Austin City Limits spotlights renowned rock and country trailblazers The Mavericks, showcasing their chart-topping, all Spanish-language album, En Español in their first appearance on the program in two decades. Widely celebrated as one of the great live bands, The Mavericks perform a mix of new and reimagined Spanish classics alongside career highlights from their three-decade career in a sparkling hour. Recorded in September 2020, The Mavericks’ taping reflects the second no-audience taping, due to the coronavirus pandemic, in the series near five-decade history,. With live music grounded, ACL continues to provide viewers a front-row seat to the best in live performance. The series airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings) and full episodes are made available online for a limited time at pbs.org/austincitylimits immediately following the initial broadcast.
The GRAMMY, CMA & ACM award-winning roots rockers make their third appearance on the ACL stage showcasing a career milestone, their first Spanish-language album, En Español, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Albums Chart. The genre-bending Country, Americana and Tejano-infused Rock & Roll band, who celebrated their 30th Anniversary in 2019, return to their early Miami roots to mesh their uplifting eclecticism with a collection of Spanish language originals and traditional Latin tracks that inspired them. The four core Mavericks members—golden-voiced lead singer and songwriter Raul Malo, guitarist Eddie Perez, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden and drummer Paul Deakin—are augmented by horns, accordion and backing vocals for a powerhouse nine-musician combo. The band celebrate the diversity of cultures with their unique take on classic tracks from the vast Latin American songbook, opening with the Cuban country song “La Sitiera,” which builds into a thrilling full-band bloom complete with horns and accordion. Malo, a first-generation Cuban American, introduces his late grandfather’s favorite song, the early Julio Iglesias ballad, “Me Olvidé de Vivir,” made the Mavericks’ own in a country-folk rendition, and salutes one of his own favorite artists, Mexican star Juan Gabriel, with a mariachi-flavored take on the spirited “No Vale La Pena.” They deliver stirring performances of new originals, including the passionate “Recuerdos,” backed by full horns and “Suspiro Azul,” amplified by dazzling harmonies. In a nod to performing at the house that Willie built, Malo gives a gorgeous solo acoustic reading of the Willie Nelson classic “Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain.” The freewheeling outfit treat fans to standouts from their more recent catalog, including Latin-influenced numbers from their 2013 reunion album In Time, closing out the hour with a pair of highlights: the lush stunner “Come Unto Me,” a fan favorite performed with dueling guitar and accordion solos, and the high-energy 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 annual 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 second half of ACL’s Season 46 broadcast line-up, including six new episodes to begin airing in January 2021 as part of the full 13-week season, will be announced shortly. Tune-in, log on, and let ACL be a trusted sidekick for entertainment during these challenging days. Viewers can visit acltv.com for news regarding live streams, future tapings and episode schedules or by following ACL on Facebook, Twitter, IG and TikTok. Fans can also browse the ACL YouTube channel for exclusive songs, behind-the-scenes videos and full-length artist interviews.
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.