Los Lobos came to Madison to show Fete de Marquette an incredible time. One of my favorite outdoor festival bands, heck, one of my favorite bands to see live because of all the different sounds they manage to share to open minds everywhere. Over the years I have seen them in intimate settings, big festivals and now here at our hometown community festival where the stage is or front door to the neighborhood. Steve Berlin has been with the band since 1984 or so and I have grown to appreciate him as a member of Los Lobos, but also as a producer or new sounds with other artists coming on to the scene. I am not usually surprised when I find out an album I am diggin’ on and ready to share with the listeners has passed through Steve first. So it was a thrill to be able to hang out with him during the Making Movies set that preceded Los Lobos. We talked baseball for a bit, but we relished in deep enjoyment in the music we were seeing at that very moment. Of course, Steve produced these cats and also joined them on staGe for a few tunes. Priceless.
Shortly before they hit for the evening’s show, Steve and I caught up to put something quick on record. We spoke about what it is like making music in 2018 versus when the band got it first going back in what we now get to call, the day. We also get to talk about some of the new bands Steve is working with, including Making Movies, and we even find out about a group he wishes he was even more a part of. We both agree that music unites and there is still a good reason to be exited.
Big thank you to Susana and the entire Fete team for helping make this a go and for letting me fit in to the scene.