LOS FABULOCOS FEATURING KID RAMOS Source: Big City Blues Date: 10/2008 Writer: Gary von Tersch

Los Fabulocos may be a hitherto unknown commodity, however, muscular rootsy blues guitarist Kid Ramos is renowned worldwide for his stellar contributions to groups like the Fabulous Thunderbirds and the James Harman Band. Here he joins forces with one of the top Southern California bands on the Chicano music scene, composed of vocalist and Hohner button accordionist Jesus Cuevas, bass player James Barrios and drummer Mike Molina, on an engaging mix of well-picked covers and a pair of spicy Cuevas originals that vividly recall the Tex-Mex, bordertown sounds of predecessors like Los Lobos, Doug Sahm’s Texas Tornadoes and Freddy Fender.

Playing with enough élan and energy to power a small fleet of pin-striped low rider automobiles, the quartet confidently dips into a variety of genres for inspiration. New Orleans R&B-accented versions of Lloyd Price’s early Specialty hit “Just Because,” Huey “Piano” Smith’s take-no-prisoners “Educated Fool” and Gene Maltais’ embers-glowing ballad “Crazy Baby” appear alongside their rockabilly-tinged rendition of the Johnny Burnette Trio’s “Lonesome Tears In My Eyes” and certified swamp rockers like Rockin’ Dopsie’s blasting “You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine” and Zydeco King Clifton Chenier’s percussive “All Night Long”. Both of the latter songs demonstrate Cuevas’ flashy squeezebox dexterity and Ramos’ deep-toned , inventive and soulfully bristling deftness on the various guitars he plays.

A couple of Spanish sung, barrio conjuntos also catch the ear and probably fill the dance floor – the expressive ballad “Como Un Perro” and the eternal pachanga favorite “Mexico Americano.” And what would a Fabulocos album be without a drinking song (the Barrios authored lament “You Keep On Drinkin’”), a breakaway after breakaway instrumental  (the Ramos co-authored surf stomper “Burnin’ the Chicken”) and some topical commentary, courtesy of Santiago Jimenez, titled “Un Mojado Sin Licencia.” Highly recommended. Fans of the Sir Douglas Quintet and dervishing dancers everywhere will dig this one. Another winner from Delta Groove!