Cook ‘n’ Huff Band unites the Mavericks

The Hog’s Breath Saloon, known locally for bringing singer-songwriters and their original music to Key West, presents the “Cook ‘n’ Huff Band” for seven nights, 10 p.m.- 2 a.m., beginning Monday.

Paul Deakin, drummer for the “Mavericks,” named the band in a phone interview.

“We are four guys who have known each other for years and it just seems natural to play together,” Deakin said. “What is great about the Hog is that Charlie Bauer lets his musicians play whatever they want to, as long as everyone is having a good time. That kind of atmosphere lets the love of music come from everyone on stage. Charlie has that spirit and that’s why we come down.”

Deakin will be teamed with fellow “Maverick” bass player Robert Reynolds. Reynolds has toured with Kevin Montgomery and is one of the members of the band SWAG.

The “Mavericks” have received numerous awards from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and the band won a Grammy in 1996.

“Expect some exciting music,” Deakin promised. “Think of everything that rocks from Tom Petty, The Band to Leonard Skinner and then some.”

Deakin didn’t want to put a label to the band’s music, but said it was a lot of American blues mixed with some country and rock.

Each night, he said, the band would begin anew with excitement and expectations. And it could only be that way in Key West.

Scotty Huff has also toured with the Mavericks and was the lead trumpet player for “The Havana Horns.” Huff and Reynolds , along with being band members of SWAG, write songs together and the seven nights the band is on stage promises to be energizing, with a lot of original songs being played, along with many old “Maverick” favorites.

Rounding off the band is North Carolina native Chris Cook. The first thing you’ll notice is his voice. Cook is a singer’s singer with a delivery that’s pure and natural. His new CD is, “Small Town Gone,” and he is on the road about 200 days a year, with or without a band. Cook calls his new CD a mixture of country, folk and blues.

“It’s roots music,” he said.

Deakin said no one in Key West should miss this seven-night gig. “These nights promise to be the type of performances that never get recorded, only talked about and the people that miss them have missed something!”