The Mavericks celebrate their 30 years of music with new album, 'Play The Hits,' out Nov 1st

THE MAVERICKS’ NEW ALBUM, PLAY THE HITS, 

CELEBRATES THEIR 30 YEARS OF MUSIC

AND THE SONGS THAT INSPIRED IT

SONG PREMIERES:

Rolling Stone Country premiered "Swingin'" and "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"

Billboard premiered "Before the Next Teardrop Falls"

PRE-ORDER LINK: https://orcd.co/playthehits 

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Can it really have been 30 years since that first gig in Miami? “The first thing that comes to mind is that damn, I’m old!” laughs the one and only Raul Malo, the singular and immense voice at the front of one of the most dynamic, eclectic, audacious and downright charming bands in country music history. He continues, “I’ve always been the kind of person who doesn’t look back. I’m always looking for the next song, the next gig. And you know what the achievement is? We’ve made a life out of this thing! We’ve put the kids through school, raised families; you realize that it’s taken you all over the world, and look at this life you’ve cultivated. You did it — it was a dream — and here you are, deeply appreciative of it.”

Three decades in, The Mavericks are as popular as ever, with a diverse and devoted following. They’ve refused to be a nostalgia act. “People come and yell for the newer songs,” enthuses longtime auxiliary keyboardist and sharp dresser Jerry Dale McFadden. Drummer and co-founder Paul Deakin has a perspective on the durability of the band: “The reason for our longevity is that we’ve been able to take control of the music we play, how we play it, and where and when we play it. We’ve made enough mistakes once, twice or three times, but now we run the show. We can keep the creative spark that’s so central to what we do.”

To celebrate their 30th, andpay tribute to artists and songs that have been part of the journey, the Mavericks give us a brand new album called Play the Hits (Mono Mundo Recordings, out November 1, 2019 wherever music is streamed and sold), featuring songs they cut their teeth on, all made famous by other people, disassembled and totally reimagined by the

Mavericks as a testament to how great the songs are and how the band can get inside the material and make it their own. 

The first single, “Swingin’,” is pure Mavericks audacity. John Anderson’s classic original is much loved, with no small part of its charm being his comic hayseed delivery. So, what happens when you strip that away? What you get is a classic Mavericks tune with a beat hard as nails and a singer who’s serious: he really IS going to go see Charlotte Johnson and sit on the front porch swing! And she’d better be ready too. (“I always thought that underneath, it could be a really sexy song.” Raul says.) 

Now picture “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?” taken way uptown, with sass, swagger … and horns! Later on, they take those horns to Vegas in 1959 in order to serve up a Rat Packed “Don’t Be Cruel.” And in one of the most successful Springsteen interpretations, they take “Hungry Heart” back to the spirit of the people who inspired Bruce himself. It rolls along like a prime Fats Domino record, with party brass and lilting whiffs of Dion & the Belmonts. The party atmosphere tones down for some beautiful intimate moments, like the acoustic guitar treatment of “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” (featuring Flaco Jiménez), and Raul singing and playing “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” by himself, showing off not only his singing but his ability to get inside such disparate songs and find something uniquely his and the band’s.

Few bands have had a more fitting name than the Mavericks. When they first stood Nashville on its ear in the early ’90s — with hits like the insanely grooving rockabilly Tex Mex of  “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” (featuring frequent participant Flaco), the straight-ahead heartland rock of “What a Crying Shame,” the incredible vocal of Raul’s on the Orbison-esque “Oh What a Thrill” — even the cool crowd embraced them, including the nascent Americana movement. It was the groove, everyone’s mastery at what they did, their refreshing combination of likeability and reality, and that fact that people subconsciously know a genuine band when they hear one, guys in this for life. The breadth and scope of their sound has as much to do with the songs of Raul’s Cuban American heritage as it does country stylings; and from the beginning, they’ve reflected elements of Sun Records, George Jones in his crew-cut days, gospel, Tejano, zydeco, ’50s and ’60s R&B, pop in all its meanings, plain old rock and roll — and anything else that has ever stoked their furnace! 

