Los Lobos

If the American public had any guts, Los Lobos would be the nation's undisputed flagship act. Short of that, the group is a household name with a large, but not huge, loyal following that allows fans to intimately enjoy the band's deft blend of Southern rock, art rock, Tex-Mex, country and acoustic folk from both sides of the border. Los Lobos puts in about 3 hours a night, switches instruments after nearly every song without losing flow, and never repeats the same set twice. They groove hard and wise. After 35 years, these guys cross genre boundaries with a ballerina's finesse while bringing surprising power to the stage. Which means you should run (not walk) to this KCPT Channel 19 benefit show if you're even remotely interested in witnessing a true American giant.