PORT TOWNSEND — The Wolves came to town, and got people dancing.
Los Lobos, a Los Angeles band that started out playing traditional Mexican music and then evolved into an inclusive brand of rock ‘n’ roll, finished the Centrum season Sunday night, playing to about 1,000 people in McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden State Park.
“Centrum topped off a great season with a great show,” said City Council member Michelle Sandoval, a longtime Los Lobos fan who landed a seat in the front row.
“They created an experience for the rest of us to enjoy.”
Sandoval said the show “was a little less rock ‘n’ roll” than what is normal for the band.
“It was a wonderful audience, and it was great to see little tiny babies dancing next to their grandparents.”
Because of an event earlier in the day, the band was late setting up, and it conducted its sound check as people were waiting to get in.
Centrum Executive Director John MacElwee apologized for the 30-minute delay, saying the hall needed to be cooled down in order for the instruments to stay in tune.
Upon taking the stage, guitarist Cesar Rosas thanked the crowd.
“I don’t think we’ve ever played here before,” he said, adding:
“Where the hell are we?”
Joining Rosas were fellow band members Conrad Lozano, Louie Perez, David Hildago, Steve Berlin and Cougar Estrada,
Beginning with several acoustic songs, the band gradually picked up electric instruments and soon were at full throttle.
The 90-minute set included songs like “Kiko and the Yellow Moon” and “Bertha” and finished with a cover of Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” — and the obligatory “La Bamba” (with a few measures of the Young Rascals’ “Good Lovin’” added in).
The mature audience for the most part sat and listened — though several dozen people got up and danced in an area next to the stage throughout most of the show.
Bill Beezley was one of those dancing.
Los Lobos, he said, “made a nice transition from the traditional songs into the later stuff that was more rock ‘n’ roll.
“They seemed to be having a lot of fun, although I think the show was shorter than normal for them.”
But even if the band spent less time onstage, there was a bonus: Several members spent 25 minutes after the show, signing autographs and chatting with fans.
The band stayed at the Harborview Motel and left town Monday.
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
