Los Lobos have covered a lot of ground since they were formed in 1973, playing everything from Tejano R&B to refried rockabilly. For their current tour -- called "Acoustic en Vivo" -- they're focusing on their Mexican roots, and most of their set was devoted to traditional music from across Latin America. It's fun, lively stuff -- lots of catchy melodies and jumping rhythms -- and they brought out a battery of indigenous instruments, from the bass guittaron to a couple of jaranas, to bring it all authentically alive.

But this music isn't nearly as interesting as Los Lobos's own material, and it was a relief when the band plugged the electric guitars back in and launched into early hits like "Will the Wolf Survive?" and "Saint Behind the Glass." And in two of their newest songs -- the dark, brooding "The Town" and the joyful "Chuco's Cumbia" -- Los Lobos showed why they're one of the most consistently powerful, inventive and interesting bands around.

--Stephen Brookes, March 2007