‘Play La Bamba, baby’: Band behind Oilers victory song cheering for Edmonton while on tour

Oilers fans’ calls to ‘play La Bamba, baby’ – a request to hear Edmonton’s victory song – have been heard by the band Los Lobos.

Speaking with CityNews while on tour from Utah, Steve Berlin – a member of Los Lobos – confirmed the Oilers and the band are in talks about some form of live performance.

“We have a pretty busy schedule the next couple of months, but where there is a will, there’s a way,” said the keyboardist, saxophonist and music producer. “I’m hoping we can figure something out.”

Los Lobos released their cover of La Bamba in 1987 for the Ritchie Valens biopic, and Berlin says the joy of seeing the song continue to bring joy through the generations is a feeling that can’t be beat.

“Needless to say, it’s a troubled world that we live in,” said Berlin. “And to see this story so pure and wonderful and no bad guys – unless you count the Avalanche.”

WATCH: The meaning behind ‘Play La Bamba, Baby’

While the Oilers have yet to ‘play La Bamba, baby’ against the Colorado Avalanche, the joy felt by fans when it is played transcends the score. The song was chosen because it was the favourite of late locker room attendant Joey Moss.

For more than 30 years, Moss went above and beyond his job, spreading optimism and joy to players and fans. The Oilers Foundation dedicated the multi-day 50/50 to three charities near and dear to Moss: Special Olympics, Edmonton Down Syndrome Society and Winnifred Stewart Association.

This latest playoff run has another source of inspiration: six-year-old cancer warrior Ben Stelter. His dad posts a video of the superfan saying “play La Bamba, baby” before every home game.

“It’s really nice to just have something that just feels good,” said Berlin when asked about the fandom. “And you can just lose yourself for a couple hours and you can just not think about all the other stuff that is going on. That’s really what music and sports are.”

While all members of Los Lobos are excited to wear orange and blue Oilers swag, currently in the mail, Berlin says the 2022 playoff season has reignited his love of hockey.

“Watching these games as a passionate fan again is like, ‘oh my God, this so good. Why did I leave it behind?’”

WATCH: Full interview with keyboardist, saxophonist and music producer Steve Berlin

On top of his role with Los Lobos, Berlin produced two albums for the The Tragically Hip.

“To this day, it’s hard for me to watch a game and not think about how much they enjoyed it,” he said, recalling recording with the Hip at Bathhouse in Kingston off Lake Ontario.

“They would go out there and play hockey into the dark, their commitment to the game was so extraordinary and extreme that it kind of made me appreciate it on a different level.”

Los Lobos’ next official date to play in Edmonton is in October, and Berlin believes it will be different than any past concerts in oil country.

“Canada’s going to be different when we come back, because now we are woven into this story.”