Album Review: The Mavericks 'All Night Live'

The Mavericks’ new album, All Night Live Volume 1, (the first on their own imprint, Mono Mundo Recordings) out October 14th, captures the vibrant energy and passion of their live show in sixteen tracks that are distinctly “maverick.” Led by Malo’s rich tenor, these spacious, bold recordings reveal the band’s - Maul (vocals, guitar), Eddie Perez (guitarist and vocalist), Jerry Dale McFadden (keyboardist/singer) and Paul Deakin (drums) - distinctive sound, dynamic musicianship and their seemingly effortless ability to play, well, anything and everything.

From the first four hits of the cowbell on “All Night Long” there’s an undeniable joyful energy that emanates from your speakers; continuing through songs blending rock and roll swagger with Latin grooves (“All Over Again”), swing (“Stories We Could Tell”), blues (“Do You Want Me To”) and Tejano rhythms (“What You Do To Me”).

While the intensity remains high throughout the recording, things take a breather (long enough to give your legs a break from all the dancing you’re undoubtedly doing) with “Pardon Me,” but quickly pick right back up again with the big band sound of “Summertime” before rolling seamlessly into “Every Little Thing About You” and the fiery ska of “I Said I Love You.” The show is rounded out with a reserved, romantic cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” and the epic “Come unto Me” before closing with “Waiting For The World To End” on which Malo adds in humorously “We’re waiting for the show to end.”

All Night Live   is a full throttle good time that you’ll want to turn up and dance to all night long.

In addition to the regular members, the touring band on these recordings is rounded out by the “Fantastic Four”: Max Abrams (sax and percussion), Ed Friedland (upright bass), Matt Cappy (trumpet) and Michael Guerra, a multi-instrumentalist who provides the Mavericks’ irresistible Tex-Mex accordion – who more than live up to their name, adding a certain something to each track, amplifying and expanding the energy ten-fold.

The album will be released in standard cd format as well as digitally and as a gatefold double LP with a high-impact, highly touchable design and original typography by Dresser Johnson. The Mavericks will follow up this October release with a new studio album in April 2017.

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