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X & LOS LOBOS

99 Years of Rock ‘n Roll Tour!

Live at Pacific Amphitheatre

August 11th, 2025 Review by Bruce R Kilgour

It was just over three months ago that Los Angeles icons X and Los Lobos announced their first ever, co-headlining tour of North America. The former Slash Records labelmates declared an intentional focus on hitting cities they’ve never visited before, adding that the 25-show trek would be the “first and last tour of its kind.”

Named the 99 Years of Rock ‘n Roll Tour, Los Lobos’ Louis Perez Jr. explained, “Forty-eight years is a long time. Fifty-one years, even longer. But 99 years combined is an insane number for two rock and roll bands… and with the same lineup? Unheard of!”

On a beautiful August evening at Pacific Amphitheatre, fans were treated to the addition (on this date only) of Los Angeles Latino rock outfit Ozomatli, whose six founding members remain the band’s heart and soul. The veteran band is now in the midst of their 30th anniversary tour.

Ozomatli opened the evening with “Here We Go,” followed by several tracks from their 1998 self-titled debut album.

Their brand-new funk influenced song “Red Line” was next, which the band dedicated “to the hard-working people of L.A.”

Their eight-song set wrapped up with their most popular song, “Como Ves,” and the entire band marched through the audience where they jammed and danced all the way to the last row of the amphitheater.

At 7:30, it was time for Los Lobos, who haven’t performed in Orange County since 2023.

The Pac Amp was virtually full and was primed and ready for the LA legends. Opening with two frequently performed cover songs – “Love Special Delivery” (Thee Midniters) and “Flat Top Joint” (The Blasters) – Los Lobos came out swinging.

Original founding members David Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, Conrad Lozano, and Steve Berlin were joined by drummer Fredo Ortiz, who joined the band in 2021.

Unfortunately, additional founding drummer / guitarist Louie Pérez Jr. was not present at this show. Next up were two classic ‘80s songs, “Shakin’ Shakin Shakes” and “Will the Wolf Survive?”

Lead vocal duties and guitar solos were evenly shared on this night by Hidalgo and Rojas, while Berlin alternated capably between saxophone and keyboards. Although Lozano remained seated for much of the set, his bass playing is as solid as it has ever been.

Los Lobos always can be counted on to play cool covers. The Ritchie Valens hit “Come On, Let’s Go” and the Grateful Dead’s “Bertha” (a last-minute set list substitution) both brought the crowd to its feet.

A few songs later, “Mas y Mas” closed out the “regular” set, and then it was time for their traditional final song “La Bamba” which on this evening was an extended version including a brief midsection of The Rascals’ hit “Good Lovin’.” Los Lobos, after 55 continuous years, certainly shows that they have survived every musical trend.

The Los Angeles punk legends experienced a brief delay that pushed the start back 10 minutes, but X did not let a strict venue curfew of 10:00 concern them – Billy Zoom, DJ Bonebrake, John Doe, and Exene Cervenka delivered 18 songs in rapid-fire succession.

I was expecting long-time set opener “Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not,” having seen X multiple times every year, but instead we got “Beyond and Back” followed by the infrequently performed “Sex and Dying in High Society.”

The band’s 2020 “comeback” album “Alphabetland” was represented by just one song, “Water & Wine.” Fans waiting for a more familiar “hit” were rewarded next with the “The Hungry Wolf,” a big KROQ radio staple back in 1982, and their first major label single.

Two songs from their critically acclaimed second LP “Wild Gift” – “I’m Coming Over” and “White Girl” – reminded everyone of Billy Zoom’s precision rockabilly guitar riffing.

“Breathless” (made popular in 1958 by Jerry Lee Lewis) is one of two covers performed at virtually every X show, and it went over well on this evening.

Long-time fan favorite “Adult Books” from “Wild Gift” has found its way back into the set list in the last few years after only occasional appearances over the last decade. Bonebrake and Doe were as tight as ever on this brooding song.

The final 25 minutes, except for two songs from last year’s excellent (and according to the band, final) LP “Smoke & Fiction” was primarily dedicated to five tracks from their iconic 1980 debut album “Los Angeles.” “The World’s a Mess, It’s in My Kiss,” title song “Los Angeles,” and “Nausea” were highlights of this closing segment.

Wrapping up with the Doors cover “Soul Kitchen,” Doe and Cervenka said goodnight promptly at 10:00, prompting cheers for “More!” Alas, the lights came up and X was gone.

X’s performance was tight, proving that these pioneers of the early Los Angeles punk scene continue to appreciate their extremely dedicated audience.

The X and Los Lobos 2025 tour will continue until November 22nd, with stops in San Diego on November 13th and Riverside on November 14th.

Get tickets while you can!

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