Los Lobos keeps digging to improve its groove – Providence Journal – Rhythm & Roots Preview

BY RICK MASSIMO – Journal Pop Music Writer

Instead of entrenching itself in nearly 30 years, band works harder for inspiration

Nearly 30 years into their careers, the members of Los Lobos are putting out some of their best work (witness 2004’s The Ride). And their latest record, The Town and The City, coming out next month, continues the trend for the L.A.-based quintet.

The record tells a story of striving and change, and the cost of that striving and change. It also illustrates the meeting points between Anglo and Mexican culture while continuing the sonic explorations the band started with 1992’s Kiko and especially 1996’s Colossal Head.

Saxophonist-keyboardist Steve Berlin says the recording process, where soundscapes are born and the groove is carried out with occasionally whacked-out drum sounds, is “the part of this job we probably enjoy the most,” adding that it gets harder to come up with something we haven’t done at least a couple of times already.” It may have been enjoyable, Berlin says, but it wasn’t easy.

“This record presented challenges like there never were before. There were songs in the past that would show up and just magically play themselves. This time around was anything but the case.

“We kind of had to whittle them down and sometimes wrestle them down. I think we were, at this point, spoiled from being able to just go into a recording studio and having inspiration follow us in. This time we sort of had to chase it around the building more than a few times.”

He says there was no specific factor that made this record a difficult process — “It’s just the way that it is” — but that it was part of the job.

“I say that with the knowledge that this isn’t supposed to be easy. If it were easy, anybody could do it. It’s a challenge, and a challenge we happily take on. And we kind of relish it. I think it just took us a minute or two to realize that it wasn’t going to be the painless, simple process that it had been.”

Berlin says the band’s set list contains three songs from The Town and The City, and would have more, but their relentless touring schedule makes it difficult to rehearse new material (we spoke over the phone on a single off day between a European and an American tour). “Hopefully we’re going to try to incorporate more as we go.”

When not playing with Los Lobos, Berlin, who played with L.A. rockabilly revivalists The Blasters before joining Los Lobos, does a lot of producing, with clients including singer-songwriter wunderkind Jackie Greene. But the band’s the thing, and at this point their longevity and independence are a point of pride.

“It’s not like you go into it thinking ‘The clock’s ticking.’ . . . I’m certainly pleased it’s lasted this long. Frankly, at this stage it’s hard to imagine us doing something profoundly different. I’m certainly pleased by that; it’s an amazing gift to be able to do something this long, and basically never having to retrench anything.”

Los Lobos plays on the main stage Saturday night at the Rhythm & Roots Festival at Ninigret Park in Charlestown.