Live at Knight

The Mavericks

The Mavericks, the eclectic rock and country group known for crisscrossing musical boundaries with abandon, have gone through three distinct phases since their founding in Miami in 1989. An initial period of heady success marked by big hits and critical acclaim in the ’90s. A long hiatus starting in 2003, when the musicians each went their own way. And finally, a triumphant reunion in 2012 that held long enough for the band to recently celebrate their 30th anniversary.

The Mavericks ushered in the fourth phase of their evolution with the No. 1 Billboard debut of their first-ever all-Spanish album, En Español, released in 2020 on the band’s own Mono Mundo label. Although all 12 tracks are in Spanish, the collection represents a diversity of musical styles and cultural traditions, from tender boleros to brassy mariachi and reimagined Afro-Cuban classics. Seven of the tunes are gems drawn from the vast Latin American songbook, while five are originals written or co-written by Raul Malo.

Like the band’s entire body of music, this album cannot be boxed in a single category. The songs are as diverse as Latin America itself, and as cohesive as the ideal of the American melting pot. To season this rich musical paella, The Mavericks add their signature country, rock and Tex-Mex flavors and a refreshing spontaneity to the mix. En Español flips the band’s usual fusion formula, which adds a striking assortment of genres — salsa, ska, norteño, mariachi and much more — to its sturdy rock-country base. Now, the foundation is solidly Latin, with streaks of irreverent rock and twangy guitars running through it, all branded with the unmistakable Mavericks style.

The Mavericks will be joined by special guest Hector Tellez Jr., whose classic-rock swagger and exotic flair have garnered him a passionate audience in his homeland of Cuba. His incredible vocals and virtuosic guitar-playing have caught the attention of some of America’s best musicians, including Peter Buck (R.E.M.) and Krist Novoselic (Nirvana), both of whom appear on Tellez’s debut album, The Great Unknown. The album was produced by Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) and released by Mono Mundo Recordings, the label owned by The Mavericks.