavilion.

Santana finished the evening with a five-song encore that included “Put Your Lights On”, “Toussaint L’Ouverture”, and the rock hit “Smooth”, the track that launched Santana back onto the Billboard charts in 1999 and reminded everybody why Carlos Santana is truly one of the greatest musicians in history. I’m grateful for that song. and I was grateful to be able to see a legend take the stage and bring that music to live. Long live Santana.

Santana Set List
Soul Sacrifice
Jin-go-lo-ba (Babatunde Olatunji cover)
Evil Ways (Willie Bobo cover)
Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
Oye como va (Tito Puente cover)
Samba pa ti
Life Is For Living
I Love Music
The Game of Love
Joy
Move
Corazón espinado
Maria Maria
Foo Foo

Encore:
Put Your Lights on
Toussaint L’Ouverture
Hang ‘em High
Smooth
Roadhouse Blues/Love, Peace and Happiness

Earth, Wind & Fire Set List
Shining Star
Let Your Feelings Show
Mighty Mighty
Celebrate
Getaway
Serpentine Fire
Sing a Song
Got To Get You Into My Life (The Beatles cover)
Interlude
Keep Your Head To The Sky
Devotion
Reasons
That’s The Way of the World
Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo) (Snippet)
After The Love Has Gone (David Foster cover)
Rock That!
Fantasy
Boogie Wonderland
Let’s Groove
September
In The Stone