Los Lobos
How Will the Wolf Survive?

THE REVIEW

«Damn, listen to the groove these guys have got - Steve must have thought, sipping a beer - Stuff that if they catch us, they'll make us dizzy as hell... better have them on our side. Decided, I'll introduce them to the bosses».

It must have gone just like that.

And don't think he's a kraut, because even though his last name is Berlin, Steve has Roman roots, and it’s confirmed by the following, for which I continue.

The bosses at Slash like the guys, but those instruments they carry are unbearable. And they tell them straight: «A friendly advice: get yourselves an electric guitar, bass, and drums, because if you cross paths with John and Billy in the corridors, they'll shove the bajo sexto and the accordion up your a**. Forewarned is forearmed!».

But the guys are tough, and they hold on tight to the bajo sexto and even the accordion; however, they do follow the advice and also buy the classic rock band equipment.

Now it's time to find a name for the group.

Steve discovered them and, therefore, feels entitled to propose one: as a tribute to his origins, he suggests «Romulus And Remus & The Sons Of The She-wolf». Rejected.

«Capitoline Wolf»? It's already a bit better, and anyway, this wolf story grabs attention.

So, «Listen, Steve, we're from East L.A., so we'll keep the wolves too, but let’s make it Spanish». Done and done, Los Lobos!

Steve initially feels a bit down and sulks, but then he gets over it and joins the pack; however, he will forever hold that veil of sadness in his eyes, for which he is famous, because «Romulus And Remus & The Sons Of The She-wolf» would have been something else entirely.

Yes, it went exactly like that.

And who cares if someone doesn't believe it, now «How Will The Wolf Survive?» is there shouting that there existed a band from East L.A. that, for one reason or another, chose to name themselves Los Lobos.

All this for the newbies, because those who left their heart in the Eighties already knew that the story went just as I told it.

And they also know that «How Will The Wolf Survive?», far from being one of the fundamental albums of the decade, is definitely one of the most fun.

But, as I learned by leafing through the «Settimana Enigministica» under the umbrella, perhaps not everyone knows that... Los Lobos set the table with an even more fun little disc, «... And A Time To Dance»: like «How Will The Wolf Survive?», but without the masterpieces «Don't Worry Baby», «I Got Loaded» and «Evangeline».

But if we want to "only" have fun, it must start here.

Because there is no «Evangeline» but there is «Anselma» to make the little wolves howl with love.

Because it is not yet time for bullfights and serenades, but «Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio» undeniably attests that our guys did well to keep their traditional instruments.

Because back then, those with foresight swore that «La Bamba» would certainly not make them famous, they had already tried with «Come On Let's Go» and nobody paid them any attention; so if you want to throw your money down the drain, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

But above all, because in here is an explosive mix of folklore and rock-a-billy like never heard before that works like a charm, if only you take the trouble to lend an ear to «Let's Say Goodnight», «Walking Song», «How Much Can I Do» and «Why Do You Do».

To show that Steve was right: in the good old days, these were the only ones capable of making the Blasters feel like a turkey drum or, if you prefer, to play them like a bagpipe.

And it gives you chills to think what might have happened if, on that fateful night (because it was night, I was there), Steve was sitting at a table in a joyful ballroom on the Romagna Riviera instead of in a lousy Los Angeles bar.

Because there they might call it tex-mex, but in Italy this is called liscio, ladies and gentlemen.

... To be continued, or as Roman Steve would write, let's meet ASAP to talk about «How Will The Wolf Survive».