FATHERS AND SONS: On its 1984 Slash...

FATHERS AND SONS: On its 1984 Slash Records album, Los Lobos asked the musical question: “How Will the Wolf Survive?” The answer: By making the pack bigger.

At the group’s New Year’s Eve show at the Oxnard Civic Auditorium, the sons of drummer Louie Perez and guitarist/accordionist David Hidalgo came on stage to play with the band, subbing for their fathers on “Wicked Rain,” a song from the group’s “Kiko” album.

Ironically, the pups don’t play the same instruments as their pops. Louie III, a 17-year-old senior at Laguna Beach High, ripped out some mean guitar riffs, while 16-year-old David Jr., who attends Whittier Christian, pounded the drums like a pro. Those are, however, the instruments originally played by their fathers.

“I started out on the guitar and David (Hidalgo Sr.) played the drums and it was that way until about 1980,” said the elder Perez. “I always had guitars around the house. My son has been playing since he was about 12 years old and David Jr.’s been playing since he was about 2,” said the drummer, who laughed as he added: “Much to my dismay. . . . I was hoping they wouldn’t turn out to be musicians.”

It’s too late. The young wolves have been playing together for a few years and Louie III even has his own band, Villains 99. Though the two have occasionally played with Los Lobos on tour, it was the first time they’ve performed with their dads in Southern California, where Lobos shows often resemble family reunions with relatives and friends crowding the backstage area.

So how did they do at their impromptu, unrehearsed New Year’s Eve appearance? “They were great,” said an obviously proud Perez. “They always amaze me.”