No. Not that Santana people. I’m referring instead to rock guitar genius Carlos Santana, who put on one hell of a performance with his band 10 days ago at Madison Square Garden.

If there’s an overlooked all-time great guitarist, it’s definitely Santana, who just is a genius on it banging out funky solos and instrumentals like they’re going out of style. I’ve always admired his unique talents. Maybe Santana’s style is a tad different which might explain the non-sellout. If you’re a core fan of music and specifically the electric guitar along with so much more brought to the stage, then you should’ve made it your business to be there as tickets were affordable and those who went certainly weren’t disappointed.

This was just a legendary performance by a softspoken man who plays and moves around the stage with such flair. That actually was part of the reason I wanted to go. I just knew Santana would put on a great show but you can’t just point to the genius with the guitar as his band was really tremendous making every song sound so fresh. Sort of that Santana “Black Magic Woman,” which was one of many infamous hits well played by the entire band which included two lead singers. Their sound requires a lot to pull off. It felt like we were in a different era completely. One my Dad is more familiar with. The 1960’s.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Derek Trucks Band as they were phenomenal as the opening act and Santana even invited another great guitarist in his own right back out towards the end of what was nearly a two and a half hour music exhibition because that’s how well played everything was. 

The feel at this show was a little different from the chaotic scene a couple of months prior when rock legends Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood took the Garden stage recreating some Blind Faith magic along with so much more.

As noted above, it was like taking a trip Back To The Future some 40 years earlier via Doc’s (Christopher Lloyd) time machine. Only this time I really was Michael J. Fox’s character Marty McFly following an entertaining act which captivated the audience.

Personally, I feel Santana’s one of the all-time greatest guitarists. Maybe I already stated it but again I can’t put into context just how special it was to see the 60 year-old from Mexico perform on the grand stage in NYC. He deserves so much more respect. Ironically enough, he placed 15th in The Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Greatest Guitarists list. I think he should be higher. You could argue back and forth till the cows come home.

I’m a Jimi Hendrix guy, who btw Santana paid tribute to along with Martin Luther King plus many other great musicians such as Marvin Gaye, and John Lennon during a classic rant.

There was just so much to appreciate with all the funky beats, jazz and assortment of special effects on that Tuesday evening. You can find plenty of stuff from the show.

Here’s some more:

Santana: “No One To Depend On“-Live at MSG 4-8-08

Santana and Derek Trucks jam on set -Live MSG 4-8-08

both certainly held up their end of the bargain making the three hours (nearly 2 and a half by Santana) well worth it!

Santana: “Maria Maria“-Live MSG 4-8-08

this is a very soulful song much like most of their music.

Santana: “Soul Sacrifice“-Live MSG 4-8-08

if you’ve ever seen this great tune played, then you’ll be quite familiar with the traditional clapping and singing for this unbelievable encore which dates back to Santana’s Woodstock days. You know. The original! I’m going to link up that as well cause believe it or not, the whole thing is there unlike the beginning of this one.

Santana: “Soul Sacrifice“-Woodstock 1969

listen to the drum beat in this as it’s exceptional and from what’s known, was played that well by a 17 year-old teenager. Unfathomable! Along with Santana’s wicked shredding, it’s just unbelievably played.

Santana: “Samba Pa Ti“-Croatia, 1998

this happens to be one of my faves as it’s really terrific stuff. Santana at his very best. Samba Pa Ti might’ve been the only well known hit which they didn’t play a couple of weeks prior. However, everything else more than made up for it.

What would I say to any doubter who just can’t get into Santana’s distinct sound? If you have a deep passion for great music featuring awesome electric guitar playing to fun dream beats, samba, tangerine, trumpets and jazz mixed in, then give it a shot. They’re a splendid live act who brings so much energy to the stage.

I’d definitely see them again. No questions asked.

Manic depression is touching my soul

I know what I want but I just don’t know

How to go about gettin’ it

Feeling sweet feeling 

Drops from my fingers, fingers

Manic depression is catching my soul

How do you explain Jimi Hendrix? I think the above lyrics sum up just how special the best guitarist of all-time IMHO was. He was definitely ahead of his time. To even contemplate what he accomplished in such a short span before his mysterious death at the ripe age of only 27.