Promo Video, set volume, tap to watch:

Thanks 🙌 to all who have pre-ordered, pre-saved, streamed, or listened 🎶 to our forthcoming new album THE MAVERICKS PLAY THE HITS! ✨ We can’t wait to get this new record into your hands! 🔥 Enjoy this sneak peek at some very special visuals coming soon... 👀 #MAVS30 pic.twitter.com/pqsK745LpZ

— The Mavericks (@MavericksMusic) October 8, 2019

In the long run, after 30 years? How would you sum up all that music? “The Mavericks in a way has been our experiment,” muses Raul. “It’s the ‘why not’ band. Why not just do it? It’s more fun that way. We’re not beholden to any one genre. We’re not beholden to anything. And you know, all it has to do is just sound good.” Yes, that’s about it.

Track listing and songwriter credits:

1.     Swingin’ (John David Anderson, Lionel A Delmore)

2.     Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (Waylon Jennings)

3.     Blame It On Your Heart  (Harlan Howard, Kostas Lazarides)

4.     Don’t You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me) (Hank Cochran)

5.     Before The Next Teardrop Falls (Vivian Keith, Ben Peters)

6.     Hungry Heart  (Bruce Springsteen)

7.     Why Can’t She Be You (Hank Cochran)

8.     Once Upon A Time (feat. Martina McBride) (Barney Ales, Dave Hamilton, Clarence Paul, William Stevenson)

9.     Don’t Be Cruel  (Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley)

10.  Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (Fred Rose)

11.  I’m Leaving It Up To You  (Don Harris, Dewey Steven Terry)

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The Mavericks launch Mono Mundo Recordings, plan for a busy year ahead

THE MAVERICKS LAUNCH MONO MUNDO RECORDINGS,

PLAN FOR A BUSY YEAR AHEAD,

WITH TWO ALBUM RELEASES

Live album scheduled as first release of Thirty Tigers-distributed label

June 27, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Mavericks, one of the most independent-minded bands in the history of American music, have gone full indie, launching their own record label and announcing two new releases in the year ahead. Mono Mundo Recordings is a partnership that brings together the Mavericks, Nashville distribution and marketing innovators Thirty Tigers and the band’s trusted Ventura, Calif.-based co-producer Niko Bolas. It’s the first time since signing to MCA Records in 1991 that the Mavericks have opted out of the traditional label system.

A live album (All Night Live, Vol. 1) is set for release in October 2016, and a studio project set for spring of 2017. All this follows the Mavericks’ renewal in 2011 after a hiatus, which led to the most fruitful creative period in their career: The band came blazing back with 2013’s In Time and 2015’sMono, earning two Grammy nominations and winning the AMA’s Americana Group/Duo of the Year award in 2015. The new label, which puts the Mavericks entirely in charge of their own artistic and business destiny, finds the veteran group as dedicated as ever to its work, its fans and its renowned live shows. 

“This was a thought we had sitting on our back porch when we were having conversations about what was going to happen with the band,” says founding member and lead singer/songwriter Raul Malo. “It was always in the back of our mind to do our own label, in partnership with somebody. This is the right parties coming together at the right time.” Malo, who is regarded as one of the finest singers of his generation, adds that the move is exciting and empowering. “It feels like we can do what we want now. I’m really looking forward to this time in the Mavericks’ life.”

David Macias, president and founder of Thirty Tigers, says Mono Mundo Recordings is exactly the kind of progressive, artist-driven project that his company has specialized in for more than a decade. “We find great joy in giving artists the back end support to execute their own vision and these guys have an incredible vision both musically and on the business side,” Macias says. “There’s such craft and soul and vitality to what the Mavericks do, it’s a thrill to go fight for it.”  

“They’re doing absolutely everything that they want to musically with a bunch of people that believe in them musically,” says Bolas, the band’s producer/partner, whose track record includes albums with Neil Young, Warren Zevon and LeAnn Rimes. 

