Santana unloads guitar-fueled rock at Verizon Amphitheater

UPDATE: 9:10 p.m.

By RAMIRO BURR

Guitar master Carlos Santana unleashed his familiar fiery guitar attack to a receptive audience at a capacity Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Friday night.

There was very little new that Santana brought to the plate but it didn't matter to the faithful. The many tribes of Santana's followers had come to witness another two-hour journey into guitar freeform flights. 

And they got what they came for.

Opening the show was the Salvador Santana Band, led by Santana's 24-year-old son, who played most of the material from his self-titled debut album which mixed reggae, rock, funk and hip-hop. For a while there, you could heard distinct echoes of Malo's "Suavecito."

By the time Santana, in black T-shirt, hat and jeans, took the stage in the expansive stage at the amphitheater, the sun had settled over the horizon and the evening was transfomed into a magical scene. There were clear, star-lit skies with a moderate breeze and a comfy mid-70s temperature.

Santana's shows are known for their marathon pace, with Santana firing off solo after extended solo as he leads the band through the peaks and valleys of his repertoire. Crowd favorites always include classic tunes like "Batuka," "No One to Depend On," "Everybody's Everything," "Jingo," "Black Magic Woman," and "Gypsy Queen." But Santana always concentrates a good deal of his focus on obscure and lesser known - at least for non-hardcore fans - tunes like "Shapeshifter," "Nomad," "Curacion," "Smooth," "Dame."

A high point Friday night came when the band finished a series of extended, mostly instrumental tunes and plowed into the catchy grooves of "No One to Depend On." Again and again, the sea of bodies that stretched out over the horizon in the back end of the theater, got on their feet to jam and juke to the rhythms.

The massive video screens provided huge closeups of the action on the stage, as Santana uncorked jam after jam. His right hand was a blur as he furiously picked and pucked away.

Four decades since he began his career, Santana still matters, at least judging by the full house Friday at the amphitheater. His signature guitar tone, a metal-edged, steely sound is recognizable anywhere. His fury and speed on the fret board has inspired dozens of guitarists.

And he's managed to stay relevant through the years by sticking to his original sound while occasionally collaborating with younger artists.

Where you there? Take photos? Send us your stuff, we'll post.

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UPDATE: 9:10 p.m.