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Raul Malo and his band made a stop at Johnny D’s supporting his new album, Saints and Sinners. The club’s space is well suited to his music, has just enough bar area, just enough dance floor for the 300 plus standing room only crowd, who danced and clapped from the start.
He brought a full band with him this time; most notable was Michael Guerra on accordion, as his playing added depth to the songs, gliding smoothly in and around Malo’s guitar and vocal. Jay Weaver and John McTigue were on bass and drums respectively. Colin Fuchs was the most versatile, playing guitar, organ, marimba, and trumpet.
Fuch’s solo trumpet opened the show with the title track from the album, his notes sounding a haunting southwestern melody, with an effect much like Calexico’s wide screen cinematic sound. The trumpet’s intro gave way to drums, bass, and Malo’s reverb soaked surf guitar.
Much of the night seemed to pay tribute to musicians who have influenced his sound, much as he did on the new album, but he managed to it without sinking into imitation. In “Staying Here” there was Glen Campbell singing his best Jimmy Webb tune, in others it was Roy Orbison by way of Chris Isaak. In his cover of Rodney Crowell’s “Till I Gain Control Again”, there was Marty Robbins voice from “Devil Woman”. At other times there were strains of a Vegas-era Elvis, all done while staying true to his own unique voice.
He offered the mid-week crowd a generous set, nearly two hours from both his solo catalog and many from the Mavericks. From the latter was the Gram Parsons cover, “Hot Burrito (I’m Your Toy)” played solo with only acoustic guitar. Other Mavs tunes were “O What A thrill”, “There Goes My Heart”, and “Dance The night Away”.
Malo’s guitar work was the equal of his rich tenor voice. He gets a great bar band sound, sort of a Dick Dale surf sound, but by way of the Baja Peninsula instead of Malibu. There is just the right amount of reverb with individual notes picked out precisely. He and Guerra traded licks all night, the accordion with a brilliant Tex-Mex feel, channeling the great Flaco Jimenez. Fuch’s Vox organ invoked the spirit of Austin’s Doug Sahm band that featured Augie Meyers distinctive organ. Later in the show both Malo and Guerra brought out ukuleles for a run through the old tune “Smile”.
Opening act Shannon Whitworth from North Carolina played a softer set of country flavored tunes accompanied by guitar and pedal steel.
