Just another band from east L.A.

Ottawa Bluesfest isn't really Ottawa Bluesfest without some kind of controversy. The whole chairs-vs.-standing feud seems to be waning, so this year's grump-fest focussed on the Black Sheep tent. I heard it had a few fans, but most folks seemed to give it a resolute thumbs down, mostly on acoustic grounds. I avoided it for most of the first week, but with neither the main stage nor the Subway Stage affording me a good view I gave in and entered the big tent. I seem to remember something about some exciting performances by the band - so exciting they ended in multiple arrests.The band accurately describes their sound as a combination of everything you can hear rolling down an L.A. street with the car windows open: from rap to cumbia.

El Nino — a.k.a. Justin Poree — works the mike.



Sax-man Ulises Bella toots his own horn.



Asdrubal Sierra handles the singing and also plays a mean trumpet. That's Raúl Pacheco on tres behind him.



Ulises sings!



Singalong action!



Little Wil-Dog Abers on bass, big Raul switches to Telecaster.



Running around action!



Mario Calire mans the skins.



Justin wields the calabash.



Finally, Jiro Yamaguchi Tablas up a storm.



Brassy action!



And finally Wil-Dog gets some mike-time.



A great party band.

• Show reminder: It's Day 2 of the O-Town Hoewdown with Evil Farm Children, Buzz Deluxe and Andre Bluteau at Irene's, Madison and Fifth and The Sharks play Zaphod's; J.W. Jones Blues Band and The Hammerheads funk up the Rainbow; the Elmdale House hosts Rudeboy and The Devillaires; Sugarbush, 40-watt Monkey and Cinema L'aumour perform at the Avant-Garde.