Album Review: Los Lobos Goes for the Gold in 'Gates'

By Eric Berg • 9 hours ago

 From KUSP's Berg Alert

Playing together for over 40 years now without any band member changes, Los Lobos is still going strong. Very strong. With family ties to Watsonville, this East LA band remains a perennial Monterey Bay favorite with an upcoming 2 night local appearance in October. Gates of Gold is their latest album and their 22nd. On this one, The wolves recall their guitar fueled Slash Records days and strike another golden bullseye kicking off with the first track, "Made to Break Your Heart". 

Contemplating life

Gates of Gold finds Lobos guitarists David Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, and Louie Perez in superb form, leading bassist Conrad Lozano and sax-keyboard player Steve Berlin down very familiar roads with inspired energy, wicked guitar playing and a lot of brotherly love. The title track sets the theme for the entire album. The band members who are now in their early 60’s are pondering what’s behind those Golden Gates as well as reminiscing about their past - "When We Were Free"- and looking to the future, "Gates of Gold".

Los Lobos still are: (Lef to right) Louie Perez, Steve Berlin, Cesar Rojas, Conrad Lozano, and David Hidalgo.[/caption]

Every Lobos album has at least one canción en español and there are two, one written and sung by Rojas - "Poquito Para Aqui". And a couple of his blues pieces highlight by some excellent guitar playing particularly on "I Believed You So".

Strong tracks

It’s the Hidalgo/Perez compositions that gives Gates of Gold it’s real luster. Check  out "There I Go".  Anchored by Hildago’s polished guitar playing which ranges from jazz-to jam and rock to bluegrass and Perez’s innovative arrangements, their 7 tracks are the standouts. Gates of Gold by Los Lobos is their best album of all new material in years. A fine testament from a band that continues to be one of California’s greatest rock 'n' roll bands four decades on. –Eric Berg

A Lobo Question:

Anybody out there remember the long defunct Albatross night club on Portola Drive where the Live Oak branch of the Santa Cruz Library currently is?  I recall - I think - Los Lobos and The Blasters played there one night in 1982. All I remember about the night was that the acoustics in the place stunk and the sound was beyond ear piercing loud.  If so, let me know if you were there or did it even happen? 

Live Video: "Gates of Gold"

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