Eric Alexandrakis refuses to let ‘One More Angel’ become a eulogy

The most striking thing about Eric Alexandrakis’ version of ‘One More Angel’ is the decision not to drown it in grief. And given the circumstances, that would have been entirely understandable.

Raul Malo’s death in December 2025 carried obvious personal weight for the artist, whose connection to Malo and The Mavericks stretches back more than thirty years. Add Eric's own experience with cancer, and the emotional gravity surrounding the song becomes almost impossible to separate from the performance.

Originally written by Malo and Alan Miller, ‘One More Angel’ becomes, in Eric's hands, an act of gratitude. The arrangement is warm, expansive and full of life, deliberately resisting the temptation to turn loss into solemnity.

EJ Ouellette’s violin, viola, mandolin and slide guitar add colour and movement, while Michael Guerra’s accordion creates a particularly meaningful link back to The Mavericks. Leo Nobre on bass, Tanner Hughes on drums, Pennan Brae and harpist Theresa Bentley further widen the palette, but the song never loses its emotional centre.

The performance carries sadness, but it doesn't linger helplessly inside it. Instead, there's movement, affection and even a sense of release. Paul David Hager’s mix helps bring those contrasts into focus, giving the ensemble enough clarity for every layer to contribute without overwhelming the song.

The personal history makes everything hit harder. The Mavericks’ ‘From Hell to Paradise’ was the first song Eric Alexandrakis ever learned on guitar, making this tribute feel like the closing of one circle and the opening of another.

‘One More Angel’ is heartfelt without becoming heavy-handed, polished without losing intimacy and celebratory without denying pain. It's a beautifully judged tribute because it understands that remembering someone doesn't have to sound like saying goodbye.