Santana and the Trout Parade One of these things is different from the other

Posted 8/21/12

With two such disparate events on my schedule last weekend, I was stymied on how to draw them together here. “What’s the hook?” I whispered to the pup (www.facebook.com/DharmaTheWonderDog) …

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Santana and the Trout Parade One of these things is different from the other

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With two such disparate events on my schedule last weekend, I was stymied on how to draw them together here. “What’s the hook?” I whispered to the pup (www.facebook.com/DharmaTheWonderDog) “What could the Livingston Manor Trout Parade and a world-class musical ensemble (www.santana.com) possibly have in common?” The fishy cavalcade, (www.facebook.com/troutparade) now in its 11th year, has snowballed into an event that is not to be missed, and judging by the huge crowd it attracted last Saturday, the word has spread. This year’s theme, “Steampunk,” was embraced by many, whether on the sidelines or dancing down Main Street in the Manor, as onlookers cheered. While manning the booth (www.facebook.com/theriverreporter) and taking pics of you all, the question arose repeatedly: “Steampunk? What is it?” While I had a general idea (the term has only been floating around since the mid-‘90s), I turned to the Internet for clarification. “Steampunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction, usually set in an anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian alternate history setting. It could be described by the slogan ‘What the past would look like if the future had happened sooner.’ It includes fiction with science fiction, fantasy or horror themes” (www.urbandictionary.com). While there was nothing “horrific” on view during the parade, the many interpretations of the theme were evident in costumes, geegaws, cogs and wheels, as revelers mixed the fish with mermaids, beauty queens, high school bands and food, which again poses the question. Santana? How do these things correlate?

For me, it’s not that much of a stretch. Carlos Santana has been on a mission for more than four decades, not only to share his music, but to also spread the words: Peace. Love. Happiness. “We believe in love and light,” Santana declared. “Love is the only thing that matters, so join us. You’re about to get down with the sound of Carlos Santana!” This same message, shared at last Sunday’s concert, was evident as well at the Trout Parade, with everyone celebrating community spirit. While folks at the parade were filled with happiness and joy on a small-town scale, the pavilion and lawn at Bethel Woods (www.bethelwoodscenter.org) exploded with waves of delirium that swept me up along with the crowd, causing us to leap to our collective feet, dancing, screaming and singing along, as thousands cheered while Santana performed for their adoring fans. The first few minutes of the show are a blur, as memory does its best to serve. The overture, replete with shots of Santana himself at the 1969 Woodstock festival playing across the big screen, seamlessly segued into monster-hit “Black Magic Woman” followed by “Everybody’s Everything,” “Oye Como Va,” “Maria Maria” and of course, “Evil Ways.”

At both the concert and the street festival, I ran into hundreds of friends, all of whom were happy for the opportunity to have a shared experience, be it the NACL stilt-walkers (www.nacl.org), a popular fixture at the Trout Parade, or the incomparable life-affirming percussion that Santana’s wife, Cindy Blackman, brought to the stage, when Carlos invited her front and center, leaving her (and other members of the band) to blow the lid off the place. Blackman (IMHO) is perhaps the finest drummer in existence, and having learned that the pair met at a concert, it’s easy to understand why Carlos fell head over heels for her. Santana’s signature style combines Afro-Cuban beats blended with jazz and rock into what has now become World Music that has no equal, and his über-talented wife (www.cindyblackmansantana.com) is a force to be reckoned with. Carlos is famous for letting the spotlight shine on his compatriots, and this show was no exception. With 11 musicians and vocalists on stage, each had his or her moment to shine, but Blackman? Oh Em Gee. Her performance transcended incredible percussion, creating a magical aura that inspired, moved and surrounded us all. Beautiful children, an explosion of color, the sights and sounds that make life worth living were all around the Upper Delaware Valley this past week, and once again, I’m reminded of how glorious being “in the moment” can feel. While my days of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” might be behind me, it would appear that another “summer of love” is on the horizon. If the last week is any indication, this will be one for the books, which I’ve yet to write. Let’s get out there and dance to the music.

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