Scenes from Steve Earle and Los Lobos at Red Butte Garden

I gathered with a bunch of friends for the Steve Earle/Los Lobos show at Red Butte Garden Sunday night. When Red Butte announced their schedule, this was a show that jumped out for sure–two of the best purveyors of rootsy rock, playing together at Utah’s best summertime concert venue.

Steve Earle and his band the Dukes were a blast, with Earle spinning yarns between songs, and trading instruments on virtually every tune; over the course of the night, Earle played guitar, banjo, mandolin and bouzouki as he led the band through a set including  “Copperhead Road” and “The Revolution Starts Now.”

Steve Earle leading his band The Dukes at Red Butte Garden Sunday night.

Los Lobos started out all-acoustic and all Spanish for a few songs before slowly adding in some electric guitars over the course of their set. The band got the crowd on its feet early, and kept them up and dancing through cover like “West L.A. Fadeaway,” “Papa was a Rolling Stone” and “She’s About a Mover,” along with their own tunes like “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Kiko and the Lavender Moon,” “La Pistola y el Corazon” and “Mas y Mas.”

Los Lobos performing Sunday night at Red Butte Garden.

Stellar show all around, with two headliners sharing a bill. I could go for a Los Lobos/Steve Earle twin bill every summer.

Los Lobos’ Louie Perez (left) and David Hidalgo, performing at Red Butte Garden Sunday night.