If you害羞草研究所檙e looking for a dead-on impersonation of Carlos Santana, says his act might not be for you.

The Vancouver-based musician who brings his popular tribute act, to the stage of the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Saturday night says his show is more about honouring the music than note-for-note replication.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e paying homage (to Santana),害羞草研究所� he stressed.害羞草研究所淣ot emulating.害羞草研究所�

Towle,who has been playing the guitar since he was 12 and working as a professional musician for more than 20 years, feels that given the abundance of tribute acts and impersonators, it害羞草研究所檚 an important distinction to note.

害羞草研究所淲hat we害羞草研究所檙e really trying to do, in the truest sense, is pay tribute rather than try to be Carlos Santana. I don害羞草研究所檛 pretend to be anybody but me,害羞草研究所� he noted.

Not that he害羞草研究所檚 knocking tribute acts害羞草研究所攈e knows being a professional impersonator is a tough gig.

害羞草研究所淚 guess I wear the hat,害羞草研究所� he conceded. 害羞草研究所淥ther than that, I really don害羞草研究所檛 look the part, I just love to play Santana害羞草研究所檚 music.害羞草研究所�

Towle says he can害羞草研究所檛 pinpoint exactly when or how he developed his passion for the 10-time Grammy-award winner害羞草研究所檚 work, just that, as a guitar player himself, he can害羞草研究所檛 help but admire ever-evolving performer害羞草研究所檚 distinct style.

He admits it may stem from the years he spent playing exclusively acoustic guitar, focusing on nouveau flamenco害羞草研究所攁 genre of music he says is akin to the style made popular by the Gypsy Kings.

害羞草研究所淏esides, Santana is a ton of fun to listen to, but they害羞草研究所檙e also a ton of fun to play.害羞草研究所�

That love, he added, is what inspired the former music teacher to assemble Supernatural害羞草研究所� a seven, and sometimes, eight piece band that he says recreates the experience of a Santana concert, with 害羞草研究所渁ll the energy and musicianship of the real thing.害羞草研究所�

Acknowledging the ambition required to devote a group of musicians soley to covering Carlos Santana害羞草研究所檚 vast canon of ever-evolving music, Towle points to the uniqueness of itself.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e never met a person that doesn害羞草研究所檛 at least like Santana. Who wouldn害羞草研究所檛 want to cover his music?害羞草研究所� he asked, adding that standing out among his peers in the West Coast music scene was also attractive when it comes to choosing his act.

害羞草研究所淭here are a bajillion Beatles acts, but as far as I know we害羞草研究所檙e the only Santana act outside of California.害羞草研究所�

Whatever Towle and Supernatural are doing, it appears to have struck a chord, with Vernon audiences, as their last three local performances have sold out.

And he害羞草研究所檚 hoping for another sell-out this weekend.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e really looking forward to coming back to Vernon,害羞草研究所� he said.

The show, which Towle describes as high energy, covers 50 years of Santana害羞草研究所檚 music, from his career-making performance of Soul Sacrifice at Woodstock, to his collaborations and more recent albums.

害羞草研究所淲e pretty much kick off at a ten, and it keeps going from there. We have two amazing singers; a male and a female, and I sing as well. It害羞草研究所檚 a really broad spectrum to cover, so we have quite a few songs on reserve.害羞草研究所�

When you害羞草研究所檙e covering a 50-year career, he noted, the question isn害羞草研究所檛 what songs to cover, it害羞草研究所檚 what songs to leave out.

Supernatural: a Santana Experience takes the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage Saturday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for $55 adult through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .

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Erin Christie

Morning Star Staff

erin.christie@vernonmorningstar.com
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