LOS FABULOCOS FEATURING KID RAMOS "DOS" Source: Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine Date: 06/2011 Writer: Roger & Margaret White

With a name like Los FabuLocos this band may be mistaken just for a Hispanic rock band but one listen will turn your head around. These proud Chicano's have embraced their cultural heritage while taking the leap to include influences of rock, blues, country and zydeco to make this a truly American music they call Cali Mex. The group began about four years ago with each player bringing his own flavor to the mix. Button accordion player, lead vocalist and songwriter Jesus Cuevas spent a decade in The Blazers playing a mix of traditional Mexican music but he's also influenced by the accordion-based zydeco of Clifton Chenier. Drummer Mike Molina another member of The Blazers brings in influences as diverse as Jasper Thomas, Chuck Berry's drummer on Chess Records and provided the cover painting for this CD. Bassist James Barrios was influenced by the country music of Bakersfield. Los FabuLocos may be powered by the accordion but it is driven by the guitar. The band started with another guitarist but when Cuevas invited friend and fellow motorcycle enthusiast David “Kid” Ramos to join things jumped into over drive. Ramos, an accomplished blues guitarist, was with the James Harman Band for most of the ‘80s, the Fabulous Thunderbird's for seven years, released three solo recordings and is a featured player in The Mannish Boys. With his mastery of electric and slide guitar he now brings a bit of rock ’n‘ roll to the mix and has taken up the very demanding 12-string bajo sexto guitar to fill out the flavors. Jesus Cuevas has written half of the dozen songs on their second CD simply titled “Dos” which also features four Spanish songs, a song a piece from James Barrios and David Ramos plus a Little Richard cover with a fresh spin.

Beginning with a few songs from Jesus Cuevas his reassuring vocals give you a sense “Everything Will Turn Out Alright.” It has the playful gentle wheeze of the squeezebox against the metallic buzz of guitar and a light George Harrison like slide guitar. The drum and bass solidly pick up the beat driving “The Vibe,” with a vocal delivery that’s a throw back to early rock as he pumps his box like a Farfisa organ. Slowing to a strolling ballad “I Never Thought” sways with a Fats Domino spin while “She Wakes Up Crying” an epic of a family's struggle has the croon of a Chicano Springsteen as the accordion tinkles like Johnny Johnson's piano. “What's In My Heart” is a lively two stepper Molina rapping out the rhythm while Ramos follows the accordion's lead. Bassist James Barrios brings to the table a warm sweet sadness with “The Coffee Song” with the siren sound of slide guitar interspaced with rhythm guitar clicking like a spoon against the side of the cup. A deep echoing guitar rings in Kid Ramos' “My Brother's Keeper” reminds you to return the favor and catch me if I fall. To lighten the mood Little Richard's “Keep A Knockin'” is swung out in Spanish before returning to those words you know so well. This disc has a quartet of Spanish language songs starting with the father of Chicano music, Lalo Guerrero's “Los Chucos Suaves” the rumba beat rings out as the wail of stinging guitar seem to mimic a mariachi trumpet on steroids. Taking songs from Mexican film sound tracks “Una Pura Y Dos Con Sal” and “Uno Puno De Tierra” offer a classic sound to this eclectic mix. In the final number Cuevas sings his own “Calmen Su Rollo” a more traditional tune and as the last reverberations die down a simple voice asks, “What do ya think?”