Bands similar to Santana

feyshay · Post by **feyshay** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:52 am

I agree with the Iguanas. I can't believe that no one has mentioned what I consider to be a better band with two guitarists nearly on par with Santana--and better songwriters in the band.
Los Lobos. Kiko is one of my favorites, and they totally rock live.
Caravanserai by Santana is mind-blowing.

Pandamonium · Post by **Pandamonium** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:17 am

Check out http://www.pandamonium.com.au/pachooka/ especially their sonic life vibe album. These guys are amazing live, I produced thealbum, I told them I thought they sounded a lot like Santana, and they didnt know who Santana were, guess they were born about 20 years too late!

bassntreble · Post by **bassntreble** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:08 pm

i'd start with WAR...similar sound and they were around at about the same time.

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:47 pm

If you mean latin influenced guitar of the mid-late 70s era with solid perc backing, try Al DiMeola, album Land of the Midnight Sun.

I've got a track on the last CD I've foisted on an unsuspecting public

here is a brief sample:

http://audio.cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/u/t/utenzil2-06.mp3

that is Santana inspired, more mellow though. If you happen to listen to this and like it, let me know and I'll do more like this and post some.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 4:19 pm

That's a cool track!

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:03 pm

Gary wrote: That's a cool track!

Thanks!

I'll have to pull out El Guitarro, have a few jalapeno slices and do some more along those lines, then.

btw, the deep bass notes and the "wharmp whamp whamp whahm-whamp" walking synth line are also guitar.

neomodo · Post by **neomodo** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:00 am

One thing I gotta give Santana some credit for - HIS TONE - he is in essence the grandfather of the Mesa Boogie - which began as a consequence of having a Fender Princeton modified by Randall Smith and pals. He also came up with the name accidentally when he said "man that thing boogies...ese.."

His tone is to die for and if he could only do it justice.

I saw old carlos a few years ago - He and Jeff Beck were touring and fortunately on the night I saw them Beck opened up - (they were trading off) By the time Carlos had played the 2nd tune I knew I was done and not interested in hearing any more. And man - why does he insist on talking? Homie is perma-buzzed - "yeah like peace and love and infinite spirit I have thc and lsd residue in my system forever more..."

How come he can get away with playing the same exact lead on every song?

blakbeltjonez · Post by **blakbeltjonez** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:18 pm

feyshay wrote:I agree with the Iguanas. I can't believe that no one has mentioned what I consider to be a better band with two guitarists nearly on par with Santana--and better songwriters in the band.
Los Lobos. Kiko is one of my favorites, and they totally rock live.
Caravanserai by Santana is mind-blowing.

amen to Los Lobos live..... i dunno how much they sound like Santana (and what incarnation of Santana are we talking about, anyway? they are all pretty different), but JESUS, i was surprised at how tough they sounded live. gotta love the sound of tweed Fender Bassmans turned all the way up.... rock and roll dirt!

as far as a "singing" lead solo guitar tone, mid 70's era Jeff Beck has that same kinda vibe as Santana's early stuff - i'm thinking "Blow By Blow" and "Wired" albums. in a jazz/fusion kinda way, L.A. session guitarist Larry Carlton's 70's solo records had that same clear, sustainy Mesa Boogie sound.

War and early Santana had a lot in common sonically ... tunes like "Spill The Wine" and "Slipping Into Darkness" (appropriated by Bob Marley for "Get Up Stand Up") would not sound out of place on a Santana record. they are kind of a forgotten band nowadays.

it's funny that a lot of the early Santana stuff that was most popular were all covers "Black Magic Woman" was by Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac, "Oye Como Va" was originally by Tito Puente, "Jingo" was by Babatunde Olatunji.....check out the original versions if you haven't already.

neomodo · Post by **neomodo** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:43 pm

hey you can't leave out "I'm winning"

muhahahaha that was a joke -

and I don't intend on making it again

blakbeltjonez · Post by **blakbeltjonez** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:06 pm

neomodo wrote:hey you can't leave out "I'm winning"

muhahahaha that was a joke -

and I don't intend on making it again

ugghh...Alex Ligertwood's gutless voice - thank God that song has been lost in the sands of time. that was yet another version of Santana, when i was a kid "Winning" was in fairly steady rotation on the local rawk radio station.

Bands similar to Santana

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