Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire at Star Lake POSTPONED; PPG Paints Arena Has Roger Waters (Wed., 7/6/22)

1) POSTPONED It was August 16, 1969 in upstate New York that a young musician, tripping on LSD, with his band, played one of the most important concerts of his life. The young guitar phenom was Carlos Santana. He and his group Santana performed an amazing concert at Woodstock. He came by musical talent quite naturally, his father was a San Francisco area violinist who performed with symphonies and mariachi bands. Early records such as Santana, Abraxas, and Santana III achieved lofty chart success. Santana would also hit the chart heights later in his career too with 1999’s Supernatural with a song he performed with Rob Thomas, “Smooth.” In 2002, he scored another big hit on a song he did with Michelle Branch, “The Game of Love.” Santana’s latest album is 2021’s Blessings and Miracles. Carlos Santana is also an accomplished artist. A double blessing indeed.

Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most successful soul/funk bands of the late ’70s and early to mid ’80s. There are many reasons for the band’s success, mainly the musical genius of EWF’s leader, the late Maurice White. White fused musical genres together, including soul, funk, African rhythms, gospel, rock, and jazz. He combined that with a tight band of top-notch musicians, including a horn section, mystical lyrics and staging, and the soaring voice of Philip Bailey. White and Bailey were the two lead singers with Bailey possessing a beautiful falsetto voice with a four-octave range. 1975’s That’s the Way of the World was the band’s first big album and produced the hits “That’s the Way of the World,” “Shining Star,” and “Reasons.” EWF has received 20 Grammy nominations, winning six as a group and White and Bailey garnering two individual awards. White’s brother Verdine is the longtime bassist for the band and Bailey’s son, Phillip Bailey Jr. is also in the band. The Santana & Earth Wind & Fire tour is the Miraculous Supernatural Tour. Sounds about right! 7 p.m. The Pavilion at Star Lake, 665 Rt. 18 Burgettstown. (R.H.)

Earth Wind & Fire in a 2009 concert. photo: Craig ONeal and Wikipedia.

2) After Syd Barrett’s departure from Pink Floyd, bassist Roger Waters became the group’s chief lyricist. His songwriting often concerned his father, who died in World War Two when Waters was five months old. Waters was the creative force behind The Dark Side of the Moon (’73), Wish You Were Here (’75), and, of course, The Wall (’79), all critical and commercial successes. The Wall Tour was highly theatrical; it was also expensive and appeared in only four cities. Waters left Pink Floyd after 1983’s The Final Cut, resulting in litigation over who owned the band’s name and material. The members later reconciled, and Waters has since toured The Dark Side of the Moon and, from 2010 to 2013, The Wall. His This is Not a Drill Tour which stops at PPG Paints Arena, is an in the round performance. It mixes solo material, both old and new, and classic Pink Floyd songs. Pittsburgh is the very first stop on the tour. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (C.M., R.H.)

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