You can depend on Santana, playing House of Blues

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Carlos Santana keeps on playing his guitar no matter what the rest of the music world is up to. His periodic shows at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay sort of drive that home, standardizing any differences between “old” and “new” Santana.

The band driven by congas, timbales and two horn players makes chestnuts such as 1971’s “No One to Depend On” sound remarkably consistent with “Into the Night,” recorded in 2007.

The cozy House of Blues, which allows the choice of standing right in front of the stage, is a far better fit for Santana than when he played almost the same set at the Hard Rock Hotel’s larger concert hall.

The club’s serendipitous folk-art decor matches Santana’s upscale hippie aesthetic, and if you’re lucky he will even say something cosmic.

Wednesday launches a new burst of eight shows continuing through Nov. 17.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@
reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.