It was part fiesta, part carnival, part soccer match. But, in the end, it was all rock show.

On Wednesday night (6/24) Ozomatli [ tickets ], the Los Angeles ten-piece that's been teaching West Coast music lovers how to party for nearly a decade, took their show back to where it all began, the tiny Dragonfly club on Santa Monica Boulevard, where they first established their reputation as one of the city's must-see live acts.

At about 11 p.m., Ozomatli began their show the way they start most shows: parading through the audience, banging on bongos, rolling tight snare rolls, and blaring joyous horns--laying the foundation for a night to leave your worries at the door and par-tay. Once the conga line weaved its way through the club to the small stage--which hardly contained the energetic group--the fuse was lit for an unforgettable night.

On this, the last of the group's three sold-out shows at the venue, Ozomatli marked the release of their third album, "Street Signs." And while the group played several tracks off the new album, it also gave the room of die-hards a celebratory set that highlighted some of the best tracks off its first two discs.

Dressed like a Latino kung-fu master, guitarist Raul Pacheco slinked funky guitar lines into Ozo's tunes, while the three-piece horn section--which featured a saxophone, trombone, and singer Asdru Sierra on trumpet--brought New Orleans to the new school. Songs like "Pa Lante" and "Dos Cosas Ciertas," both off 2001's "Embrace the Chaos," showcased the band's ability to cross hip-hop, rock, and Samba, for an electric amalgam of sound.

Throughout the show, members of the band yelled for fans to wave their arms and get their hands up. And the roomful of loyal listeners, who knew each of the group's tunes, obliged. On the cool "Vocal Artillary," rapper and percussionist Justin Poree delivered the hook, "Activate the left side!" And the faithful shouted back in perfect time. The band's DJ, hiding somewhere behind the nine other musicians and his sizable turntables, carved slick scratches into "Street Signs," the title track off Ozomatli's new disc.

Sierra's voice is mesmerizing, and his stage presence is undeniable, his wild afro bouncing along to the group's eclectic rhythms. Indeed, all the members of the band possess the energy and power of a rocket ship--they dance, shout and encourage their fellow bandmates and the audience to do the same. And--somehow--every incitement goes undenied. On "Cumbia De Los Muertos," the band jammed in parts of Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" and the '80s hit "Pass the Dutchie."

Then, exiting the way they entered, Ozomatli stepped offstage pounding percussion into the air, while ecstatic horns danced to the groove. Again, the adoring audience played an integral part, chanting Samba mantras, dancing--even singing the theme to "Sesame Street."

This ain't your dad's rock show. Or your dad's fiesta. Or your dad's soccer match. This was Ozomatli in their element, delivering one truly joyful show.