America is often described as a melting pot, or at least it is supposed to be. In reality, race relations have always been a key boiling point in this particular soup of humanity, often flaring up in the worst of times and in the worst of ways. If any city comes close to capturing that particular piece of the American dream, it’s Los Angeles.
L.A. is one of the most racially diverse places in America, and is all the better for it. While many cities are more traditionally divided upon racial lines (though L.A. has more than its fair share of history with redlining) L.A. blends cultures together, creating a unique region in terms of food, music and other cultural exports.
One notable group that blew up out of Los Angeles was the incredible Los Lobos. While the name may not be too familiar to younger readers, I’m confident you’ve at least heard “La Bamba” which may be the most popular Spanish language song in America ever. Los Lobos redefined the potential for Spanish language bands in America by opening for some of the ‘70s and ‘80s biggest acts like Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead. In doing so they gained a worldwide audience that transcended far beyond their Spanish speaking fans in East L.A..
Late this December, Los Lobos returns to their L.A. roots with a special show at The Rose. Be sure to catch this Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame nominated band on their home turf. It’s sure to be a special time
Location: The Rose
Address: 245 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101
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