I got a call from The Mavericks last Sunday night. To summarize, they have a new album dropping later this year, and since they don't plan to put their fanbase at risk by touring until it is absolutely safe, they thought to generate promotional material in a safer way.
Their plan was to create a more controlled environment in Nashville to record live music, shoot videos, etc., and release it throughout the year. All precautions would be taken, however, it's the other factors, like airports and Lyft rides, that would be most concerning since we have no control over how seriously other people take this pandemic.
The Mavericks’ longtime accordionist, Michael Guerra, is asthmatic making the risk for him higher than most. I was honored to have been called to fill in the squeezebox role and contribute to what The Mavericks have in store for their fans.
I'll be honest, it was one of the hardest work weeks of my life. I was sent a plethora of material to learn and flew out Tuesday morning. I wrote so many notes, rarely slept, and broke contact with everyone just to squeeze in more time to study.
Did I absolutely nail it? Well, there are a few clams I'd like to have back, but all in all, I had a freaking blast!!! It was also refreshing to witness the hard work and dedication shown by the entire Mavericks team. I already held them in such high regard, but seeing them work first-hand while getting to know them more personally was simply inspiring. They're great people.
Now, as I quarantine for two weeks, I eagerly wait to see all the stuff we shot. You guys and gals are going to dig it! Here's to the world returning to normal real soon. Stay safe.