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Los Lobos; Syd Straw
((Greek Theater; 6,000 seats; $ 25.50 top))
Much-ballyhooed LP is a major departure for the band since their breakthrough cover of Richie Valens' "La Bamba" in 1987, and the freshly minted, eclectic tunes are reminiscent of the varied avenues Robbie Robertson and the Band took in their heyday.
"Kiko and the Lavender Moon" featured David Hidalgo on a Cajunesque accordion , and "One Time, One Night" from the "By the Lightof the Moon" LP had a country-swing feel. Cesar Rosas' gravelly voice gave "Baby's Gone" a shade of Chicago blues, and harmonies with Hidalgo on "Short Side of Love" evoked an Everly Brothers ambience.
From the new album, "Dream Is Blue" allowed Hidalgo to show off his Clapton-like fingerwork on his Gibson, and "Wake Up Dolores" featured drummer Louis Perez and Victor Bizetti on percussion.
Midset, the band reached into their bag of Mexican folk tunes from their past lives as a wedding band, and "Carabina" was the pick of the litter.
After renditions of "Wicked Rain" and "Will the Wolf Survive," they returned for three encores, highlighted by a soulful rendition of Marvin Gaye's call for racial harmony, "What's Going On."
Syd Straw opened with an offbeat set with guitarist Peter Holsapple. The former Golden Palomino played cuts from her Virgin release "Surprise," garnering polite applause from the diffident crowd. Goofy banter didn't help, but she was most successful with Ray Davies' "Sleep," and "Think Too Hard" from her former label's release.
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