Santana/Las Vegas Residency

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Vegas is the only place he can play west of Mississippi. Yes!!! Fair Grounds are a couple of miles east and his promoter is AEG. Time to start some 2010 rumors.

Carlos has signed a multiyear contract to appear at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s new Joint in Las Vegas.

This means the only place you’ll be able to see Santana west of the Mississippi through 2010 is at The Joint, according to promoter AEG Live.

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Obama, can you say change?

Carlos Santana wishes Obama would legalize pot
By MARCELA ISAZA, Associated Press Writer Marcela Isaza, Associated Press Writer
Fri Apr 3, 7:02 am ET

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – President Barack Obama brushed off a question about legalizing marijuana in his online town hall last month, but guitar god Carlos Santana says he wishes he would seriously consider it.

"Legalize marijuana and take all that money and invest it in teachers and in education," Santana said in an interview this week. "You will see a transformation in America."

During his online town hall on March 26, Obama fielded a question about whether legalization of the illicit drug would help pull the nation out of recession. Obama said he didn't think it was good economic policy, and also joked: "I don't know what this says about the online audience."

But Santana said making pot legal is "really way overdue, like the prohibition with the alcohol and stuff like that.

"I really believe that as soon as we legalize and decriminalize marijuana we can actually afford a really good governor who won't keep taking money away from education and from teachers and send him back to Hollywood where he can do 'D' movies and we can get an 'A' governor," referring to former movie action hero and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Santana made the comments as he was promoting his upcoming rock residency in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The show debuts May 27 and runs through 2010.

"It's a milestone for me because I always said I would never do certain things," Santana said, adding that the list included staying in one place for too long.

"Yet what is very different is this is the year I decided to do all the things that I said I would never do. It's a way of coming into a room that I thought was dark and I would be afraid and I actually bring my light to it."

Santana, whose hits vary from "Evil Ways" to "Maria Maria," said he is also working on two upcoming albums.

While the 61-year-old has previously talked about a possible retirement, he's decided to be more careful about predicting the future.

"Every time I tell God my plans he cracks up, he starts laughing. So I just decided to be quiet for a while and not say that I am going to retire and go to Maui and become a minister," he said. "God was cracking up. He thought it was a good joke. So I said, 'OK.' Every time I want to make him laugh I tell him my plans. So we'll see."

[jef]

I had a previously planned golf trip to Vegas for that week and we purchased tickets for his first show on the 27th today.

We were able to get seats near the front so the ticket sales must be very slow given that they have been on sale for a few days now....

[MormonMatthew]

I have gone down to Vegas to see both Bob Dylan and Van Morrison at the Joint at the Hard Rock.......

A nice room with excellent sound, though I remember that the drinks were not cheap. Its away from the Strip, but the area seems safe.

I hope you enjoy Santana, who I feel is one of America's finest guitar players.

[duende]

why am I feeling a "put out to pasture" or "fill that wallet" vibe with Carlos' decision? Long-time fans had to be thinking sell-out when he did the collaboration CD's, but a Vegas residency... I can't help but think Cher, Celine & Wayne when a long-term Vegas run is mentioned. Unless... he uses the residency to experiment with backing personnel, featured guests, etc. - ignoring the pre-programmed light and sound cues and Cirque precision staging that are the rage in Vegas showcase theaters now.

[revjimk]

Of course Carlos is 100% right about Ganja.
I volunteered for Obama, still like him, but he's had me worried ever since he appointed Hillary Sec. of State... handshake deal at Convention???
But I'm shocked that the enlightened Carlos would sign such a deal with Vegas!!!
Once again, $$$$ talks...
rev

[Cleophus]

If Carlos didn't 'jump the shark' with those collaboration albums, sure looks he has now. :(

Still a helluva musician, nonetheless.

