Cesar Rosas

Whenever Los Lobos make their annual foray to the Greek Theatre, the evening takes on the warm, communal feel of a homecoming--and Saturday's performance was no exception as the groundbreaking Los Angeles band turned in a typically freewheeling set that alternated between high-voltage jams and spirited norteno sing-alongs. On last year's "Colossal Head" album, Los Lobos crafted a darkly atmospheric party vibe that melded the band's trademark roots rock with venturesome avant-pop.

The Blazers hail from L.A.'s Eastside, but their 90-minute set on Friday at the Palomino--framed with Chuck Berry's "Down the Road Apiece" and "Bye Bye Johnny"--firmly placed the quartet in the city's roots-rockin' bar-band camp. Classic R&B is the foundation, but the Blazers incorporated healthy dollops of country, straight blues and rock 'n' roll. The group's Spanish-language material is largely built on the slinky cumbia rhythm, which snugly fit the R&B slant.

* * * 1/2 Los Super Seven, "Los Super Seven," RCA. You may be tempted to buy a plane ticket to the heart of Mexico after hearing what this mixture of Tex-Mex and Chicano artists did exploring their musical roots. David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas from Los Lobos, Freddy Fender, Joe Ely and a few others team up with unusual synergy for a masterful revival album that looks into the future with unflinching optimism.

Los Super Seven's second album begins with a gutsy choice, as if the collective wanted you to know right away that this second effort functions on an altogether different level from its Grammy-winning debut. Performing Ernesto Lecuona's "Siboney," one of Cuba's most revered classics, is the kind of challenge that separates the men from the boys. Los Super Seven's flawless rendition exudes the solemn mood of a religious ritual.

A Whittier man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole--plus 22 years--for the kidnap and murder of his half sister, the wife of Los Lobos singer-guitarist Cesar Rosas. Her body has never been found. Reportedly overwhelmed with remorse after the sentencing, Gabriel Gomez, 40, led detectives, his attorney and two reporters to a Rowland Heights park in a nighttime search for the corpse of Sandra Rosas.

**** LOS LOBOS "Los Lobos Del Este De Los Angeles" (Just Another Band From East L.A.) Hollywood Long before the roots-conscious rock of "Will the Wolf Survive," before the "La Bamba" breakthrough and the mysterioso textures of "Kiko," before the side projects Latin Playboys and Los Super Seven, Los Lobos spent its formative years developing an acoustic repertoire of traditional Mexican songs.

The idea of people remaining seated and not dancing during a Los Lobos show at the Greek Theatre is virtually unthinkable. Not only does the band have a deserved reputation for dance-insistent music--combining rock, R&B and traditional Mexican roots--but its regular Greek appearances since the mid-'80s have been particularly boisterous celebrations packed with the group's East L.A. family and friends. The unthinkable happened Friday: Much of the audience stayed seated for most of the show.

Four guys from East L.A. trekked clear across town to throw a backyard barrio party at UCLA's stately Royce Hall on Friday night. They brought a boatload of instruments and sang their favorite Latin songs, just like the old days. The only thing missing was the carne asada and Coronas. Everybody knows them professionally as Los Lobos, L.A.'s greatest Chicano rock band for the last 30 years.

True to their name, the Texas Tornados filled the Palomino with a lot of hot air on Thursday. Also a stream of corny country, Mexican polkas, slow and fast R&B, '60s pop hits, demented Lone Star psychedelia, hybrids of all of the above and, as ringmaster Doug Sahm might put it, good vibes.

* Country music divas Deana Carter, left, and Faith Hill will be at the Greek Theatre on May 1. Tickets go on sale Sunday. . . . Tickets go on sale Saturday for Korn and Rob Zombie, April 18 at the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion. . . . Tickets go on sale Monday for Andrea Bocelli, April 24 at the Hollywood Bowl.