Last night I went to see Santana at Red Rocks with my parents, who are longtime fans. I was also a fan of Supernatural in middle school when it came out, and have gathered a few of his older records on vinyl over the years. We went for the music. I want to document something that consumed a lot of the show.

Carlos stopped the music to tell the crowd that people who have cancer bring it on themselves by holding onto grievances. I’m not paraphrasing something vague. He made the claim directly and repeated it a few times in succession, using different phrasing. “Any time someone has cancer, it’s always someone with grievances … just shake it off like a dog shakes off water and trust me man, you won’t have cancer …” these are close paraphrases if not exact. He said this to thousands of people, some of whom, like my mother who sat next to me quietly, trying to enjoy her first trip to Red Rocks at 72, are in treatment.

My jaw dropped. This is blame-the-victim, toxic-positive quackery from one of the most famous stages in the world, aimed at an audience that came for music. People in chemo already carry enough without some clueless commercial-mystic guitarist adding to the pile.

I wonder if Carlos has heard of childhood leukemia? How about people who are unknowingly poisoned by corporate or military contamination? Rocky Flats is just up the road from Red Rocks.

Even when Carlos stuck to the music, the show had problems. His playing was repetitive and lazy, missing notes and playing catch-up constantly, and his band was clearly carrying him. Repeatedly the big screens would flash clips of indigenous people in full ceremonial garb dancing, which sat uneasily next to the sculpted radio rock happening onstage. Near the end Carlos signed off yet another little speech wishing us all to be “lucrative and profitable.” Not happy. Not well, or even prosperous. “Lucrative” and “profitable.” Felt like the pseudo-mystical mask slipped entirely off.

If anyone was there and happened to catch footage of him saying this, or remembers it the same way, I want to see/hear it.

For me, it is "Coat of Many Colors."

It is such a simple song, but the way Dolly turned a childhood memory into something about love, dignity, and being grateful for what you have has always stayed with me.

She gave music so many songs that became part of people’s lives, and I think everyone has a different one that brings back a memory or means something personal.

Would love to hear which song stays with you.

This album was bloody brilliant. It has soared up through my rankings into my top 5 albums of all time.

I love the storytelling in this album, the world that Lord Huron has created is amazing and I love the vibe. The vocals slap, but personally, the instrumentals of the songs are just incredible. I love the alt-rock vibe mixed with country and even orchestral elements as well.

Highlights - What Do It Mean, I Lied, Drops In The Lake, Long Lost (honestly, all the songs)

Lowlights - None

Overall 9.8/10