The Mavericks, founded in Miami by Malo and drummer Paul Deakin, upended expectations in the early 1990s when their blend of Cuban grooves and Bakersfield-inspired twang hit the airwaves through the support of MCA Records and producer Tony Brown. They’ve won several CMA and ACM Awards plus a Grammy Award in 1995, charting numerous singles and albums while earning accolades as one of the finest live bands in the business. 

Thirty Tigers is a Nashville based entertainment company, founded in 2002. Following a decade of rapid growth, it has offices in Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina and London. Its collective experience in the music industry ranges from record retail to the film industry to major labels.

See a clip from this past weekend's CBS This Morning Saturday Session:

The Mavericks Make Magic Once Again With Two Grammy Nominations

THE MAVERICKS MAKE MAGIC ONCE AGAIN 
WITH TWO GRAMMY NOMINATIONS 

Recognized in Best American Roots Song & Best Americana Album 

Categories Two Decades After Last Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ever enticing loyal fans with their unique fusion of melodies and charisma that evoke a palpable groove, The Mavericks have once again impressed an elite industry group. The troupe of musical comrades — Raul Malo (lead vocals), Paul Deakin (drums), Eddie Perez (guitars) and Jerry Dale McFadden(keyboards) — earned two GRAMMY nominations this morning in both the Best American Roots Song (“All Night Long”) and Best Americana Album (Mono) categories.

The honor comes two decades after they took home Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for “Here Comes the Rain.”

Pictured (L-R): Eddie Perez, Paul Deakin, Jerry Dale McFadden, Raul Malo  

“We are incredibly grateful that our music is able to do exactly what we intended … free people from themselves and their struggles,” shared Malo. “On the road our fans dance, cry, sing, laugh and get into a vibe that transcends outside obstacles like race, language and social status. Thank you to the Recording Academy for noticing and again believing in the Mavericks.”

Continued Perez, “this band has always defied the odds and expectations … a country band from Miami with a Cuban singer? But it works, because people feel the passion.”

The Mavericks have re-emerged with an unbridled urgency since signing to Big Machine Label Group imprint the Valory Music Co. — named the Americana Music Awards Duo/Group of theYear; producing two well-received albums, In Time (2013) and Mono (2015), the latter of which spent two weeks at #1 on the Americana Airplay Charts; debuting new music on national television shows such as NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers (“All Night Long”), TBS’ Conan (“Summertime (When I’m With You)”) and CBS This Morning Saturday (“Back in Your Arms Again”). 

(16 Feb 2015) Mavericks - Mono (Decca/ The Valory Music)

12 Tracks/ Time: 42:40 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - Test Drive on SPOTIFY

Music critics across the globe experiencing the headline Mono Mundo Tour and listening to the fresh tracks enthused:  

“The ability to transcend time, to merge Latin cultures seamlessly with American rock/pop/country standards, to offer the erogenous without salacious slather, The Mavericks […] created a new world for post-country country—as musically satisfying as it is hormone-peaking.”

—PASTE

“The Mavericks became great by cutting through the din in smoky rooms where studio tricks didn't factor in — only a killer voice, indelible hooks and the ability to draw in even the most distracted listeners.”

—NPR

"Country's coolest, most versatile band, led by the silver-throated Raul Malo, returns with more country infused with elements of world music, rock, jazz and whatever else the group has decided to throw in.”

—ROLLING STONE

“…their sound is as sleek as ever. The record was recorded in just five days; that fact alone testifies to how strong they are live.”

—THE VILLAGE VOICE

“With a sound as distinctive as John Fogerty or even Steely Dan, they managed to not only reconstitute themselves, but retain their visionary musically integrity … they’ve caught lightning in a bottle yet again.” 

—VINTAGE GUITAR

“It’s big, bold and still stands out next to anything coming from Nashville.” 
—BILLBOARD

Malo will join a host of talent during the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Songconcert event to honor Willie Nelson, airing on PBS on January 15, 2016.

The 2016 GRAMMY Awards air on Monday, February 15 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.  

For upcoming tour dates and more, visit TheMavericksBand.com.  

