Los Lobos will return with Native Sons on July 30th via New West Records. The 13-song set was produced by Los Lobos in East Los Angeles and finds the band mapping their musical DNA as a kaleidoscopic selection of tribute songs from their homeland, ultimately creating a crucial snapshot of L.A.’s musical heritage. Having formed in 1973 and gotten their start playing spirited renditions of Mexican folk music at parties and in restaurants, Los Lobos are no strangers to reinterpretation (and if you’ve ever been to one of their legendary live shows, you already know that). These brothers have always held a deep appreciation for diverse music, and they love pulling out old gems and making them shine like new.
For all the trailblazing musical acts who’ve emerged from Los Angeles, very few embody the city’s wildly eclectic spirit more wholeheartedly than Los Lobos. Over the last five decades, the East L.A.-bred band has made an indelible mark on music history by exploring an enormous diversity of genres—rock-and-roll and R&B, surf music and soul, mariachi and música norteña, punk rock and country—and building a boldly unpredictable sound all their own.
In a nod to their neighborhood, Native Sons opens with the wide-eyed frenzy of “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters, an East L.A. garage band and one of the first Chicano rock groups to ever score a major hit in the U.S. From there, it features favorites and deep cuts by other Los Angeles luminaries such as the Beach Boys, WAR, Buffalo Springfield, Jackson Browne, The Blasters (whom counted Steve Berlin as a member before his joining Los Lobos) and more. The album’s title track is its sole original song, a loving homage to Los Angeles that sounds right at home amid so many classic tracks.
Today, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic premiered “Misery,” which was originally recorded by Barrett Strong (who co-wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits). They say, "Los Lobos carries the straightforward minor blues romp into a new era, navigating its howling plea to heartbreak with shuffling guitars and smooth, warm rhythms, as only they can." Los Lobos frontman David Hidalgo states in the extensive liner notes to Native Sons, “This is probably one of my favorite songs on the album. Barrett moved to L.A. when Motown did.” Hear Los Lobos’ rendition of “Misery” Here.
Variety previously premiered “Love Special Delivery” by Thee Midniters as well as “Sail On, Sailor” by the Beach Boys. Of “Love Special Delivery,” Hidalgo says “We grew up on Thee Midniters and felt like they were representing us, so their music means a lot.” “Sail On, Sailor,” an early-70s track originally sung by longtime Los Lobos friend Blondie Chaplin, was one that Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin says “seemed like it would be easy, but once we broke the eggshell it revealed itself to be a lot more complex,” adding “The genius of so many of these records is all the layers that meld together in a way that isn’t very obvious at first.”
As with all of their catalogue, Native Sons reveals Los Lobos’ ability to merge genres and styles with both sophistication and playful spontaneity, an element that’s perfectly reflected in the album’s unbridled joy. “I played it for a friend and his first response was that it’s a party record—which sounds right to me,” says Hidalgo. Beyond that undeniably feel-good quality, Native Sons essentially serves as a love letter to Los Angeles and the endless possibilities to be found when all boundaries are shattered. “I couldn’t say there’s a common thread for all these artists, but in a way that’s exactly what makes L.A. great,” says Berlin. “You’ve got R&B and punk rock and rock-and-roll and folk, and somehow it exists together in this one weird city that we all call home.”
Los Lobos have also announced additional 2021 & 2022 tour dates in support of Native Sons. The extensive tour includes a special Costa Mesa show with X & The Blasters on August 1st, as well as performances with The Mavericks, Steve Earle & The Dukes, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Please see all Los Lobos dates, with more to be added, below.
Quickly finding their footing in L.A.’s punk/college-rock scene, Los Lobos began sharing bills with bands like Public Image Ltd. and the Circle Jerks. After making their major-label debut with 1984’s critically lauded How Will the Wolf Survive?, they went on to achieve such triumphs as contributing a smash-hit cover of Ritchie Valens’s signature song “La Bamba” to the 1987 biopic of the same name, winning three Grammy Awards, collaborating with the likes of Elvis Costello and Ry Cooder, and earning massive worldwide critical acclaim.
Los Lobos’ Native Sons will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. The Double LP vinyl editions will be housed in a gatefold sleeve and will feature three sides of music and a custom etching on its fourth side. A Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl Edition limited to 4,000 copies worldwide will be available at Independent Record Stores while a Brown Vinyl Edition limited to 1,000 copies is available for pre-order NOW via New West Records.
