Finally on his third try Carlos Santana gave the H-Town audience what they had been waiting since before Covid to see at the Woodlands Pavilion.
 
    The now 75 year-old bandleader led a tight eight-piece band through a 19 song set list on a beautiful Sunday night on the outdoor stage in The Woodlands Texas. Start time for Santana’s set was 8:30 p.m. but Carlos took the stage wearing yellow pants, Bob Marley shirt, and a red beanie at 8:15. Santana opened the show with Soul Sacrifice leading into Jingo followed by Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va.

    As a note for the guitar aficionados in attendance was Carlos's use of his Gold Leaf Singlecut Paul Reed Smith guitar with a stoptail non- tremolo bridge for the entire show. This was the guitar that inspired the PRS Private Stock 6440 McCarty Singlecut 24-Fret Gold Leaf Guitar of the Month made for September 2016 in a limited edition of only 20.

    Drummer Cindy Blackman, who is also Santana’s wife, proved that she is a force to be reckoned with behind the skins, and toward the end of the show the 63 year young percussionist gave an energetic and powerful drum solo to rival any of the youngsters following in her footsteps.

    Santana closed the show with Smooth which was the biggest hit off the Supernatural album and it was a fitting end to a perfect night of music in The Woodlands.

    Kicking things off this show was the recently reunited Austin super group, the Arc Angels. Singer/guitarists Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton, along with drummer Chris Layton and new bassist Eric Holden ran through a short but polished set including Always Believed in You, Shape I’m In, and Living in a Dream. Earth, Wind and Fire had been scheduled to open the previously cancelled Santana shows, but they’re on their own tour which came to Houston last year.

 
Santana Setlist:
Soul Sacrifice
Jingo
Evil Ways
Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
Oye Cómo Va
Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile)
Everybody's Everything
Ain't No Sunshine
Venus
The Game of Love
Joy
Roadhouse Blues
Put Your Lights On
Corazón Espinado
Maria Maria
Foo Foo
Are You Ready
Band Intros > Gonna Have a Funky Good Time (Doin’ It to Death) (partial)
Smooth

Arc Angels Setlist:
Paradise Café
Carry Me On
Always Believed in You
Sent by Angels
Spanish Moon
She’s All Right
Shape I’m In
Living in a Dream
Too Many Ways to Fall