14th Annual Americana Honors & Awards

Shakey Graves, Sturgill Simpson, 
John Leventhal, The Mavericks and Lucinda Williams Claim Top Honors at

14th Annual Americana Honors & Awards

Americana -- "A lively genre embodies both the continuity and evolution of roots music," (Wall Street Journal) -- celebrated its 14th Annual Americana Honors & Awards tonight at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

This year's winners reflected the community's "spirit of eclecticism" (New York Times), with Shakey Graves as Emerging Artist of the Year; John Leventhal, Instrumentalist of the Year; The Mavericks, Group/Duo of the Year; Lucinda Williams, Album of the Year ('Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone'); and Sturgill Simpson claiming both Song of the Year (for "Turtles All The Way Down") and Artist of the Year trophies.

 

Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, the show kicked off the 16th Annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, presented by Nissan, and featured an all-star house band -- led by Buddy Miller -- including legendary musicians, Dominic Davis, Chad Cromwell, Fats Kaplin, Ian Fitchuk, the McCrary Sisters and Bill Payne, legendary founding member of Little Feat.

Performances by Lifetime Achievement Award honorees Buffy Sainte-Marie, Don Henley, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Ricky Skaggs and Los Lobos brought the sold-out crowd to its feet, and in true Americana style, the evening was loaded with musical moments, 

including ovation-worthy performances by Ry Cooder with Sharon White; Shakey Graves with Esme Patterson and Rhiannon Giddens, John Hiatt, Houndmouth, Jason Isbell, Nikki Lane, Jim Lauderdale, The Lone Bellow, Mavericks, Buddy Miller with Marc Ribot, Keb Mo, Robert Randolph with The Fairfield Four and McCrary Sisters, Doug Seegers, Lucinda Williams and Lee Ann Womack.

This year's presenters included Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale of the Milk Carton Kids; Rosanne Cash; Marc Ribot; Americana Chart Founding Fathers Rob Bleetstein and John Grimson; Abigail Washburn and Noam Pikelny; Mary Gauthier and Mike Farris; Ry Cooder; Rodney Crowell; Sara and Sean Watkins; John Kay and Ken Paulson; and Robyn Hitchcock.

Americana Music Honors & Awards 2015 Winners:

Album of the Year: Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone, Lucinda Williams

(Produced by Lucinda Williams, Tom Overby and Greg Leisz)

Artist of the Year: Sturgill Simpson

Duo Group of the Year: The Mavericks

Song of the Year: "Turtles All The Way Down" Written by Sturgill Simpson

Emerging Artist of the Year: Shakey Graves

Instrumentalist of the Year: John Leventhal

Spirit of Americana/Free Speech in Music Award co-presented by the Americana Music Association and the First Amendment Center: Buffy Sainte-Marie

Lifetime Achievement Award, Trailblazer: Don Henley

The Lifetime Achievement Award, Songwriting: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Lifetime Achievement Award, Instrumentalist: Ricky Skaggs

Lifetime Achievement Award, Performance: Los Lobos

President's Award: BB King

Americana's 14th Annual Honors & Awards, presented by Nissan, was broadcast live on SiriusXM's Outlaw Country; terrestrial radio partner, WSM; and streamed live through a partnership with NPR Music (Live Audio/Video) and Folk Alley (Audio only). PBS will broadcast an edited version of the show as an Austin City Limits special, "ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival" later this year, and Australia's County Music Channel (CMC) will also carry the show.

Don Henley & Lee Ann Womack backstage
4th annual Americana Music Association Honors-Ryman Auditorium (16 Sept2015)

The Americana Honors & Awards executive producers are Jed Hilly, Martin Fischer (High Five Entertainment) and Terry Lickona (Austin City Limits). The show was produced by Michelle Aquilato and Edie Lynn Hoback.

The show kicked off the 16th Annual Americana Festival and Conference that runs through Sunday, Sept. 20 in Nashville. The conference, "the smaller, rootsier version of South by Southwest" according to the New York Times, will deliver a range of panels, networking and seminars, while the "finely-tuned festival" (Travel and Leisure) hosts a record 180 artist showcases across 15 Music City venues, including Loretta Lynne and Steve Earle at Ascend Amphitheater on Saturday, Sept., 19. A full list of venues and performers is available at americanamusic.org.

