FEATURES

¡Viva El Shapeshifter!
Thrust into the national spotlight at Woodstock, Carlos Santana has changed bands, genres, venues and music as much as anyone. bob sarles steps into Santana’s magic circle

Arlo’s Dad turns 100
Troubadour joel rafael has honored Woody Guthrie in Okemah, OK, traced the man’s footsteps across the country, co-written Guthrie songs and, for his 100th birthday (Woody’s not Joel’s), written a brief history for Elmore

DEPARTMENTS

Letter: Memories of dates passed… veteran keyboardist and original bandmember Gregg Rolie recalls Santana’s beginnings

Opening Act: Snippets, fun, interviews, reviews. Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot. Where do they get these names?

Kickin’ in Your Stall: Carl Gustafson stumbles on a mutant in a talent booking agency: a guy who wants to book talent. True story!

Influences: Randy Bachman and Fred Turner have played under many different names, but have always been takin’ care of business

On The Record: Led by a long-legged tiger in a kitten suit, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals tear it up. Meanwhile, under a Pinetop, wearing a Patterson Hood and standing on her Little Feat, will Amy Cook Fiona Apple and Blackberry Smoke over Beachwood Sparks? If her Husky won’t eat it, she Ventures Mary Chapin Carpenter could use Shovels & Rope to bury it near the Taj Mahal

Re:Issues: The Ventures made the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and Dick Dale possible; we examine four discs that show us how. The complete Ricky Nelson Epic catalogue, and the complete recordings of the innovative band English Beat

Pet Sounds: Who’d a thought Ali Green would find something to love in Electronic Dance Music? Live and learn

What’d I Say: Hearing a little too much processed music? Catch up on artists with real soul

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: Hardworking, unfunded and underappreciated, Thomas Boddie made magic

Also Appearing: Q. What’s the difference between summer music and zucchini? A. You can never have too much music. The elegance of Newport Folk, down-home crowd at Bonnaroo, Country Joe back at Bethel, and Southside Johnny—predictably—in Asbury Park

Collecting: Jack White and his Third Man Records have a major commitment to vinyl—that’s vinyl records, not necessarily vinyl sofas. Arnie Goodman earns his White Stripes

Get to Know 20: Musicians Who Sell More Than Music

This Month’s Trivia