Los Lobos to Play Basalt's TACAW, Sept. 28

It's got a terrible acronym: TACAW.

But, The Arts Center at Willits (TACAW) seems to draw some amazing acts.

Does anyone remember Los Lobos' re-recording of La Bamba?

I was in high school that the time and it rung (rang, wrong, wang?) through the various venues we cheekies would visit on Friday nights in Santa Fe while waiting for the overnight's snow to pile up at Taos.

Good times.

Now, apparently, they're back. And with the original line-up as far as I can tell. Los Lobos—my daughter Mollie tells me—means "the cats" in Spanish. Hmmm....

Anyway, Los Lobos tickets go on sale Friday and are sure to sell out quickly.

"We can’t wait to celebrate our birthday with you and the simply icon ic Los Lobos," said today's email from TACAW. "This concert has been underwritten by the Catto Shaw Foundation."

John Catto is an old climbing buddy. He does quality over quantity.

"It's a matter of time—50 years to be exact," notes today's email. "And in that time Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work, a legacy of greatness. The numbers are staggering: 100+ gigs a year for five decades running, crossing millions of miles to rock millions of fans. And that's just at the live shows. In between they've recorded 17 studio albums, 7 live LPs, 3 compilations, 2 EPs, 2 DVDs, and contributed 40+ guest appearances on their friends' recordings—all garnering 5 Grammys, an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, the ALMA Richie Valens Pioneer Award, NEA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Honors, Congressional recognitions, plus countless "Keys to the City" and "Los Lobos Day" celebrations."

"And those are just a few of the highlights. But beyond all the hoopla and applause (and the source of it all, really) is the tremendous heart. Rather, hearts. Cinco corazones.

"Five blood brothers who have dedicated their off-stage time to helping others, working for peace and justice, penning some of the most literate and important music of their time, transforming the hard cries from the East L.A. barrio into songs of hope, tales of common folk finding ways to endure.

"The young wolves were weaned on late-night radio's soul, R&B, and doo-wop. Were cured through the African-American currents of the blues, jazz, and rock 'n' roll. An amalgam. As proud Chicanos, their songs have always glistened with the distillation from their Mexican and Latin American roots—nourished by Norteña and rancheras, buoyed by bolero and cumbias, soaring on the rhythms of son huasteco and son jarocho.

"Los Lobos have helped spread the rich diversity of cultures across every continent, throughout the global community. Kids in Antwerp now know about Aztlán. Residents of Luxor and Ghana are crooning "Lalo Guerrero." People from Laos and Bulgaria are belting “La Bamba”—all thanks to The Wolves as cultural ambassadors. Talk about a living legacy. Talk about a productive half-century.

"And in the true rebel spirit, they did it all on their own terms, against formula. For the ages. To our delight. Quite simply, they are one of the tightest, one of the best, one of the most prolific bands ever. And, amazingly, with the original founding members as the pack the entire time."

Unprecedented.

As their liner notes put it, quite simply: “Los Lobos still are David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez, Jr., Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, Steve Berlin.”

For more on Los Lobos, go here .

For more on TACAW shows, go here .