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by rick grant
rickgrant01@comcast.net
The legendary rock royalty from East L.A., Los Lobos rolled into the Freebird last Thursday night and proved why they are considered one of the greatest rock bands on earth to emerge from the early 1970s. Now in their 34th year they played to a small audience, but it put on a blistering show of eclectic music. These musical veterans played a wide variety of tunes from their Latin influenced songs to their blues-rock hits. They played a cross-section of their 15 hit albums with an emphasis on their new CD, The Town and The City, which is a rare concept album.
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Holding a band together for 34 years is a monumental accomplishment. It underscores their dedication to the group and their fans. It also shows that the main songwriters in the group, David Hidalgo and Louie Perez are innovative and prolific composers who continue to write important music. Los Lobos’ latest album, The Town and The City was a struggle to complete, but it came together through the efforts of Hidalgo and Perez, who wrote something decidedly different from the group’s other work.
The central core of the album started with what Hidalgo and Perez called “The Valley’s” distinct groove that morphed into the seven minute song, “If You Were Only Here Tonight”. The rest of the album evolved from the roots of that song as a continuing story line of life in the City of Angels.
At the band’s Freebird show, Hidalgo quipped “well this is an intimate setting,” meaning he was disappointed with the small turnout. But it was a partisan audience of fans that were very enthusiastic. I talked to a couple who had driven down from Valdosta, Georgia for the show. They were ecstatic at seeing the band in person, even with the dismal prospect of facing the two hour drive back home and having to go to work the next day. The band responded with tight grooves and top notch musicianship.
Live, Los Lobos is a sensational act–blending many rhythms and grooves into its jamming power. On “If You Were Only Here Tonight”, its intricate groove was an open door to the group’s improvisational prowess as advanced musicians. Steve Berlin’s baritone saxophone added the street feel of City which is as diverse in its sound as the multicultural population of Los Angeles. These L.A. residents brilliantly meld their music into the ever changing cultural colors of L.A., like shifting human tides of millions of cars on endless freeways. Each song came off as an episode in the rough journey from idea to reality as the new album took shape. In this regard, The Town and The City may be Los Lobos’ greatest album. Perhaps it is one of rock’s greatest recordings, tantamount to the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper. For me, witnessing the band perform this music live was a milestone event.
In addition to the song writing team of David Hidalgo on guitar and lead vocals and Louie Perez on drums, Cesar Rosas was smoking on guitar and vocals, and Conrad Lozano is the best bassist I think I have ever seen. They were playing at the top of their abilities. The fact that the band ignored the low turnout and gave the audience a top quality show is a tribute to their professionalism and it helps to explain why the group has stayed together so long.
Frankly, I’ve always liked Los Lobos’ Latin songs the best. However, this new CD, The Town and The City is a masterpiece. More significantly, its completely different from anything the band has ever done. When I heard them play cuts off the work at their Freebird show, I was stunned by its overall genius.
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