As on the nose as it may be for Los Lobos to play the Wolf Den, a performance space centered on the casino floor of Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun, it makes it no less the ripping good time it was on the final Saturday night in January. With over five decades of a catalog to delve into, the iconic original five wolves and their touring drummer ran the gamut of the band’s history. From high-tempo rockers, to classics, to album cuts, the veteran band even worked in a poignant nod to two of its favored, departed influences—the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia.

Whether on The Blasters’ “Flat Top Joint,” or its own “Georgia Slop,” or “Angel Dance,” it was apparent from the start that Los Lobos still possesses—and enjoys- the guitar-driven power that embodies rock-and-roll. As well, the group’s performances continue to be showcases of diversity. This one had plenty, as expected, shifting from musical genre and regional inspiration. There was guitarist and singer, Cesar Rosas, leading the darkened seduction of “Chuco’s Cumbia,” or his counterpart, David Hidalgo, sliding into the neo-soul of “Is This All There Is?” or the impulsive and propulsive blues of “That Train Don’t Stop Here,” highlighted by Steve Berlin’s honking sax strolling along Conrad Lozano’s walking bassline.

Too, there was some straight-up getting down to be had—one for the “youngsters” on “Come On, Let’s Go,” plus the satisfying crunch of “Don’t Worry, Baby.” Yet, when guitarist Louie Perez dropped back behind the drum-kit and Hidalgo picked up his accordion, midway through the 90-minute effort, the quintet went way, way back to its East L.A. roots. The five offered a Tex-Mex tribute with “Ay te dejo en San Antonio,” then roused up the packed crowd with the immortal celebratory sway of “Volver, volver.”   

Still, it was on the outgoing run when Los Lobos repeatedly hit the peaks of its prowess. There was a cooling shot of the Grateful Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway” earlier in the frame, but it was a set-closing “I Got Loaded,” with “Turn on Your Lovelight” and “Not Fade Away” sprinkled in, that prefaced a true moment of tribute. Hidalgo paused “Not Fade Away” just long enough to tap his chest and say, “For Bob and Jerry, in our hearts,” before launching a rollicking rendition of the Dead’s “Bertha.” On the encore that followed the ensemble delivered some more fun, riding to the finish on a throwback wave of “La Bamba” that curled into “Good Lovin’” before circling back to the Ritchie Valens-adopted anthem.

Over fifty years together, Los Lobos remains the quintessential American band. There are few artists, if any, that can glide so comfortably from hip-shaking boogie to borderland balladry to rushes of captivating improvisation. It may have been freezing outside on this deep-winter night, but there was more than enough warming, comforting heat inside the wolf den.