Photos by Cristy Martinez
The Dallas Mavericks are on a major losing streak right now, but The Mavericks are killing it on stage. The country and western band had a string of hits in the 1990s, and they broke up in 2002. Front man Raul Malo, who possesses one of the greatest voices in country music, embarked on a prolific solo career, and it looked like The Mavericks were over forever.
But the band reunited last year to record a new album, and they performed at the Granada Theater Friday. The nine-piece band Friday included original members Malo, drummer Paul Deakin and bassist Robert Reynolds, plus Midlothian native J.D. McFadden on keys and former Dwight Yoakam guitarist Eddie Perez.
This fan made a giant Valentine for guitarist Eddie Perez.
The band opened with “Back in Your Arms Again” and “Lies,” tracks from their new album, “Suited Up and Ready,” which is due out in February.
Then they got into the old hits: “Pretend,” “Oh What a Thrill,” “What a Crying Shame,” and “There Goes My Heart” before a sweet rendition of “Waltz Across Texas” and Bob Wills’ “My Shoes Keep Walking Back” (complete with an “Ah, Leon” from Malo).
The band played two encores that included Vicente Fernandez’s “Volver, Volver” and the finale “All You Ever do is Bring Me Down.”
The band played for over an hour, but it went by in a flash. They were so entertaining, but maybe a tad careful. The Mavericks brought San Antonio-based accordion player Michael Guerra, who received wild applause during “All You Ever Do is Bring Me down,” which the band originally recorded with Flaco Jimenez. I would’ve loved to hear a little more conjunto or even a Doug Sahm rendition, since we are in Texas.
But I’ll take The Mavericks any way I can get them.
