Photo by Piero F. Giunti

Last night, Dec. 21, Los Lobos performed their third and final show at New York’s City Winery. The run saw a slew of sit-ins, covers and fan favorites, along with The Young Rascals’ “Come on Up” as a tribute to the late Dino Danelli, who passed on Dec. 15, 2022.

Los Lobos’ first show in New York kicked off on Dec. 19, following stops at the City Winery in Boston and Chicago. Highlights from the night included an opening cover of The Blasters’ “Flat Top Joint,” a sit-in by Junior Mack, holiday songs “Christmas and You,” Augie Rios’ “¿Dónde Está Santa Claus?” a set closing pairing of “Not Fade Away” > “Bertha,” and an encore of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”

The performance the following evening on Tuesday, Dec. 20, saw a handful of repeats from the night before, most notably the Christmas pairing along with “You’ve Got to Lose” by Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm and the respectful nod to Danelli. The biggest surprise of the evening came in the form of Jeff Mattson, a guitarist in Dark Star Orchestra and Zen Tricksters sitting in for the closing of the second set on a cover of Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy.” They closed the evening with Joseíto Fernández’s “Guantanamera.”

For last night’s performance, Los Lobos’ Cesar Rosas did not perform; however, it was musically on par with the rest of the run, with standout covers of Barrett Strong’s “Misery,” Traffic’s “Forty Thousand Headmen,” “Rebel Kind” by True Believers and more. For the encore, Malin returned with drummer Randy Schrager; for the segment, they once again played Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and a run-closing rendition of Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s “Cinnamon Girl.”

Enjoy the full setlists below.

Los Lobos
City Winery – New York City
Dec. 19, 2022

Set I: Flat Top Joint (The Blasters cover), Wicked Rain, La venganza de los pelados, Chuco’s Cumbia, Will the Wolf Survive?, Come On Up (The Young Rascals cover) (Dedicated to the passing of Dino Danelli), Christmas and You, ¿Dónde Está Santa Claus? (Augie Rios cover), Up the Line (Little Walter cover) (with Junior Mack)

Set II: Evangeline, You’ve Got to Lose (Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm cover), Whiskey Trail, Kiko and the Lavender Moon, Arbolito de Navidad, Volver, volver (Vicente Fernández cover), Don’t Worry Baby, Not Fade Away (The Crickets cover) (>) Bertha (Grateful Dead cover)

Enc.: What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye cover)

Los Lobos
City Winery – New York City
Dec. 20, 2022

Set I: Down on the Riverbed, Love Special Delivery (Thee Midniters cover), Angel Dance, You’ve Got to Lose (Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm cover), The Valley, Chuco’s Cumbia, Come On Up (The Young Rascals cover) (In memory of Dino Danelli), ¿Dónde Está Santa Claus? (Augie Rios cover)

Set II: The Neighborhood, Why Do You Do?, Come On, Let’s Go (Ritchie Valens cover), Hey Joe (The Leaves cover), Arbolito de Navidad, Volver, volver (Vicente Fernández cover), Don’t Worry Baby, Dear Mr. Fantasy (Traffic cover) (with Jeff Mattson on guitar)

Enc.: Guantanamera (Joseíto Fernández cover)

Los Lobos
City Winery – New York City
Dec. 21, 2022

Set I: Short Side of Nothing, Evangeline, Will the Wolf Survive?, Misery (Barrett Strong cover), Rebel Kind (True Believers cover), Come On Up (The Young Rascals cover), Up the Line (Little Walter cover), Christmas and You, Dream in Blue (>) Forty Thousand Headmen (Traffic cover)

Set II: Saint Behind the Glass Teresa (Los Super Seven cover), Guantanamera (Joseíto Fernández cover), Peace, Sail On, Sailor (The Beach Boys cover), I Got Loaded (Little Bob & the Lollipops cover) (>) Not Fade Away (The Crickets cover), Bertha (Grateful Dead cover)

Enc.: What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye cover) (with Randy Schrager), Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young & Crazy Horse cover) (with Randy Schrager)