Wasting no time getting (and staying) down to business, The Mavericks played a well-received show to a near-capacity crowd Wednesday night April 3 at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis.
After an exhilarating album release week in New York and Los Angeles in March where the band delivered a jaw-dropping performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, it’s safe to say The Mavericks are back.
The band – Raul Malo, Robert Reynolds, Eddie Perez, Paul Deakin, and Jerry Dale McFadden – had the Minneapolis crowd on its feet most of the evening, as hits were performed, complimented by a number of new tunes. Recent reviews of the band’s first album in almost a decade, “In Time,” prove that The Mavericks sound better than ever.
Malo spoke highly of Minnesota fans, and said the band has performed in the state many times in the past, including the most recent performances at the Minnesota State Fair last fall. The crowd was clearly into the band, dancing and standing anywhere people could find space in the theatre-style venue.
With hits like “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” “Oh What a Thrill,” “There Goes My Heart,” and “What a Crying Shame,” The Mavericks became one of America’s favorite genre-defying bands in the 1990s. Their version of the classic “Twist and Shout,” along with an ode to truly classic country music, rounded out a full set list.
The entire show highlighted all nine musicians on the stage, however it was Malo’s time to shine with the first of two encores, as he sang two acoustic selections. The band came back out and did four more songs. Yet another encore followed as the crowd could not get enough of the band. Another four more songs, concluding with “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” capped off an entertaining performance that is not soon to be forgotten. The Mavericks didn’t spend much time talking between songs, but doing what they do best – putting on an amazing show for a very energetic crowd.
For more information on The Mavericks, visit www.themavericksband.com. You can also click HERE to check out their latest album on iTunes.
Seth Walker, an Austin, TX-based band that plays a mixture of traditional blues with a New Orleans flair, opened for The Mavericks. For more information on Seth Walker, visit www.sethwalker.com
The Pantages, which now seats 1,014, opened in 1916. In 2002, a completely renovated Pantages re-opened and has been hosting memorable and entertaining shows ever since. For more information, visit http://www.
Contributing writer: Brandon G. Wallin