Los Lobos describes themselves as a "kick-ass roots rock 'n' roll band." How would you describe them after tonight's show? Did Alejandro Escovedo start the night off right? Was there any song you wanted to hear Los Lobos perform tonight that they missed?
OK, here's the thing.
The boys from East LA can kick it with the best of them. Some of their mid-period stuff, while far from roots music, had a mind blowing intensity live. They can also (trust me on this, I've lost track of how many times I've seen them) wander a little bit into jam band land when they're not focused.
Tonight was neither, and all the better for it. Very intricate, very subtle, very focused, very very good. It seems the challenge of using simple, primarily acoustic instrumentation in a "folk" idiom inspired them to cram every song full of great ideas and terrific arrangements. A+ performance. After the recent Live & Ride CDs, I think they're about to set off in a fresh burst of creativity.
About Alejandro Escovedo - well, now that string quintet ROCKED intensely in a way that a punker with amps on 10 couldn't get close to.
Bravo. A great & inspired double bill.
I LOVED the show last night. The only thing that ruined the mood were the lights at the Kimmel this is the only concert hall I've been to that doesn't turn the house lights down. It totally ruins the mood. I don't want to see the folks five rows away scrathing there head. What is the thinking behind this? It's the second concert I've attended at Verizon Hall and while I love the artists the lights are discouraging me from attending or encouraging others to attend.
Magda, thanks for your observation - I'll make sure the production staff reads it .. Jeff