Best Concert
Los Lobos, at the Rialto Theatre
STAFF PICK: Or, we could've called this category "Best
Band Of High School Pals." Bow down in thanks for the astral
convergence that occurred at East L.A.'s Garfield High in the
late '60s. Can these guys get any better? No resting on laurels
and Bachman-Turner Overdrive oldies-style tours for Los Lobos.
They continue, after more than 20 years, to push the musical envelope,
get better with age, and remain, well, friends. (Ever been in
a band? Most break up just trying to decide on a cool name.) They
obviously relish playing the hometown feel of the Tucson crowd,
and they pulled out all the stops at the spring fling at the Rialto.
A bar band at heart, albeit one with superior sound quality at
bone-rattling volume, Los Lobos tore it up with the norteño
classic "Yo Soy Mexico-Americano," the meringue influenced
"Maricela," and full-on ravers "Georgia Slop"
and "Mas y Mas."
Nor did they show any sign of easing up or slowing down with
the years. David Hidalgo could probably pick up a didgeridoo and
15 minutes later sound like John Coltrane in fifth gear; and Ray-Banned
guitarist Cesar Rosas still looks as cool as he probably did in
junior high. They'll likely be blowing the roof off the geriatric
ward 35 years from now.
