The last time I saw Los Lobos was at SF’s legendary Fillmore Theatre in December 2008 (click here for that story).
I was blown away with their “kick over the card table and drink right from the whisky bottle” brand of rock and roll. This was not the MTV video “La Bamba” band so many 40 somethings with a causal interest in music know.
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| Los Lobos taking the stage in Port Chester, NY (March 6, 2015) |
Walking into Port Chester, NY’s super awesome Capitol Theatre last night, a majority of my show mates were thinking “La Bamba” too.
Although visibly aged and a step slower (they have been playing since 1973!), Los Lobos reminds me of that band who calmly continues to rock out while the whole bar around them is fighting mad. Nothing can rattle these guys. Cesar (pictured left on Friday night), David (above) and the band are still the definition of cool.
Their rousing “Kiko and Lavender Moon” was a highlight for me. The Garcia-esque “Evangeline” and masterful and power blues on “Just a Man” was fantabulous too!
I just heard as they have been added to the lineup at Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival Music Festival June 20 and 21 in Croton, NY!
The last time I saw Alejandro Escovedo was at a house concert in Freehold, NJ (quite the contrast to The Fillmore…) in Jan 2011 (click here for that story).
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| Alejandro Escovedo at The Capitol Theatre (March 6, 2015) |
The Alejandro Escovedo opening set for Los Lobos was pretty and precise, but not was I was hoping for. The Capitol Theatre stage commanded his full electric band, but I will take him any way I can get him.
Paired with a fantastic violin player, Alejandro told stories about the early days of cow-punk in Austin, TX and on the streets of NY’s Bowery, and played songs from his great catalog of songwriter delight tunes. The story about opening (with his band The Nuns) for the Sex Pistols in their last SF Winterland show was great to hear.
Although my show mates were looking for more (yes, I touted Alejandro quite a bit coming into the show), I loved hearing “Deerhead on the Wall” (click here if you have not heard this song yet) and “Chelsea Hotel ’78”. The texture he creates with his unique strumming style is a treat for guitar nutz.
Before I get to the setlist, some pics and audio of the Bertha cover I found online…
I must speak up about my dislike for “seats” at a rock concert. (See Dark Side of Hudson story too!)
S.A.B. (Seats are bad.) They discourage fun. Fans should rest when they die (or sleep or ride the train)… but not a rock concert.
Thanks P Squared Photography for photos below… they are much better than the ones I took above!
My Baby’s Gone
Evangeline
La Venganza De Los Pelados
Chuco’s Cumbia
Rebel Kind [with Alejandro Escovedo]
The Giving Tree [with Alejandro Escovedo]
Down on the Riverbed
Why Do You Do
Emily
The Neighborhood
I Walk Alone
Just A Man
Kiko and the Lavender Moon
Bertha (Grateful Dead)
Don’t Worry Baby
Mas y Mas
La Bamba/Good Lovin
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