 

Americana Music Association Honors-Executive Director
Jed Hilly with Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell (16Sept2015)

Sturgill Simpson picked up awards for both ARTIST OF THE YEAR and SONG OF THE YEAR ("Turtles All The Way Down"), but he was one of the few not on hand for last night's Americana Music Honors And Awards Show. The critically acclaimed roots performer was more than 500 miles away, playing a sold-out show in Charlottesville, VA.

The Kentucky-born, NASHVILLE-based former train worker, who took home the EMERGING ARTIST trophy last year, lost out on ALBUM OF THE YEAR, when his "Metamodern Sounds In Country Music" was bested by Lucinda Williams' "DOWN WHERE THE SPIRIT MEETS THE BONE," a song title taken from "Compassion," a poem written by her late father, Miller Williams, who passed away on New Year's Day.

"The Lord has put so many great people in my life," Ricky Skaggs said after accepting his Home Lifetime Achievement Award from Ry Cooder "Getting to play with Bill Monroe, playing with Flatt & Scruggs and with Ralph and Carter Stanley … I’m so blessed."

"What a thrill to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from one of my musical heroes, Ry Cooder.  I've listened to and loved his music for so many years," noted Skaggs.  "There are so many musicians who are very deserving of this great award.  I'm very thankful to the Americana Music Association for this great honour.  I'm glad to be part of the Americana music community.  They still care about music.  So do I." During the ceremony, Skaggs, Cooder and Sharon White performed "Just Over In The Glory Land" live on-stage.  The trio is currently traveling the nation on the critically-acclaimed "Cooder-White-Skaggs" tour. (Source: Press Release - Image)

John Leventhal who co-wrote, produced and performed on wife Rosanne Cash's GRAMMY-winning record, THE RIVER AND THE THREAD, received Instrumentalist Of The Year honors. "Musicians always have been and always will be my heroes," Leventhal said in his acceptance speech.

Americana Music Association Honors
Rosanne Cash with husband and
Instrumentalist Recipient John Leventhal
CLICK to ENLARGE

BB KING's guitar Lucille was front and center as KEB' MO paid tribute to the late blues legend with a rendition of "How Blue Can I Get." KING, who died in MAY, was posthumously honored with the Americana Music Association President's Award on what would have been his 90th birthday.

About Americana Music Association:

The Americana Music Association is a professional non-profit trade organization whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American Roots Music around the world. The Association curates events throughout the year including the annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, the acclaimed Americana Honors & Awards program and most recently "Americana NYC" which took place Aug. 4th - 11th in partnership with Lincoln Center.

The Americana Music Festival & Conference is proudly sponsored by Nissan, Tennessee Department of Tourism, Pandora, Lagunitas Brewing Company, BMI, SESAC, ASCAP, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, AT&T, Blackberry Farm, and Music City Networks

For more information on the Americana Music Association and to become a member:

Official Website: americanamusic.org

Facebook: facebook.com/americanamusicassociation

Twitter: twitter.com/americanafest

Instagram: instagram.com/americanafest

  

THE MAVERICKS NAMED GROUP OF THE YEAR AT
AMERICANA HONORS AND AWARDS

Dynamic entertainers exude vulnerability with “Pardon Me” performance; slated for special edition of live radio show
Music City Roots tonight (9/17)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Mavericks continue to deliver with their one-of-a-kind, bold, sheer, eclectic musical fusion.

On the night of Sept 16, 2015, the dynamic entertainers took home the Americana Music Award for Duo/Group of the Year, presented to them by the Milk Carton Kids. Raul Malo, whose signature tenor fronts the band, and his musical comrades — Paul Deakin (drums, percussion and marimba), Eddie Perez (electric and acoustic guitars) and Jerry Dale McFadden (piano, organ, celeste) — serenaded the audience with the gut-wrenching honesty of “Pardon Me.”

The track is featured on the critically acclaimed Mono (The Valory Music Co.), which sat atop the Americana Airplay Charts for two weeks earlier this year.

