The seven songs they chose from “En Español” included the mood-establishing opener “La Sitiera,” which gradually unfolded from a Malo electric guitar riff to a full-band bloom highlighting horns and accordion the Julio Iglesias hit “Me Olvide de Vivir,” recast with a country-folk vibe that recalled John Hartford’s classic “Gentle on My Mind” and “Cuando Me Enamoro,” which put a spotlight on backing singer Lisset Diaz of the Cuban band Sweet Lizzy Project. The band’s set focused on material from its new record “En Español,” the first-ever Spanish-language Mavericks album. Unlike Wainwright’s taping, the Mavericks’ performance was publicly livestreamed on the show’s YouTube channel, where fans responded with joyous cheers and applause-emojis in the accompanying live chat. The absence of an audience - “Austin City Limits” recently decided to proceed with season 46 tapings without a crowd amid the coronavirus pandemic - felt a little less surreal on this second go-round. (The bar was set high back in January with the season 46 kickoff taping of rising star Yola, a recent Grammy Best New Artist nominee who’s right up there with Malo and Wainwright in terms of pure talent as a singer.) 10 taping of the iconic PBS music program showcased his own deeply emotional singing.
The Mavericks followed Rufus Wainwright, whose Oct. Two episodes in to unprecedented no-audience territory for “Austin City Limits,” one common thread has emerged: So far, the show’s tapings for its 46th season have featured spectacular singers.Įclectic country band the Mavericks took to the ACL Live stage on Tuesday evening with a nine-musician crescent surrounding golden-voiced leader Raul Malo, one of the great American vocalists of his time.