How do you change the dynamic of electric guitar playing and put together as many big albums and still played timeless hits as he did before passing away under odd circumstances. Sure. We know he choked on his own vomit presumably from too many sleeping pills or drugs. But it’s never fully been explained how.

I guess it will just be one of those unsolved mysteries much like the JFK Assassination. Well, come on. That one’s pretty obvious as well. Damn government.

When I listed the above lyrics from the notable “Manic Depression,” it’s very easy for me to hear Jimi playing that guitar and belting out the words in such a smooth fashion. He might’ve played that guitar like an animal sometimes biting it and playing it behind his back, etc. but he was pretty smooth at the mic when he wanted to be.

I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to catch the Jimi Hendrix Experience live as my father and many others did up at the original Woodstock and other venues.

So, what makes him the best? His style was just ferocious as he went on to create a distinct sound on overdriven amps while hitting every high note. You want epic solos. You can cite whoever you want (Page, Clapton who was unreal last week, Vaughn, Eddie Van Halen, etc.) but when it’s all said and done, I’m taking Jimi over anyone.

This isn’t a knock on those other great guitar players who are all amazing in their own God given right. I just feel what Jimi did made him the best. Who knows what else he might’ve done had he stayed around longer. That’s rock n’ roll for ya.

As someone who grew up playing guitar, Jimi was the man. Whether it was “Foxey Lady,” “Fire,” “Crosstown Traffic” which was played on the radio yesterday as I came home from work or the everpopular “Voodoo Child,” “Purple Haze” and “Stone Free,” there was so much to admire.

That Star Spangled Banner into Purple Haze is the best rendition I’ve heard to this day. I’m sure many of you have seen footage of that epic Woodstock performance. It pretty much speaks for itself.

I could probably go on and on about Jimi’s music because it’s just that memorable. What kind of gets lost is that the rest of the Experience featured quality musicians including Noel Redding, Chris Chandler and Mitch Mitchell.

I feel what’s most impressive is that of the many covers they did, most were very good. Jimi’s version of Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” is a must listen. So is his Beatles’ cover of “Day Tripper.” And the much covered “Wild Thing” is classic Jimi.

It’s never a requirement to do covers but if a band or artist so chooses to do so, it better sound good. The original Guns N’ Roses is another example of that with solid covers of The Beatles’ “Live and Let Die” and Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”

It’s so easy to cite the big hits as I’ve already done but there’s plenty of under the radar material on albums such as Electric Ladyland, Voodoo Soup, The Experience, etc.

It’s video time. So I’m going to select a diverse amount just to give our audience a taste of my all-time favorite musician.

Jimi Hendrix: “Johnny B. Goode“ 

a fantastic cover of the great Chuck Berry hit which shows off Jimi’s unique talents. He played with such emotion!

Jimi Hendrix: “Voodoo Chile“ 

really dig the footage here. Very rare indeed and in classic black and white with Jimi multitasking and not missing a beat. Great sound quality.

Jimi Hendrix: “Hey Joe”

Another great song. I also love Crosstown Traffic. There’s some really strong lyrics in it. From memory:

Darling can’t you see my signals turn from green to red

And with you I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead

Dodododododododo

You’re just like Crosstown Traffic

So hard to get through to you

Dodododododo

Crosstown Traffic

All I need is to run over you

All you do is slooooooww me down

When I’ve got to get on the other side of town

Jimi Hendrix Goofing Around 

I happened to like the footage of Jimi toying around with a violin. Comical stuff.

Jimi Hendrix: “All Along The Watchtower“-Isle of Light

This really is priceless stuff. Oh. And it happens to be one of his best. The solos are just kickin’ and he just sounds tip top!

There are many among us

Who feel that life is but a joke

The Jimi Hendrix Experience: “She’s So Fine”

this is pretty different with Jimi not even singing but the drums are killer and it sounds very good. Love the end!

The Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Wait Until Tomorrow”

a very underrated song with excellent words and perfect chemistry. The drums are fairly overlooked in many of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s tracks but are very prevalent here. 

The Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Purple Haze”

Purple Haze all around

Don’t know if I’m coming up or down

Am I happy or in misery

Whatever it is that girl put a spell on me

Help me

Help me

Oh, no, no

<ridiculous guitar solo>

I think I’m going to turn this into two parts as there’s so much more to cover. So, we’ll just leave off here and continue at some point this weekend.

Hope ya’ll enjoyed the first part. 

Memorable. That’s one of many adjectives you could say about Tuesday night’s spectacular concert put on by rock n’ roll legends Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at a packed Madison Square Garden.

Performing many Blind Faith hits, the dynamic duo was breathtaking. Sounding timeless with the 62 year-old Clapton smoothly shredding extended jam after extended jam on the guitar as only the nicknamed Slowhand can plus former Blind Faith innovator and Traffic star Winwood putting his array of unique talent on display on the piano, bass, organ/keyboards and backup vocals, the two put on the kind of show most spectators including this fortunate one are still talking about.

They played roughly 18 songs with each getting stronger as the two-plus hour night went on. Coming out early to “Had To Cry Today (Crossroads),” they had an enthusiastic crowd behind them right from the outset.

Timeless hits such as “Forever Man,” “Cocaine,” “Presence of the Lord,” “Traffic,” “Can’t Find My Way Home,” ”Dear Mr. Fantasy“ and “After Midnight” were all effortlessly played making for a magical night.

My seats were up in 408 facing the left side of a nicely setup stage which included a cool mat which I wish was part of my room. Can’t lie.

However, I had heard from a couple of people seated next to me that it sounded much better from behind the stage over by 411. So, I moved and watched the rest from there and wow, were they dead on! Electrifying stuff.

The 58 year-old Winwood’s vocals were tip top as was his organ/keyboard and piano playing. Clapton was smooth on the mic while delivering the kind of solos an avid music fan would come to expect from one of the all-time great guitarists.

There was even a moment where the musicians smiled. It was very easy to see how much they enjoyed playing again together as the chemistry was there from the start. They had gotten favorable reviews the night prior and did nothing to change the opinion of what was easily one of the best (if not the best) concerts I’ve been to.

My father had seen the reformed Cream at MSG two-plus years ago and raved about that but concluded that this concert topped it. Fyi…I got to hear some of that one and it was pretty damn good.

As I proceeded to get lit while enjoying every song played, all around was what makes these kind of concerts so great to be at. An awesssome atmosphere with your fair share of unpredictable fans decked out and screaming louder than even me.

I was mildly entertained by a dancing young woman from Italy who seemed to be more into herself along with the music than anyone around her as a young Russian dude later found out. Haha.

I could tell that she didn’t want to be bothered but it still made for a hilarious scene watching her dance all weird. The Russian was cool and noted that he was from Bricktown New Jersey and had a brother who got traded from the Devils.

Editor’s Note: Tuesday was NHL deadline day. 

Who knows if he was telling the truth? It made for a good story regardless. He also hated the Rangers. According to him, “They suuuuuuuuckk and Tom Renney suckkkkkkkkkkss!!!!!”

Freaking classic. I also ran into another Devil fan who was much older before the show began. We were discussing the deadline and he said the Canadiens were supposed to get Nikolai Khabibulin from Chicago but it fell through. They had earlier traded Cristobal Huet to the Caps for a second round pick.

I also told the fan that I wouldn’t mind facing his team in the playoffs and got the predictable sweep reminder which didn’t bother me because that team had no chance winning that series. I think this Ranger team if they get in (which they should) matches up fairly well against the Devils. If they continue to play the kind of hockey they’ve played recently, no worries.

Back to the concert. There was a cool female fan wearing a Beatles shirt running around with her friend. And there also was some dude with a crazy tie dide shirt slapping me five nine thousand times. Hahaha.

All in all, it made for a memorable night and one hangover. I’m going to see if I can find some clips and put them up.