Starting in Los Angeles more than 50 years ago, Los Lobos came together, blending their unique culture with music, helping to form and finalize what’s now known as Chicano culture. To honor, immortalize and give fans an inside look on their 53-year journey, including successes, hardships and what it means to be punk-rock, Los Lobos premiered their documentary, “Los Lobos Native Sons,” at South by Southwest on Sunday at the Paramount Theater.
Made up of David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez, Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano and Steve Berlin, Los Lobos made history when combining traditional Mexican music with rock beats, lyrics and attitudes. Although the group now boasts four Grammys, a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and an induction into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, they didn’t start performing at large venues until much later in their careers. Instead, they were first known as quinceañera and boda performers.
“Chicanos, we’ve done so much for the world, and (Los Lobos are) part of that,” co-director Piero Giunti said. “They’re part of those (who) … broke down the doors for the Bad Bunnies, J.Lo … they’re the band that’s gone from the quinceañeras to the White House.”
Although known for their cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” and English song “How Will the Wolf Survive,” Los Lobos’ messages through their songs, and simply being a Latino group, focus on representation, equality and their identity as Americans’ native sons.
“My mother, a rancheras, … came across the border in Vaso, so there is a big Texas connection (with Los Lobos) in a lot of ways,” Pérez said. “It’s our roots, where we come from, and we try to preserve that in everything we do, even where we play just rock and roll, American rock and roll, I think it’s just part of who we are.”
All over the country, both young and old Latinos saw Los Lobos impact their community, including Joaquin Castro, a U.S. Congressman from the west side of San Antonio, Texas, who said their presence reached everyone, even his elementary school.
“I had never heard folks my age in school, folks that couldn’t speak Spanish, that were singing along (to) a Spanish song so often in that way,” Castro said. “ … Latinos have an incredible impact, incredible talent and incredible potential to serve this country. So thank you, Los Lobos, thank y’all for inspiring so many generations of listeners.”
The film shows audiences everything, from previously unseen practice recordings and videos with the band’s kids all hanging out together as a “Wolf Pack” to hilarious interviews with family, friends and iconic performers.
“They’re the ultimate family, and their families are part of the big circle, and it’s really beautiful to see that because they support each other, they keep each other going and propped up and healthy,” co-director Doug Blush said. “I’m really impressed (because) most bands don’t make it (past) five years. These guys are going beyond 50 years; there are very few bands in that world that have made it this far, and they’re still playing like teenagers.”
Los Lobos played in Austin for years, the film including a clip of the band performing at the iconic local venue Antone’s. With the documentary providing the opportunity to reach more people than ever, Rosas said they hope to encourage people.
“Hopefully, (“Los Lobos Native Sons”) somehow inspires someone to do something,” Rosas said. “Young folks will see it, and maybe people, they’re questioning themselves like, ‘Can I do what I want to do?’ They won’t know until they try it.”
