Hippie Magic For Peace
Santana
„Oneness Tour 2025“ presented by Barracuda Music, Wiener Stadthalle D, Austria 20250629
Slash, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamassa, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmor, Angus Young or Jeff Waters, those are just some influential names of (Rock) guitarists. Back in 1969, some of the biggest acts gathered at legendary Woodstock like Canned Heat, Richie Havens, Joan Baez, The Who, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix. Now Barracuda brings one of those legendary artists back to Wiener Stadthalle.
The seats on all sides are almost full, yet in the standing area is enough space to move. About half an hour later than announced, the Santana logo changes to northern lights and dancing people in the middle – the ‚Aurora Borealis Intro‘. Then the eight-piece band around Carlos Santana enters with the Woodstock classic „Soul Sacrifice“, including his wife Cindy Blackman Santana on drums, with whom he lives on Hawaii.
Like Tito & Tarantula, they recently put out a new record „Sentient“. Tonight, they underline again the importance of the danceable rhythms and percussion like in „Jingo“, „Evil Ways“ or „Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen“. Just like this, one hit hunts the other like „Maria Maria“, sometimes just blending into the other like a fantastic jam. Each instrument gets its space like the bass playing a solo around half-time.
Carlos Santana then takes a second to tell, that everyone is ‚precious and meaningful‘ and that ‚God is love‘. During „Samba Pa Ti“, a white dove flies on the screen, followed by the words ‚Peace on Earth’ and a piano solo part. The trombone then takes it away again, with the main protagonist sitting next to the drums and chewing gum and other band-members changing on vocals like on „The Game Of Love“.
For „Put Your Lights On“ (originally featuring Everlast), they thank for ‚the best lights in Europe‘, followed by „Corazon Espinado“. After another video, Carlos Santana puts straight, that he is still a ‚hippie from Woodstock‘ and people have to find ‚Unity, Harmony and Oneness‘, ‚Forgiveness’ and ‚Peace on Earth‘.
This is probably the best message anyone could bring to a stage at the moment. With more licks close to „While My Guitar Gently Weeps“ in „Toussaint L’Overture“ and the camera pointed on the audience, an extended drum solo by Cindy Blackman Santana and the final „Smooth“, the band leaves after two magical hours.