Friday 10.22
NYC
Raul Malo @ B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
237 W. 42nd St. 8 p.m. $27-$32. 212-997-4144.
Far more than a mere country singer, ex-Mavericks frontman Raul Malo possesses the kind of range that can have him going from a Sinatra-flavored croon to an Orbison-flavored warble while easily moving from pop and soul to salsa. His new album Sinners & Saints is a self-produced effort saturated in the sounds of Tex-Mex wrapped around a mix of originals and covers of Rodney Crowell and Los Lobos. Painting with a broad musical brush, Malo races from the epic surf twang of the opening title cut and Chris Isaak-flavored neo-noir of “Living for Today” to the squeeze-box kissed Tejano of “Superstar” and dream-pop balladry of “Sombras” that’s heavy on the reverb guitar. It’s a musical experience that promises to translate even better in a live setting.
(Also appearing Oct. 23 @ Landmark on Main Street)