Los Lobos Produces Inventive, Sophisticated Show at the Greek

The idea of people remaining seated and not dancing during a Los Lobos show at the Greek Theatre is virtually unthinkable. Not only does the band have a deserved reputation for dance-insistent music--combining rock, R&B; and traditional Mexican roots--but its regular Greek appearances since the mid-’80s have been particularly boisterous celebrations packed with the group’s East L.A. family and friends.

The unthinkable happened Friday: Much of the audience stayed seated for most of the show. And yet it was still a triumphant night, a remarkable display of musical sophistication and invention dominated by material from the recent album “Colossal Head.” Building on the magic-realism sensibilities of the preceding album, “Kiko,” the new songs reconstruct the various root elements into vivid dreamscapes--sort of Marvin Gaye, War and Howlin’ Wolf filtered through Japanese poetry. It’s head music more than feet music.

There was plenty of time to dance, though, first with a three-song mini-set of Mexican folk-based numbers and later with a run of rockers that finally, after a little prodding by guitarist Cesar Rosas, got fans to their feet. That extended into the encores, including a raucous take of Neil Young’s garage-rock classic, “Cinnamon Girl.”

Even then, though, the richness and ambition of both writing and execution stood out. Old favorites were given subtle new dimensions--the Americana fabric of “One Time One Night” took on an almost Grateful Dead-like feel from David Hidalgo’s fluid guitar solo, a nod toward Los Lobos’ slot starting next month on the Further Festival tour featuring former members of the Dead.

One old favorite wasn’t played: the band’s signature “Will the Wolf Survive?” But then, Los Lobos doesn’t need to ask any more.