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ACL: Raul Malo
Raul Malo’s mid-afternoon set on the Dell stage Saturday started out as slow and sticky as Cuban molasses. Well, it made sense, in a way — it was way too hot to mambo. Aided by Austin’s own Ephraim Owens on trumpet, Malo and his band seemed to feel their way through “Every Little Thing About You” and a dreamy, twangy pop take on the Ray Price chestnut, “My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You.”
Malo and company finally seemed to lock into gear with their third number, a silky pop take on “Cold, Cold Heart” that was as delightfully revisionist—though in a wholly different way — as Norah Jones’ take on the same tune.
Moving steadily into tropical latitudes, Malo unlimbered his big voice for “Dance the Night Away,” “Besame Mucho” (the former a nod to his old bandmates in the Mavericks) and a long, steamy number called, appropriately, “Sway.” In the course of things, Malo transformed his personal corner of Zilker Park into an al fresco supper club.
Saving the best for last, Malo concluded his set with a nod to last year’s headliner with a cover of Van Morrison’s “Bright Side of the Road.” The upbeat, big-hearted tune, which Malo covered on his “Acoustic Nashville Sessions” album a couple of years back, perfectly suits Malo’s sunny persona and his swinging arrangement sent the crowd off in a buoyant mood.
(Photo by Brian K. Diggs AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
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Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: ACL Festival
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By sharil
September 15, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
yeah ephraim!!! good job…
By Crista
September 16, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
The webcast was heavenly! Please more Raul! More Raul!
By Crista
September 16, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
More Raul! More Raul!