Raul Malo and Shelby Lynne in the Celebrity Showroom

CONTACT: Michael Traum
(775) 356-3352
March 5, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former Mavericks Singer Raul Malo,
with Co-Headliner Shelby Lynne
Hit the Stage at John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – As the frontman for the Mavericks and a member of Los Super Seven, Raul Malo has applied his Roy Orbison-like delivery to an eclectic array of material. Malo brings his uniquely entertaining show to the Celebrity Showroom, along with Grammy-winning co-headliner Shelby Lynne, for one night only, March 14, at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.
Malo’s expertise lies in wrapping his silky tenor vocal around a seamless, artistic foundation of bluesy country and Latin roots music. A tremendous and far-reaching effort, Malo’s first solo album Today (2001), and latest work Lucky One (2009) showcase not only what a genre-blending writer and powerful singer he is, but makes clear just how connected Malo is in his delivery and phrasing, both in Spanish and in English. It’s a body of work full of surprising stylistic quick turns and unexpected detours — from country to Tex-Mex rock ’n’ roll to joyously kitschy ’60s cocktail pop to strait-up, traditional Cuban and South American music — but always executed with a degree of craft and ultra-confidence suggesting an artist who, far from fumbling around in the creative dark, always seems to know exactly what he’s doing and where he wants to go.
By the time Shelby Lynne won a Best New Artist Grammy, she'd already completed six albums and had over a decade of recording experience under her belt. Yet in a way, the award was appropriate, since I Am Shelby Lynne (2000) was the album that finally found her taking control of her music, following years of casting about in search of an identity. Lynne's work ranged through country, blues, Southern soul, roots rock, Western swing, jazz, and adult contemporary pop; naturally, that eclecticism made her difficult to market, and it also resulted in pressure to record more commercial, radio-friendly material that didn't really suit her. Once Lynne put all the pieces together, she found herself embraced not by the country mainstream, but by rock critics, British audiences, and the alt-country/Americana crowd. Her homage to Dusty Springfield, Just a Little Lovin’ (2008), produced by Phil Ramone, solidified her place as an established artist.
Raul Malo, with Shelby Lynne, performs one night only, Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m. in the Celebrity Showroom. Tickets are just $32 and are available by calling (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300 or by visiting janugget.com. Dinner and show packages are available. “Do the Nugget Tonight!”

###