PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Raul Malo, frontman for The Mavericks, at the Miami-based quartet’s Sunday night concert at Lynn Auditorium.
By BILL BROTHERTON
LYNN – The best show of the 60 or so I’ve seen this year? The Mavericks at Lynn Auditorium Sunday night.
The Miami-based quartet, augmented by trumpet, sax, accordion and double bass players, stirred up quite a wonderful racket with its mash-up of country, latin, rockabilly, ska and western swing. The show was approaching the 2½-hour mark when deadline beckoned and the band was roaring through a rocking version of “Feliz Navidad,” which was the eighth song of the encore Yes, eighth song! And the band showed no signs of stopping.
The near-capacity crowd was loud and pumped-up from the start, even clapping and woo-hooing to the pre-show music. This was technically a Christmas show, but Mavericks fans know even schmaltzy holiday classics like “Marshmallow World,” which opened the night on a yum, yummy note, would be amped-up like a kid who’s eaten a whole bag of Hershey’s kisses.
“This is a Christmas show for people who think Christmas is a pain in the (butt),” said frontman Raul Malo. “And if you’re that guy who has covered every inch of his house with lights, get out. Leave now.” The band then kicked into a bluesy, double-entendre-filled cover of Elvis’ “Santa Claus is Back in Town.”
It wasn’t all Christmas songs, all the time. The Mavericks, who bring to mind such full-speed-ahead acts as Los Lobos, Rockpile and Doug Sahm’s Sir Douglas Quintet, sent fans into ecstasy with their high-octane original songs. The crowd erupted into a dancing, hot flash mob at the first notes of song No. 4 “All Night Long.” People rushed the stage and filled the aisles, grooving to the music and singing along. I swear that every woman in the joint was dancing. It was impossible to sit still. This music makes you smile and feel good.
The dancing continued through the ska-flavored “Back in Your Arms Again” and the bluesy “Stories We Could Tell.” “As Long as There’s Loving Tonight” transformed the auditorium into a Texas roadhouse; it was a swinging highlight, like Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys on amphetamines. “There Goes My Heart” merged Latin rhythms with country and even punk; the sexy accordion blasts would not be out of place on a Gogol Bordello song.
“I feel like a collective cigarette is needed now,” said Malo, while everyone exhaled.
Malo’s voice, a smooth baritone in the Roy Orbison mold but more powerful, is a wondrous instrument. His crooning of fifties hit “Blue Moon” and holiday staples “Silent Night” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” were reflective, emotional and beautiful.
His mates, Eddie Perez (lead guitar), Jerry Dale McFadden (keyboards and manic Pee-Wee Herman-like dancer/instigator) and Paul Deakin (drums), were in step all night.
The encore featured some of this Grammy-winning band’s biggest hits. Everyone was on their feet, enjoying the cathartic release of “Dance in the Moonlight” and “All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down.”
Simply tremendous.
Weymouth’s Jay Psaros won many new fans with an engaging opening solo acoustic set of singer-songwriter tunes. “The Orphan,” which deals with the struggles of a Vietnam vet years after returning home, and a James Taylor-like run-through of Stephen Foster’s “Oh Susanna” were terrific, as was Psaros’ guitar playing. It was his 32nd birthday, and the near-capacity crowd showed why Lynn audiences are the best by singing “Happy Birthday” to the performer.
Bill Brotherton is the Item’s features editor. He can be reached at [email protected].