From the ceremony, NPR music critic Ann Powers tweeted, “The Mavericks’ Mono is genuinely an album you should listen to tonight BC it is great.” 

“We won something?” a stunned Malo uttered. “Every time we take the stage, we hope our music makes you feel something — joy, romance, sorrow, urgency. But tonight was our turn to be flooded with emotion and honored that our industry, fans and friends think we deserve to be Group of the Year.”

He continued, “you can’t imagine what this moment means to us. We are truly in awe …”  

On Jan 18, 2015  Valory Music Co. group The Mavericks revealed the track listing for "MONO" (HI RES Artwork) their forthcoming studio album which streeted on Tuesday, Feb 17, 2015. Just two days later, the GRAMMY Award winning group hit the road on a headlining tour.

Front man Raul Malo penned all of the eleven tracks on the album, and the group teamed with Niko Bolas for production. With founding members Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez, and Jerry Dale McFadden backed by studio musicians with diverse instrumentation including accordion, upright bass, and tuba, the album is sure to be an eclectic mix of sound and inspiration.

12 Tracks/ Time: 42:40 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - Test Drive on SPOTIFY

On the Billboard Charts (dated March 7, 2015) MONO made a debut at No.57 on the Bilboard 200 Album chart and No.5 on Top Country Albums selling 8,000 copies.

In the UK MONO (BIG MACHINE) made a debut on the Official UK Album chart at No.96 with sales less than 1,000 copies and landed at No.2 on the Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending February 28, 2015)

Reviews

American Songwriter (Rating: 4 out of 5 stars)

The nearly overdub free mono recording captures the quartet’s taut, tight pocket augmented by The Fantastic Four backing musicians that add horns, accordion and even tuba to the festivities. There is a vibrant exuberance to these performances that, like its old-school audio, feels alive and fresh making the Mavericks one of the few bands better in their second act than in their first.

Billboard.com (Rating 8/10) Deceptively simple songs of lust and chivalry get a vigorously swinging, guitar-heavy but horn-heated attack. They veer from big-band salsa ("All Night Long") to frisky, danceable Latin rock ("What You Do to Me"), swaggering, shuffling R&B ("Do You Want Me To") and more mellow pop flavors, closer to Neil Diamond, really, than country....It's big, bold and still stands out next to anything coming from

Country Music People 5 STARS (editor Duncan Warwick) ..The Mavericks are still my favourite band in the world and greatest live act I’ve seen. This album continues the legacy

At the Americana Music Association awards Malo returned to the Ryman Auditorium stage to present Los Lobos with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance, and joined the group for the finale, “One Time One Night.” The live show streamed across NPR with broadcasts on SiriusXM Outlaw Country and WSM while PBS’s Austin City Limits will air the show on November 21.

On Sept 17 the Mavericks were set to entice fans to groove during a special edition of Music City Roots at the Factory in Franklin, airing at 7 p.m. CT on Nashville’s Hippie Radio 94.5FM and webcast at http://musiccityroots.com/livestream/. The lineup included Whitehorse, Shemekia Copeland and Joel Rafael, with Jim Lauderdale hosting. “Country’s coolest, most versatile band” (Rolling Stone Country) will perform selections from Mono — “it’s big, bold and still stands out next to anything coming from Nashville” (Billboard); “they’ve caught lightning in a bottle yet again” (Vintage Guitar) — as well as some of their earlier hits.

The Mavericks' festive vibe coupled with their unique blend of country, rock, Latin, soul, jazz, Tex-Mex and other roots styles results in a marvelous “mono mundo” (one world) of music that transcends decades. The Mavericks' festive vibe coupled with their unique blend of country, rock, Latin, soul, jazz, Tex-Mex and other roots styles results in a marvelous “mono mundo” (one world) of music that transcends decades. 

Making the most relevant music of their career, and according to NPR, “became great by cutting through the din in smoky rooms where studio tricks didn't factor in — only a killer voice, indelible hooks and the ability to draw in even the most distracted listeners,” it appears The Mavericks are once again defying the odds.