What to know
- Carlos Santana and the Doobie Brothers brought their Oneness Tour to Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre, delivering full sets packed with classic hits.
- Santana captivated the crowd with performances of “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Cómo Va,” “Maria Maria” and “Smooth,” while sharing messages of peace, love and unity.
- The Doobie Brothers played fan favourites including “China Grove,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “What a Fool Believes”and “Listen to the Music.”
- The concert showcased nearly six decades of music from two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts, with standout musicianship, extended jams and a celebration of timeless rock, Latin and soul influences.
Guitar master Carlos Santana didn’t say a lot Sunday night at Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre, often chilling on his wife Cindy Blackman’s drum riser, chewing gum, and coaxing the most soulful sounds from his instrument, as if it could talk, but when he did, he got all peace and love on us.
So, it makes sense his namesake group’s tour with another classic, long-running act, the Doobie Brothers, is called The Oneness Tour, the same name used when Santana co-headlined with Counting Crows in 2024.
The double-bill by the two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees — who last toured together in 2019 when the Doobies opened Santana’s Supernatural Now Tour, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Santana’s Grammy-winning album and 50th anniversary of their historic Woodstock appearance — featured two full sets by each band. The Doobies went on first with a more limited light show, even though it wouldn’t have been effective anyway with the sun still out.
Both bands are music-made for summer weather and vibes, originally hailing from California — Santana formed in San Francisco in 1966 and the Doobie in San Jose in 1970 — but over almost 60 years, their lineups have evolved considerably, retaining enough original members to continue drawing fans of 16,000 or more. The musicianship was off the charts, especially when they jammed out their songs or were given the spotlight to solo.
As a note for those unfamiliar with the Doobie Brothers beyond the “oh, I didn’t know they did that song” — “China Grove,” “Black Water,” “What a Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It To the Streets,” and more — there are no brothers in the band; the name was chosen for exactly the reason you might guess, their penchant for smoking doobies. And we smelled some of that going on.
For Santana, it’s the band’s namesake that remains the main attraction, while the Doobies still includes founding guitarist/singer Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, along with classic-era keyboardist/singer Michael McDonald who joined in 1975 (and first left in 1982 to embark on a solo career), and multi-instrumentalist John McFee, who came onboard in 1979.
They kicked off their set with “Rockin’ Down the Highway” and “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)” and “Depending on You,” before McDonald – who only reunited with the band in 2021 — stepped to the forefront for his solo hit “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” his unmistakable soulful voice soaring from behind the keyboard, and later for “It Keeps You Runnin’,” “Minute By Minute” and “What a Fool Believes.”
Clearly all having a great time onstage, Simmons called the tour a “lovefest” and “a pleasure and a privilege” to be out on the road with their “good friend Carlos Santana and his band.” They then played the title track from their latest album, Walk This Road, featuring McFee on slide guitar.
The new song, written but not sung by McDonald, fit seamlessly with the Doobies’ past work, built around rich harmonies that helped define classics like the aforementioned “It Keeps You Runnin’,” “What a Fool Believes,” “Long Train Runnin’” and groovy “China Grove.” Many in the older crowd were up on their feet for “Jesus Is Just Alright,” while the anticipated “Takin’ It to the Streets,” and closing out “Listen to the Music” brought the set to an energetic close, primed for Santana.
After a brief intermission, the stage was set for Santana’s spiritual playground. Dressed all in white, his shirt emblazoned with an image of Bob Marley and sporting a white fedora-style hat, Carlos was still as commanding and cool as ever.
Whether seated on the drum riser or standing, his playing remained mesmerizing, carrying the emotion, soul and spiritual intensity that have made him one of the guitar greats. He spoke of world peace and the power of love, staying true to the message that has long been woven through his music.
The set journeyed through Santana’s extraordinary catalogue, including “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen,” “Oye Cómo Va” and “Europa (Earth’s Cry, Heaven’s Smile),” along with later-era hits such as “Maria Maria,” “Corazón Espinado” and the Grammy-winning “Smooth.”
Again, the musicianship from everyone onstage was astounding, and Carlos gave each player the opportunity to shine. The songs, sung by Ray Greene and Andy Vargas, were stretched into extended jams, allowing each composition to breathe and ignite with Latin percussion, blues feeling and rock power.
The man who earlier this year received The Recording Academy’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Special Merit Awards truly is a treasure. By combining cultures, genres and generations, he has built a legacy that continues to inspire.
At RBC Amphitheatre, Santana once again showed why his music remains timeless — a celebration of rhythm, melody and the universal language of the guitar and why he’s able to pack the place each time he returns.
“I’d like to take this time to remind you, gently, that you are precious, you are priceless, you are significant, and meaningful,” he said near the end of the set. “We have the capacity to make this world a better place. We can change life. We can go beyond AI and religion and conscience. We can go to a place where it’s just the heart because when you live in the heart, you don’t need permission or approval for stupid shit.
“When you do things from your heart, it’s just light and joy. I invite you together, together we can create a tsunami of light and flood ignorance, darkness, and fear.”