[Gards]

Of course Carlos is 100% right about Ganja.
I volunteered for Obama, still like him, but he's had me worried ever since he appointed Hillary Sec. of State... handshake deal at Convention???
But I'm shocked that the enlightened Carlos would sign such a deal with Vegas!!!
Once again, $$$$ talks...
rev

Im with you on the Ganja thing.And I dont normaly like to comment on politics as I know some get offside ,but HC doesnt do much for me,and as ive spent a lot of time in Europe the last few years the US image needs a lot of shaking up,and I think that BHO is doin that
Carlos at Vegas must be considered as a good way to retirement for him,he has been playing for so long, and I know for a fact he is a good guy,and he still cuts it. So he should be allowed some fun,as long as tiger or lion dont try to eat him
Cheers
Gards

[revjimk]

Carlos can play anywhere he wants. He's one of the greatest electric guitarists ever, and one of the few 60s guys still growing & totally alive in performance. Liquid fire! Was it the JF right after Katrina where he kicked ass magnificently?
My first Santana show was the first for many on the East Coast, the real Woodstock, 1969, first show Sat. morning, beautiful sunshine & some guru had us all "Omming" before Carlos came on. Already blissed out, most of us had never even heard of him, & of course it was absolutely amazing.
So like I said he can play where he wants... but I don't have to be happy about it. Exclusively VEGAS??!?Always appreciated Carlos for lots more than just his musical genius (and still do, I guess we all have to make a living... )
rev

[Chas_P]

why am I feeling a "put out to pasture" or "fill that wallet" vibe with Carlos' decision? Long-time fans had to be thinking sell-out when he did the collaboration CD's, but a Vegas residency... I can't help but think Cher, Celine & Wayne when a long-term Vegas run is mentioned. Unless... he uses the residency to experiment with backing personnel, featured guests, etc. - ignoring the pre-programmed light and sound cues and Cirque precision staging that are the rage in Vegas showcase theaters now.


Put out to pasture? After last year's JF set???? Unless something went downhill in 1 year; no way. He was so great, I passed out. OK, maybe the sun and a few tokes after a couple of years... ;) but the set was MONEY as they say.

TGFJF, I may never have seen Carlos otherwise. The first collaboration was a true success; the second..... Let's see if he still preaches in Vegas!

[Rossvegas]

I wouldn't be so quick to put Carlos under the bus when it comes to the Vegas gig. The city has come a LONG way from the Wayne Newton and Jerry Vale days, and I was really happy that I was able to see Prince "in residence" at a night club there a couple of years ago. All you have to do is take a look at the demographic that Vegas attracts these days and it all makes sense: affluent people in their 30's, 40's and 50's - the exact same crowd that pays money to see him in an amphitheatre. The big difference in the Vegas gig is that the sound will be perfect, the sightlines will be great, the wimmin will be dressed to kill and he can use some really creative lighting that he can't drag with him everywhere else. There's also a never-ending parade of other stars coming to town, so i wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him do some very interesting duets and collaborations. Let's see what happens!

[almarco]

I wouldn't be so quick to put Carlos under the bus when it comes to the Vegas gig. The city has come a LONG way from the Wayne Newton and Jerry Vale days, and I was really happy that I was able to see Prince "in residence" at a night club there a couple of years ago. All you have to do is take a look at the demographic that Vegas attracts these days and it all makes sense: affluent people in their 30's, 40's and 50's - the exact same crowd that pays money to see him in an amphitheatre. The big difference in the Vegas gig is that the sound will be perfect, the sightlines will be great, the wimmin will be dressed to kill and he can use some really creative lighting that he can't drag with him everywhere else. There's also a never-ending parade of other stars coming to town, so i wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him do some very interesting duets and collaborations. Let's see what happens!

kinda like the spectators at the bon jovi set at fest?

[Rossvegas]

Kinda.

[Cleophus]

Word up -- I hope I didn't sound too dismissive. A Santana concert in ~1992 might have been the most moving concert I've ever been to. (A friend and I were literally speechless and emotional after he played In a Silent Way. I can't think of any other concert that's been like that for me.) In the times I've seen him since, he's been great, and been crappy, but in general he still kicks much booty.