|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Brings Heart, Soul & Pure Joy to Chula Vista
August 18th, 2026 Review by Joey Clark
There are certain artists you go see because you want to hear the songs that served as the soundtrack to your life. Then there are artists you see because you want to witness what happens when decades of experience, technical mastery, and genuine passion collide on a stage. Santana’s performance for their Oneness Tour at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre was the best of both worlds.
“Legend” is a word that gets tossed around far too often these days, but when it comes to Carlos Santana, legend is an understatement. The Latin artist has crafted hits throughout his storied career and is highly respected by his peers.
The Grammy Award winner’s career has spanned more than half a century, and it would be easy to approach a show like this as a run-of-the-mill tour stop. The songs are there, the audience is ready, and the legacy speaks for itself. There is certainly no shortage of legacy acts who appear to be going through the motions, collecting a paycheck while relying heavily on the nostalgia attached to their catalog.
Carlos Santana wasn’t interested in doing that. From the moment he took the stage, there was an unmistakable sense that Santana genuinely wanted to be there. More importantly, he seemed genuinely grateful that the audience was there with him. That love for the audience was arguably one of the most memorable parts of the entire evening.
Santana’s playing has always been technically remarkable, but what continues to separate him from so many of his peers is the emotion behind every note. His guitar doesn’t simply demonstrate what he is capable of playing; it seems to communicate what he is feeling. On this night, that passion felt more vibrant than ever and the audience could not help but notice.
August 11th, 2026
There was a collective sense of awe throughout the performance as Santana and his band moved through a catalog that has influenced generations of musicians. Songs that many of us have heard countless times suddenly felt alive again, transformed by a band that has no interest in treating these compositions like museum pieces.
And then there is Santana himself.
Watching him play is a reminder that technical ability and emotional expression don’t have to exist independently of one another. He can execute with the precision you would expect from a musician of his caliber, but there is always something more underneath it.
A bend of a note, a sustained tone or a particularly intricate bar can feel less like a display of virtuosity and more like Santana is simply letting the music move through him. That distinction matters in a world of soulless shredding that fails to illicit emotion. It was evident when you were swept up in the intrigue of “Black Magic Woman,” felt the uncontrollable urge to dance with “Oye Como Va,” or vibing out to “Evil Ways.”
It’s one thing to watch a legendary musician reproduce the songs that made them famous. It is another thing entirely to watch that musician perform those songs with the same sense of wonder and excitement that made audiences fall in love with them in the first place.
The musicianship throughout the evening was exceptional, and the crowd was visibly blown away by what was happening in front of them.
Santana’s band is filled with players capable of keeping up with the demands of his music, navigating the intricate fusion of rock, Latin rhythms, blues and jazz that has defined his sound for decades.
It was also impressive to witness standout solo moments for the heartbeat of the band, Cindy Blackman Santana, Carlos’ wife and longtime drummer, as well as one from keyboardist and vocalist, Salvador Santana, his son.
Carlos was beaming with pride seeing his family members perform to the absolute best of their abilities.
But despite all the technical brilliance happening onstage, the evening never felt like a flat, calculated clinic. It felt like a celebration of Santana’s vast catalog. That may have been the most refreshing part of the entire night.
He wasn’t standing onstage asking the audience to admire his accomplishments – he was inviting everyone into the experience with him. In the middle of his set, he proclaimed that we are “One heart. One people.”
His kind heart was further showcased when he spoke with conviction about the fear so many people have about our neighbors to the south in Mexico. Santana stated, “Walls are for people who are afraid, there’s no need to be afraid. Let’s change the narrative and the paradigm. I wish for every one of you good health, peace of mind, and joy. God bless you.”
By the end of the night, it was impossible to miss just how much the audience had been affected by the performance. The cheers weren’t simply the reaction to hearing familiar songs – which included “The Game of Love,” “(Da le) Yaleo,” “Put Your Lights On,” “Foo Foo,” and of course, “Smooth.”
They were reactions to musicianship, passion and the unmistakable feeling that the artist standing in front of them still loves what he does.
Santana could have easily treated this chapter of his career as an opportunity to coast on an incredible legacy. Instead, he showed up with heart. That is what makes Santana so special.
The technical ability is undeniable, the catalog is legendary and the influence is immeasurable, but none of that would matter nearly as much if the passion wasn’t still there. On August 11th in Chula Vista, it was.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Highway One Photography
TO FOLLOW
SID 260819 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
