Journey
Santana
Mohegan Sun Arena
April 15, 2016

The greatest part of a co-headlining tour is seeing two great bands at once. This was no exception. The line up of Santana and Journey was an excellent mix. On one hand you have Santana, whose fusion of rock and latin music has been filling seats since the late 60s. He has had hits on top of hits, including ‘Black Magic Woman’, ‘Soul Sacrifice’ and my personal favorite ‘Smooth’. Then you have Journey, a legend on their own. The group formed in San Francisco, and has been touring since the late 70s. Even though they have had to replace their lead singer, they can still sell out a venue with their amazing catalogue of music.

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Santana

Carlos Santana has not changed. I was expecting a colorful wardrobe when he appeared on stage, but he didn’t need it. Once he started to play, there was no doubt who it was. The rest of the band was amazing as well. Santana just reunited with his original lineup, and this same day released the first album with this lineup in 45 years, Santana IV. Throughout the set, there were 3 drummers, and more drums than I could count. Gregg Rolie on lead vocals and piano/keyboard, another guitarist, and a bassist. Then hidden on the opposite side of the stage was another piano/keyboard player! The show started with some of his older tracks, ‘Soul Sacrifice’ and ‘Jing-go-lo-ba’. There was a video playing behind them with some african dancers that went along with the music, and I wasn’t sure where to look since they were both very eye catching.

After the third song, Santana started talking about inviting someone on stage. Then out popped Neal Schon, who was in Santana’s band before he formed Journey. He played a few songs with them, and the crowd loved it. Some stood and danced, but everyone stood and cheered at the end of each song. It wasn’t until Santana played ‘Black Magic Woman’ that everyone stood, and continued to stand. Once the hits started rolling in, they didn’t stop. Santana’s wife, Cindy Blackman-Santana, took over on the drums partway through. She was amazing! She did an incredible drum solo while the rest of the band rested and then proceeded to blast through the rest of the set. I was thoroughly surprised when he had back up singers come out and sing ‘Maria, Maria’. I had forgotten about the song, but knew every word when they sang it. My only let down of the night was when Santana played ‘Smooth’. I kept waiting for Rob Thomas to make a surprise guest appearance, but he never showed up. I also waited for Santana to show up when I saw Rob last summer. Hearing that song performed by one or the other is missing half the greatness of it. He rounded out his set with one encore song, ‘Toussaint L’ Ouverture’. It was a high energy, fast paced song that Santana told us was about Toussaint fighting to abolish slavery. It was a very uplifting way to end the set.

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Journey

Before I knew it, the lights were dimmed and Journey came out on stage. They started off with ‘Seperate Ways (Worlds Apart)’. I was blown away with how much Arnel Pineda sounded like original singer Steve Perry. He was outstanding. With a fresh haircut, tight leather pants and a million dollar smile, he was everything a rockstar should be. Arnel jumped and spun around like a 20 year old front man. I was surprised when I looked up his age to see he was almost 50.

The third song of the night was ‘Open Arms’, and the excitement level went through the roof. Everyone was up and singing along (even me!). Neal was just as amazing on the guitar with Journey as he was when playing with Santana. I loved everything about Jonathan Cain. He played the keyboard/piano wonderfully. Even his jacket and feathered hair were perfect! Drummer Steve Smith rejoined the band only two days prior, after not playing with the band since 1983. He has a close relationship with Neal and a good rapport with the rest of the band, so when they asked him to play on this tour, he accepted.

Before they played ‘Lights’, they showed a picture of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. The man in front of me put his hands up in the air like someone had answered his prayers. When the song actually started, he lost control. It was amazing to see someone so moved by a song that has been out for so long, and being sung by someone else. That’s the power of a true rock n’ roll song. The night rolled on with ‘Faith in the Heartland’. Then they had Travis Thibodaux sing ‘Mother, Father’. He sounded fantastic, but it was not a song I recognized, or enjoyed. The lyrics and sound were not like the other catchy songs that I expect from them. The last group of songs of the night made for a perfect ending. They played ‘Faithfully’, ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, and ‘Anyway You Want It’. They walked off stage to thunderous applause and chants of one more song. They did come back and sang ‘Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’. It was an incredible night filled with great songs, high energy and memories to last as long as these bands have.