Live at the Fillmore [Live]

Los Lobos | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Fontana Mammoth
• ASIN: B0007PALIY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,740 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #82 in Music > Latin Music > Latin Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Over their 30 years together, Los Lobos have established themselves among the best live bands in America--which makes it all the more surprising that they've waited so long to release their first concert album (though anthologies have included live tracks). For this recording from the venerable Fillmore in San Francisco, the Los Angeles band forsakes the greatest-hits approach in favor of a set dominated by recent material interspersed with some lesser-known earlier tunes (such as "How Much Can I Do?"). Omitting perennials such as "Will the Wolf Survive?" and their hit cover of "La Bamba," the Mexican-American band treats fans to the soulful balladry of singer David Hidalgo on "Rita" and "Tears of God," the bluesier strains of Cesar Rosas on "I Walk Alone," and the saxophone of Steve Berlin and a percolating rhythm section throughout. The music extends the Los Lobos imprint from the arty atmospherics of "Kiko and the Lavender Room" to the social conscience of "The Neighborhood" and the encore of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." Whether the material is in Spanish ("Maria Christina," "Maricela"), English (most of the rest), or bilingual (the flute-laced "Luz de Mi Vida"), the enraptured crowd requires no translation. --Don McLeese
A DVD of the concert is also available.

Product Description

The legendary East Los Angeles band has done it right with Live at the Fillmore. Of course, 'legendary' is sometimes synonymous with 'really good, but not so well known', as guitarist Cesar Rosas wryly observes in the brief documentary accompanying this generous show (drawn from their entire recording career). Many acts who once opened for Los Lobos, like Dwight Yoakam, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Melissa Etheridge, went on to eclipse them in sales and popularity, but that takes nothing away from the considerable power of this performance, which finds the now-seven-piece band rocking with a vengeance. WEA. 2005. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better Late Than Never?, March 21, 2005

By 

R. Mix "Funkingroovin" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live at the Fillmore (Audio CD)

There are several ways to approach a live album. One is to record an entire tour, cherry-pick the best performances and release them. Another is to record a single performance, or series of performances at a particular venue, and release it--warts and all.

Being the risk-takers they are, Los Lobos has opted for the latter (and tougher) approach. Which means 'Live At The Fillmore' is a mixed bag of sterling, and unfortunately, uninspired Los Lobos.

Coming on the heels of the two-album renaissance of 'Good Morning Aztlan' and 'The Ride', the time certainly seemed right for a live album. But the album's two opening tracks seem tossed-off, and while instrumentally strong, a weak vocal from Cesar Rojas sabotages "Charmed". And "Rita" just sounds tired.

On the plus side, "Tears Of God" sparkles, as do "How Much Can I Do?" and "Kiko And The Lavender Moon". The remainder of the album plateaus somewhere between good and pretty good.

Granted, 'pretty good' Los Lobos is pretty damn fine, indeed. But in contrast to many of the fiery shows I (or any longtime fan) have seen, 'Live At The Fillmore' can't help but be a disappointment.

But they remain a brave band that plays what they like, not what demographics tell them they should play. It is multi-cultural soul music, and for that alone they are a band to cherish. And I don't hesitate to say I do.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Band in need of a LIVE Box Set, April 5, 2005

By 

o dubhthaigh (north rustico, pei, canada) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Live at the Fillmore (Audio CD)

Los Lobos rebounded from the cover band status of THE RIDE with the DVD of this concert a couple of months back. Critics wailed why they hadn't done a live CD or DVD before. Well, amen, especially if you have ever caught any of their shows. It's actually a pity that this is the only such document, because while it is certainly a great performance, it is only a taste of the magic they command. I may go to a million more concerts before I hear a band essay Neil Young's "Cowgirl in the Sand" the way these wolves knocked it out at the Philly Folk Festival while Gene Shay swallowed his tongue because the boys simply would not end the song and get off so he could prattle his stupid stories and jokes. For that alone, they became my heroes. Point is, even Young, on his very best day, never delivered that song with the incendiary fire of Los Lobos.
But I digress, and this is a worthy addition to their incredible canon. The only foul ball for me is "The Viking," but that's quibbling, because they more than make up for it with the mini CD of 3 acoustic songs, and I won't tell you what they are, but one was such a delightful surprise!
So, I'd tell you to pick this up. Hidalgo, Peres and compadres have never, or actaully ALWAYS, sound this good live. So where's the box set? This is a band you should rush to go see and if they do release a box, swamp AMAZON with orders for it. How will the Wolf survive? Well, with performances like these, should be easy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars At last, a live CD by one of the best live bands, May 27, 2006

By 

Steve Ford (Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Live at the Fillmore (Audio CD)

One star deducted for what's NOT here - the incendiary version of "Mas y Mas" (with pedal-steel hero Robert Randolph) which appears on the DVD version of this concert, and the "La Bamba"/"Good Lovin'" medley, a climactic live show staple. Only the toughest marker would quibble with what IS here - but it's a shame it's not a double or triple CD set.