Santana Roots Concert: Reliving the legend
Indeed, the Santana Roots concert led by Santana's original lead singer Gregg Rolie at the SM City Carpark on the eve of April 30 was stunningly great.
For almost two hours the audience did not have qualms to swing to the beat of the legendary Santana tunes. In fact, the energy of the audience made Rolie and his group come back to the stage twice even as their performance had already ended.
Joining Rolie were Santana veterans, Michael Carabello (congas) Alphonso Johnson (bass) and Adrian Areas (timbales); and other band members Kurt Griffey (guitar), Ron Wikso (drums) and Walter Minko (keyboard).
The seven-man group performed original Santana hits "Oye Como Va", "Black Magic Woman", "Evil Ways" and the popular instrumental "Soul Sacrifice", among others, to the delight of the audience.
Definitely the once in a lifetime concert would be etched in the memory of all the Ilonggos who were there to witness live the performance of the phenomenal Gregg Rolie and his group who made a remarkable feat in the historic Woodstock '69 in New York.
Morever, it is worthy to note that the Iloilo leg of the Santana Roots Tour was for the benefit of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Iloilo (Confesor) Council chaired by Mayor Adolfo Jaen of Leganes, Iloilo.
The concert was brought in part by the Panay Council of Lions Clubs Presidents, SM City Iloilo, PCSO, Pizza Hut, F&C Jewelry, Iloilo Emerald Lions Club, Mr. Labada, Kawayan Restaurant, West Visayas State University, Panorama Printing, Aris Bar and media partners The News Today, GMA, Bombo Radyo, Cream, The Guardian and Panay News.