By W.E. Sauls
If you don’t like the Doobie Brothers, you’re Wrong
When I met my wife all I knew was that she loved metal and reggae. I had no idea until a couple of years later that she LOVES the Doobie Brothers. I knew less than zero about the Doobs. I had heard of them, but had no clue they were the absolute hit and groove machine they were.
So when it came across the calendar they were coming to the STL sharing the stage with the legend that is Santana, I knew it was my husbandly duty to buy tickets.
The Scene
The place was absolutely packed. The parking lot is a godforsaken logistical nightmare. First tip, pay the $20 for VIP parking, it’ll save 75 minutes of your life. Second, take 70 to 141 south, don’t come from the south on 141 north. We got to within 1 mil of the venue at 6:05pm. We got to our seats at 7:15pm. We missed Rockin’ Down the Highway, but got to our seats in time to get our faces melted off.
The Doobie’s hit you square in the jaw with hit after hit after hit. If there is a tighter band on the planet, I haven’t heard them. Ukiah, China Grove, Listen to the Music, Jesus is Just Alright, Takin’ it to the Streets, Black Water…the catalogue is unbelievable and seemingly endless.
Let’s talk Tom Johnston
He is the most underrated front man in the history of Rock N’ Roll. Seriously. You never hear his name. He has a perfect rock voice, is an insanely sick guitar player, and absolutely owns every crowd in front of him.
Plus, that mustache has been perfect since 1970. Dude has been rocking the same haircut and facial hair since Nixon was in office. And ya know what?? The hair-stache combo plays. Johnston knows the demo coming to his shows and stays true. Imagine Elvis without the sideburns…that’s what it would be like if Johnston cut the stache.
Then Came Santana
Of all of the people that took the stage at Woodstock in 1969, Santana is the second I’ve been able to see live. Fogerty was the first. Santana has about a dozen folks on stage with him, and as a true band leader he gives them all a chance to shine and take center stage. His vocalists were both fantastic and worked the crowd well. But the stand out in the band…
Cindy Blackman Santana
Good god this woman can drum. Live, I have never seen a more precise, wild, and unstoppable drummer. She officially supplanted Max Weinberg and P.H. Naffah from atop mount drum in my personal rankings. She never, not once, dropped her energy level. I would’ve dropped the $40 just to watch her for an hour. Absolutely amazing.
The Highlight of the Night
About 40 minutes into his set, Santana brought the Doobie Brothers on stage for a 30 minute all out medley jam. To watch Santana and Johnston trade guitar solos…what God did I please??? Again, every person on stage got a chance to shine. Carlos Santana knows his name is at the top of the marquee, but he also knows every person on this musical journey with him is an amazing and accomplished musician that deserves celebration.
In all, it was an unforgettable Friday night on the outskirts of this city. Bus loads of legends came to St. Louis and gave us every ounce of sweat they had. At this point, 50 years into their careers, they could easily prop themselves up and just go through the motions and cash some checks. But, that is not what true musicians and entertainers like Santana and the Doobie Brothers do. They play as hard and as honest as they did back when their records came out on 8-Track tapes.
Follow Sauls on Twitter @Will_ArchCity
