LOS FABULOCOS FEATURING KID RAMOS Source: n/a Date: 10/2008 Writer: n/a

The terms “Texican” and “Tex-Mex” might sound like they refer to trendy restaurant fare, but those who like their music hot and spicy know how tasty these genre combinations can be. California’s Los Fabulocos add another platter to the table with a mix they dub “Cali-Mex.” It’s a sizzling blend of Mexican music, Fifties rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and classic R&B that will be instantly recognizable to fans of Doug Sahm, the Texas Tornados, Los Lobos, and the underrated Blazers, whose accordion player, Jesus Cuevas, fills those shoes with Los Fabulocos.

One-time Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Kid Ramos gets featured billing, but even though he fires off stinging solos on songs such as the very Los Lobos-sounding “Day After Day” and the rockabilly-goosed “Burnin’ the Chicken,” this is a band project, and it’s all the better for it. If anyone, it¹s Cuevas who takes center stage, since it is his lead vocals and squeezebox that propel the material.

There’s no mistaking the quartet’s energy and the sheer joy it creates. Most of the material consists of covers of obscure Mexican and R&B fare, but terrific takes of “You Ain’t Nuthin’ but Fine” (best known via the Thunderbirds version), Lloyd Price’s “Just Because,” and Clifton Chenier’s “All Night Long” will sound familiar to most roots fans. This party music is played with enthusiasm, passion, and class, and the whole experience is greater than the sum of its pretty cool parts. Each song crackles with excitement, whether it’s a traditional Mexican ballad such as “Como un Perro” or an upbeat tune such as Huey “Piano” Smith’s “Educated Fool.” Though it’s far from straight blues, a strong and pungent blues feel runs through the album, and even if fans might have liked to hear Ramos tear it up on a few more tunes, there’s no denying that the sense of collaboration creates an album that will be at home in Texas, California, Mexico, and everywhere in between.