By Cassandra Yany
Austin City Limits will spotlight renowned rock and country trailblazers The Mavericks on Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. CT/ 9 p.m. ET on PBS. The installment is part of the series’ 46th season and will showcase the band’s chart-topping, all Spanish-language album En Español.
The GRAMMY, CMA and ACM award-winning band reaches a career milestone with this being their first Spanish-language album, which debuted at no. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Albums Chart. The genre-bending group return to their Miami roots to blend their eclecticism with a collection of Spanish language originals and traditional Latin songs that inspired them.
The four core Mavericks members— lead singer and songwriter Raul Malo, guitarist Eddie Perez, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden and drummer Paul Deakin— are elevated by horns, accordion and backing vocals for a powerful nine-musician combo. The band celebrates the diversity of cultures with their unique take on classic tracks from the vast Latin American catalog, starting off with the Cuban country track “La Sitiera,” which escalates to an exciting full-band bloom complete with horns and accordion.
Malo— who is a first-generation Cuban American— introduces his late grandfather’s favorite song, “Me Olvidé de Vivir” by Julio Iglesias, which the Mavericks made their own in a country rendition. He also salutes one of his own favorite artists with the mariachi-flavored spin they take on Juan Gabriel’s “No Vale La Pena.”
The group delivers thrilling performances of new originals, including “Recuerdos,” which is backed by horns, and “Suspiro Azul,” which is amplified by standout harmonies. In tribute to performing at the house that Willie Nelson built, Malo gives a solo acoustic take on Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain.” The band also performed Latin-influenced tracks form their 2013 reunion album In Time, including the lush “Come Unto Me,” featuring dueling guitar and accordion solos, and the energetic, rockabilly-flavored “As Long As There’s Loving Tonight.”
“Showcasing The Mavericks first all-Spanish album on Austin City Limits during the same week as the Latin Grammy Awards is perfect timing,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “Since I became co-producer of the Latin GRAMMYs, I’ve made it my mission to bring the joy and beauty of Latin music to the ACL stage every year. This show is a great ‘primer’ for that!”
The Mavericks’ episode was recorded in September and will be the second no-audience taping of the program due to the coronavirus pandemic. This marks the group’s third appearance on the show, being their first in two decades.
During these tough times, ACL continues to provide viewers with a front row seat to live performances. The series airs weekly across the nation and full episodes are made available online for a limited time immediately following the broadcast. The second half of the Season 46 will be announced soon, with six new episodes to begin airing in January. Fans can also find exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews on the ACL YouTube channel.
Check your local listings here
View the YouTube preview here
Episode setlist:
- La Sitiera
- Recuerdos
- Back In Your Arms Again
- Easy As It Seems
- No Vale La Pena
- Me Olvidé De Vivir
- Suspiro Azul
- Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
- Come Unto Me
- As Long As There’s Loving Tonight
About Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits (ACL) offers viewers unparalleled access to featured acts in an intimate setting that provides a platform for artists to deliver inspired, memorable, full-length performances. Now in its 46th Season, the program is taped live before a concert audience from The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. Austin City Limits is the longest-running music series in television history and remains the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts. Since its inception, the groundbreaking music series has become an institution that’s helped secure Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. The historic KLRU Studio 6A, home to 36 years of ACL concerts, has been designated an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark. In 2011, ACL moved to the new venue ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement in 2012.
Austin City Limits is produced by Austin PBS, KLRU-TV and funding is provided in part by Dell Technologies, RigUp, the Austin Convention Center Department and Cirrus Logic. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Austin City Limits. Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com.
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