Los Lobos Still Are: David Hidalgo (vocals, guitars) - Louie Pérez, Jr. (vocals, guitars) - Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitars, bass, Hammond B3 organ) - Conrad Lozano (vocals, bass) - Steve Berlin (saxes, midisax, keyboards)
Los Lobos Native Sons Track Listing
1. Love Special Delivery
2. Misery
3. Bluebird / For What It’s Worth
4. Los Chucos Suaves
5. Jamaica Say You Will
6. Never No More
7. Native Son
8. Farmer John
9. Dichoso
10. Sail On, Sailor
11. The World Is A Ghetto
12. Flat Top Joint
13. Where Lovers Go
Los Lobos On Tour:
June 18, 2021 – Reedley, CA – The Wakehouse
June 19, 2021 – Gross Valley, CA – Nevada County Fairgrounds
June 24, 2021 -Lowell, MA - Lowell Summer Music Series
July 4, 2021 - Taos, NM - Kit Carson Park
August 1, 2021 – Costa Mesa, CA - Pacific Amphitheatre ~
August 5, 2021 - Evanston, IL - Canal Shores Golf Course
August 6, 2021 – Michigan City, IN – Uptown Social
August 12, 2021 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery @
August 14, 2021 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre @
August 15, 2021 - Costa Mesa, CA - OC Fair & Event Center
August 20 - Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort @
August 21, 2021 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek @
August 24, 2021 - Montgomery, AL - Montgomery Performing Arts Centre +
August 26, 2021 - Selbyville, DE - The Freeman Stage at Bayside +
August 27, 2021 - Doswell, VA - Meadow Event Park +
August 28, 2021 – LaGrange, CA – Sweetland Amphitheatre +
August 30, 2021 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium +
September 3, 2021 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station +
September 4, 2021 - Beaver Dam, KY - Beaver Dam Amphitheatre +
September 6, 2021 – Avon, CO - Avon Performance Pavilion at Harry A. Nottingham Park
September 9, 2021 - Grass Valley, CA - The Center For The Arts
September 16, 2021 - Lowell, MA - Lowell Summer Music Series
September 17, 2021 – Camden, NJ - Wiggins Park XPoNential Festival
September 18, 2021 - Webster, MA - Indian Ranch
September 19, 2021 - Westhampton Beach, NY - Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
September 22, 2021 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest Cafe
September 23, 2021 - South Orange, NJ - South Orange Performing Arts Center
September 24, 2021 - Harrisburg, PA - Whitaker Center
September 25, 2021 - State College, PA - State Theatre
September 26, 2021 - Albany, NY - The Egg
October 1, 2021 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
October 2, 2021 - Bisbee, AZ - Historic Warren Ballpark
October 8, 2021 - Santa Barbara, CA - Lobero Theatre
October 9, 2021 - Bakersfield, CA - World Records
October 21, 2021 - Austin, TX - Antone's
October 22, 2021 - Austin, TX - Antone's
October 23, 2021 - Goliad, TX - Schroeder Hall
October 24, 2021 - The Woodlands, TX - Dosey Doe Big Barn
November 2, 2021 - Millvale, PA - Mr Smalls Theatre
November 3, 2021 - Cleveland, OH - Music Box Supper Club
November 4, 2021 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
November 5, 2021 - Grand Rapids, MI - Listening Room
November 6, 2021 - Fort Wayne, IN - Clyde Theatre
November 13, 2021 - Tacoma, WA - The Spanish Ballroom @ McMenamin's Elk's Temple
November 14, 2021 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre
November 18, 2021 - Washington, DC - City Winery
November 19, 2021 - Washington, DC - City Winery
December 19, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery
December 20, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery
December 21, 2021 - New York, NY - City Winery
January 13, 2022 - Honolulu, HI - Blue Note Hawaii
January 14, 2022 - Honolulu, HI - Blue Note Hawaii
February 10, 2022 – Clearwater, FL – Billheimer Capitol Theatre
March 3, 2022 - Raton, NM - Shuler Theater
March 4, 2022 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington's
March 5, 2022 - Steamboat Springs, CO - Strings Music Pavilion
March 7, 2022 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
March 23, 2022 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center
March 26, 2022 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center For The Arts
March 31, 2022 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
April 1, 2022 - Brugge, Belgium - Stadsschouwburg Brugge
April 2, 2022 - Leuven, Belgium - Het Depot
April 3, 2022 - Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma
June 24, 2022 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily's Place Amphitheater *
June 25, 2022 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Civic Center *
June 28, 2022 - Indianapolis, IN - The Amphitheater at White River State Park *
July 1, 2022 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center *
July 2, 2022 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
July 3, 2022 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center *
July 6, 2022 - New Haven, CT - Westville Music Bowl *
July 8, 2022 - Philadelphia, PA - The Mann Center of Performing Arts *
July 9, 2022 - Burlington, VT - Midway Lawn *
July 10, 2022 - Patchogue, NY - Great South Bay Music Festival *
July 12, 2022 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark *
July 15, 2022 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre *
July 16, 2022 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre *
July 19, 2022 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap *
July 21, 2022 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park *
July 23, 2022 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion *
July 24, 2022 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights *
July 26, 2022 - Aurora, IL - RiverEdge Park *
July 29, 2022 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
July 30, 2022 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
~ w/ X & The Blasters
@ w/ The Mavericks
+ w/ Steve Earle & The Dukes
* w/ Tedeschi Trucks Band
