Bloggerhythms

The sad, recent passing of Raul Malo encouraged me to pull out all of my Mavericks CDs. I own several of them, but not their Christmas album. I didn't even know they recorded one until a few days ago. Shame on me for not knowing that. I just burned it to CD after downloading it from iTunes. Both the title of the album and it's front and back covers tell you everything you need to know about The Mavericks' foray into Christmas music. You didn't really believe this ten-song set was going to give listeners anything but a chance to party hardy during the holidays, did you?  Hey! Merry Christmas!  may not be   intellectually stimulating but it's not supposed to be. Play it to have some fun in memory of Malo. Hey! Merry Christmas! was recorded by The Mavericks' most recent lineup featuring Malo on vocals and guitar along with axman Eddie Perez who's been with the quartet since 2012. Jerry Dale McFadden also became their permanent keyboard pla...

Sadly, Raul Malo, the leader of The Mavericks, has passed away from cancer at age 60. I knew of his ongoing battle with the disease, but I heard stories that he was doing well. Apparently not. Ten years ago, I saw him perform a solo acoustic show in New Hope, PA five days before Christmas where he played a couple of tunes from his Christmas album. Years later, he also released a holiday record with The Mavericks. I also saw the full band play a concert at Cooper River Park in New Jersey quite a few years earlier. As a tribute, I'm rerunning my review of his acoustic concert because it occurred during the holiday season.    In an almost two hour show at New Hope Winery Raul Malo proved he is a superb singer and that statement should not come as a surprise. As always, The Mavericks' leader and frontman sounded like a graduate of the Roy Orbison school of vocals and all he needed as accompaniment was the solo acoustic guitar he played quite well all evening long. Malo showe...

Even though Raul Malo's name appears first on the cover of The Nashville Acoustic Sessions this excellent, twelve song set tries to convince us Pat Flynn, Rob Ickes, and Dave Pomeroy are his equals. However, whether he's on stage or in the studio, Malo always dominates any sessions he participates in. This is the most bare-boned music Malo has ever released either with The Mavericks or as a solo artist. It is pure unadulterated country with no bombast anywhere. The only thing that prevents this album from sounding as if it was not recorded in the hills of Kentucky is the star's pop-operatic vocals. Flynn and Ickes, who play mandolin, guitar and dobro, along with bassist Pomeroy, are perfect sidemen for Malo on this almost percussion free affair. All three are masters at what they do. The material is wide ranging but Malo and friends tailor the songs, almost all from celebrated artists, to fit their needs. The songs are from way back when country was rural. Featured are...

The Mavericks haven't always sounded like a stereotypical country band and that's because they've only marginally ever been one. They've absorbed too many influences to be truly Nashville despite the fact the city is the band's home base. What they do sound like are themselves and that should be apparent from the first note of the salsa drenched "All Night Long," a killer dance track that is the best way to open their new album, Mono . If you don't recognize the quartet from that first millisecond you're just not a fan. Raul Malo and his friends continue to mix a recipe of country, early rock 'n roll, their leader's excellent songwriting, and his even better "Roy Orbison" vocal chords into a stew that makes them one of America's great party bands. Despite all of their successes I can still see them kicking butt as a bar's house band every Saturday night and being happy about it. Guitarist Eddie Perez who joined in 2...