Carlos Santana ‘still that hippie guy’
Coften recites his greatest-hits catalog, stringing together the legends who have inspired him.
The list varies. But in any conversation, Santana can be relied upon to recall his favorite artists. He did it once more this week.
“I want to uphold a standard of those who taught me. Tito Puente, B.B. King, Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan,” Santana says, then quickly explains: “I’m not just drawing names. I am telling you who I am. I am John Lennon, and I am Bob Marley, because I want the same thing they wanted.
“They wanted to heal the world and bring life and unity, and so do I.”
Thus Santana’s show is a fearless celebration of integration, mixed with rock ’n’ roll, world rhythms and the guitarist’s spirituality-infused monologues. A Las Vegas resident, Santana returned to the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Wednesday and plays seven dates through Sept. 23.
It’s a trip through time with Santana, who is again backed by his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana, on drums. He is still riding high after his July 8 performance with one of the few living guitarists sharing his strata, Eric Clapton, at the British Summer Time Series at Hyde Park in London.
Clapton called Santana to the stage for the event’s encore, where the two tore through a cover of Joe Cocker’s “High Time We Went.”
“My brother Eric and I have known each other since 1970, and we came up the same way playing music that stands for something,” Santana says. “We have been comrades in arms since then, and our war is against corruption, fighting with music and notes. I’ve never seen Eric do anything less than play with high energy and the passion in his heart.”
Santana behaves much like the teenage phenom who exploded on the rock scene in the late 1960s.
“I’m still that hippie guy from the Fillmore and Woodstock who wants to end all the wars,” he says, chuckling. “People say, ‘Santana was great until he got political.’
I’m not (expletive) political. I’m someone who cares about human lives, about breaking down walls and experiencing the joy of adventure. Even if you know all my songs, I will never rubber-stamp it.”
Mayor at the barrel
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and the Golden Knights broadcast team open Oktoberfest at the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. Friday. It’s the 15th year the business on the corner of Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road has invited celebs to tap the keg each week of the celebration. Frankie Moreno (who has penned a theme song you’ll be hearing soon) is Saturday.
Other well-known keg tappers are the cast of “Fantasy” at Luxor on Sept. 21; the stars of “Raiding the Rock Vault” at the Hard Rock Hotel on Sept. 22; Paris Las Vegas hypnotist Anthony Cools on Sept. 28; “Las Vegas Now” host Courtney Perna on Sept. 29; magician Murray Sawchuck on Oct. 6; “Magic Mike Live” and Golden Knights in-arena emcee Mark Shunock on Oct. 12; Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie on Oct. 13; performers from “The Australian Bee Gees Show” at Excalibur on Oct. 19; the cast of “Chippendales” at the Rio on Oct. 20; All-4-one of“ilovethe’90s — The Las Vegas Show” at the Paris Theater on Oct. 26; and BMX star Ricardo Laguna on Oct. 27.
We are missing some famous names, however. Las Vegas legends Siegfried & Roy, who have tapped the keg every year since this tradition started, are not participating. There has been no official explanation why they are not involved this year.
Update de la Steck
SPI Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Adam Steck traveled to the Royal Theatre Carre in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago to catch magician Hans Klok’s show. Steck had never seen Klok but has signed him and is assembling a Strip residency, ideally by the spring.
The two agreed on a 10-year deal for a Vegas residency. No venue contract has yet been signed.
Update de la Branden
The Golden Tiki and Evel Pie managing partner Branden Powers is casting an eye toward Downtown Summerlin for a new food/bar hangout. He says he’s in “very early phases” of planning.
Femmes fan flames
Column fave Nina Digregorio’s blazing rock-violin band Femmes of Rock headlines shows at Myron’s Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Digregorio adds lavishly customized arrangements to Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Queen, Pink Floyd and Electric Light Orchestra, among other classic-rock icons. A top draw on the road, the Femmes are playing a serious gig Oct. 27 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, opening for Bad Company and Cheap Trick.
Digregorio is also an avid — and, at the moment, seething — Buffalo Bills fan, which should add intensity to Saturday night’s shows.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Report: Las Vegas professor shot himself in arm to protest Trump
A longtime College of Southern Nevada sociology professor is facing felony gun charges in connection with an on-campus shooting on the second day of classes.
2. One dead in shooting at North Las Vegas high school
An 18-year-old man died after he was shot Tuesday afternoon outside a North Las Vegas high school, officials said.
3. Teen killed at North Las Vegas high school was student, police say
The 18-year-old male killed in a shooting Tuesday afternoon on the Canyon Springs High School campus was a student at the school, police confirmed Wednesday.
4. Man robs cashier cage at Las Vegas Strip casino
Las Vegas police are investigating an armed robbery Wednesday morning at a Strip casino.
5. Woman stabbed to death outside east Las Vegas convenience store
A woman seen arguing with a man early Wednesday was found stabbed to death shortly afterward outside of an east valley convenience store, Las Vegas police said. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Report: Las Vegas professor shot himself in arm to protest Trump
Longtime sociology professor Mark J. Bird was found bleeding from a selfinflicted gunshot wound to his arm about on Aug. 28 in the CSN Charleston campus K building. 2. Las Vegas Raiders stadium progress
Construction at Las Vegas Raiders stadium as seen on September 11, 2018, in Las Vegas.
3. Vegas Stripped: The music man
A career in education wasn’t something that
UNLV professor Stephen Caplan had seriously considered when he began playing music professionally.