The Mavericks
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania (May 5, 2018) – We can’t think of a better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than an evening spent grooving to the Americana-Rock-Neo Country-Latin infused rhythms of The Mavericks! Fans “Dance[d] The Night Away” at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA and Splice was there to capture the band’s enthusiastic performance. The Mavericks always deliver 110% and last night was no exception: from mingling with die-hards at a pre-concert tailgate, to boldly stopping mid-song to scold overzealous security guards discouraging concert goers dancing in the aisles, the band clearly loves what they do and fans feel a special connection as a result.
The beautiful venue, with its warm wooden details, vaulted ceiling, and breathtaking panoramic views of Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains provided the perfect setting for the band to get down to the “Nitty Gritty”.
Highlights included classics such as, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down”, and “Pretend”, along with popular covers of Bruce Springsteen’s “All That Heaven Will Allow”, Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”, and in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican love song classic, “Volver”. Band leader Raul Malo, aka “El Maestro”, delivered some bluesy growls in addition to his characteristic melodic crooning, while Eddie Perez proved he is one of rock’s best guitarists! Perez shredded through crowd-pleasers like, “Every Little Thing About You”, and “Come Unto Me”.
The band’s horn section is unparalleled and the crowd was treated with multiple stellar solos from Max Abrams, Lorenzo Molina Ruiz, and Julio Diaz. When he wasn’t busy laughing and dancing, the happiest man in showbiz, Jerry Dale McFadden, adeptly played keyboards in his usual flamboyant style, while Michael Guerra wielded his accordion in distinctive rockstar fashion. Ed Friedland and Paul Deakin anchored the band in perfect time with their solid bass and drums, leaving the crowd hungry for more!
The band performed a 2.5 hour set with unrelenting energy – a testament to their indisputable musical prowess.
The Mavericks continue to wind their way through the U.S. on their 2018 Tour. If you’ve never experienced the joyful exuberance of a Mavs show, do yourself a favor and get to your local venue post haste. But please proceed with caution: spontaneous, perhaps even uncontrollable dancing may occur. Consider yourself forewarned!
The Mavericks:
Penn’s Peak:
Photojournalist: Kim Palumbo