The Mavericks

Live in Austin Texas (Sanctuary)

Ralo Malo’s frozen, “We’re filming a DVD” smile, his bad hair day, and big, black wardrobe malfunction (Fat Elvis collar) demonstrate the booby trap of live tapings: zero spontaneity. Two long hours’ worth. Apparently, Nashvegas’ creamy country pop quartet didn’t fill Stubb’s back yard in June either, making all those close-angle band shots claustrophobic. The imitation Austin City Limits backdrop reveals perhaps what the band was really hoping to tape. Ironically, the livelier audio edit, sold separately, is ACL-worthy.

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This article appears in December 24 • 2004.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.