After years apart, the Mavericks are back for good

When the Mavericks broke up in 2005, guitarist Eddie Perez had essentially just joined the band.

“I came to the band in 2003. We were all really bummed that it had to end,” he says, calling from the band’s moving tour bus. “We were trying to get our musical footing beneath us, and it didn’t get off to a good start.”

After years working with the Mavericks’ founding frontman Raul Malo and as a guitarist for Dwight Yoakam, Perez is getting his second chance with the band that has grown even more eclectic on “Mono,” its second post-reunion album.

Though it collected its share of awards in the ’90s in country music categories, the Mavericks are so much more than country or folk-based Americana.

“We’re very much in the spirit of old-school guys that grew up on classic American music. We all worked at record stores and collect vinyl records. We all live in that era of music from the late ’40s to late ’70s. ... That’s such a golden era,” he says.

“It’s interesting how similar we are when it comes to the music,” says Perez. “What you hear is everybody’s flavor being infused in the musical stew. Every influence has always been there, from classic country to Latin jazz to the blues to ’50s and ’60s rock and surf guitar music and the Latin and Spanish influences. Raul being of Cuban parents. Myself growing up in East Los Angeles soaking up Hispanic and Chicano music.”

“Mono” paints a rich tapestry of crooning rockabilly, classic Tex-Mex suites, Buddy Holly-era rock ‘n’ roll and Latin rhythms.

“At this point in the band’s career, even I don’t know what we’re going to do next,” says Perez. He says its audience is indicative of its broad musical palette, despite Malo’s political-leaning Twitter presence. “It’s inclusive. When you take a look at our band we’ve got a Jewish guy, a couple Mexican guys, Raul’s Cuban, and there’s a German. We’re like the Benetton ad.”

The group is working on a double live album and a Christmas project while recording for its next studio release. So fans shouldn’t expect it to disappear anytime soon.

“In the midst of styles and fashions we just keep doing what we do,” he says. “I was one of the main proponents of trying to push this band back together – the one making the phone calls after not seeing each other for nine years. What we have now is really strong. We’re really looking forward.”

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 3:33 PM with the headline "After years apart, the Mavericks are back for good."