Los Lobos Thrills Music Lovers at St. Germaine Benefit

OAK LAWN, IL -- In what may go down in the record books as the most memorable parish benefit in local history, the internationally acclaimed band Los Lobos thrilled music lovers Saturday at St. Germaine’s in Oak Lawn.

Los Lobos played a two-hour set bridging the evening’s Fiesta Mexico-Americana theme, from traditional Mexican folk songs to rock medleys. The band members -- Louie Perez, Steve Berlin, Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, David Hidalgo and Enrique “Bugs Gonzalez -- brought the crowd to their feet with “Shakin’ Shakin’ Shakes,” “Kiko and the Lavender Moon,” and “That Train Don’t Stop Here.”

Opening the show were the young musicians from the Mariachi Heritage Foundation, comprised of Chicago Public Schools students, and hometown faves Kennedy Compound, who played with inspired flair.

Parishioner Ernie Pedroza said that St. Germaine’s Cultural Events Committee turned away about 300 people at the gate for the sold-out show.

“Someone slipped me a $1,000 check saying they sent their kids here 20 years ago and wanted to help,” Pedroza said. “All in all I think the committee delivered a great event for the parish and school and the audience. Everybody involved got something. We were able to build some serious enterprise value for the parish.”

NBC 5 Chicago reporter Natalie Martinez emceed the show. VIP guests were treated to a pre-show meet-and-greet with Los Lobos. The highlight of the evening, was an encore jam with Los Lobos and the 30-piece high school mariachi musicians on “La Bamba.”

Parishioners and volunteers brought the evening off with aplomb. Pedroza said there were a few behind-the-scenes snafus but you never would have noticed. After the show, Los Lobos hung out at the Black Oak Grill in Oak Lawn.

“They said they would come back again,” Pedroza said. “The night was really special to them.”