Watch Nels Cline & John McCauley Join Los Lobos For Hendrix-Style ‘La Bamba’ At Newport

Los Lobos celebrated their 50th anniversary as a band with a special Los Lobos & Friends set at the Newport Folk Festival last Sunday, July 30. The East Los Angelenos were augmented by special guests Neko Case, John McCauley of Deer Tick and Wilco guitarist Nels Cline for portions of their performance, which concluded with a rousing “La Bamba.”

The collaboration had deep meaning for McCauley as Los Lobos’ 1988 set at the festival was the first concert he attended. John McCauley was a two-year old at the time who witnessed the performance 35 years prior accompanied by his mother.

Nels Cline added to Los Lobos’ medley of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” and fellow Grateful Dead live repertoire staple “Bertha.” Both McCauley and Cline lent a hand on the “La Bamba” finale. Los Lobos presented a version of the traditional tune that launched them to international stardom that was similiar in feel to Jimi Hendrix’s take on “Like A Rolling Stone.” The arrangement played right into Cline’s wheelhouse as the Wilco guitarist unleashed one angular riff after another.

Watch fan-shot video of the collaborative “La Bamba” and “Bertha” below: