The Mavericks are becoming the can’t miss show of the summer schedule at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Celebrating 30 years together, the band played a sold-out show in the unrivaled ambiance of the Gardens’ theater-in-the-round on July 8th.
Charismatic and witty frontman Raul Malo thanked the crowd for their support of the band’s genre-defying sound and acknowledged they haven’t always made it easy: “When you tell someone you’re going to see The Mavericks, the first question is, ‘Who?’. The next question is, ‘What do they play?’. We know you’re better off just buying them a ticket, flying them into town and putting them up at a hotel, than to try to answer that.”
Wikipedia says “The Mavericks are an American country music band that combines Tex-Mex, neo-traditional country music, Latin and rockabilly influences”. Live, the talented musicians consistently overdeliver. Malo’s velvety voice gives the band a bit of a lounge act vibe that could just as easily break into a jam that would make a hippie grin.
If you’re still reading this and have never heard of The Mavericks, you’re clearly intrigued or totally baffled. Either way, I hope you’ll go directly to your preferred music streaming service and check them out. Bands don’t last 30 years unless they’re doing something special.
The usually reserved Botanic Gardens concert-goers loved every minute of the energetic set and were on their feet and dancing most of the night. Crowd favorites included “Dance The Night Away”, “What a Crying Shame” and my favorite, “Here Comes My Baby”.
The band is on tour through mid-October. If you go, bring your dancing shoes.
