The following article is from the The Inlander. June 2001.

Delivering the goods
by Mike Corrigan

It's been two long years since the touring machine known as THE MAYFIELD FOUR was out churning up the blacktop and invading communities across the nation. Two years since singer Myles Kennedy was out there flexing his vocal chords for a crowd teeming with unknown faces. Two years since bassist Marty Meisner and drummer Zia Uddin synched up their precise rhythmic thump-boom-crash as strangers in a strange land. Yet during this protracted touring hiatus, something emerged. A new album. A new spirit. And in many ways, a new band. This Tuesday night at Outback's, Spokane's own Mayfield with new touring guitarist, Alessandro take to the stage to herald the national release of their sophomore effort, Second Skin with newfound vitality and sense of purpose.

The band has just returned home from a few quick East Coast gigs with Everclear and a showcase for their label (Epic) in New York. The June 26 release of Second Skin marks the beginning of a new, full-on touring their first since the end of the one promoting their debut album, Fallout.

"It's been a long time," Meisner acknowledges. "But it was actually a good time for us to regroup and really spend a lot of time working on this record."

The appropriately titled Second Skin finds the group defining and re-defining what Mayfield Four is all about. Where Fallout was tentative, moody and introspective, the new album is focused, brisk and aggressive. In fact, the change in tone and attitude is striking.

Meisner, however, says it's still the same guys, drawing on the same sources of inspiration, making music pretty much the same way they always have.

"We're still a rock band," he says. "Our influences have never changed. This album is just more directed and a lot more radio-friendly. I mean, we learned a lot as far as what to do on the road, and how to come across to the people as far as just being more accepted."

Is mass appeal and radio-friendliness an overriding concern for the group, something they've made a conscious effort to pursue?

"I don't think it's really a conscious effort," responds Meisner. "I think it's more just a learning process and finding out what feels right. You know, people's attention span is pretty short. If they hear something on the radio, they want to hear it and be captured by it right away. I think that comes across in a lot of the writing of this record."

The recording sessions for Second Skin went down relatively smoothly, due in part to the band's road-honed instrumental chops.

"Zia and myself were actually done in five days. We had all the basic tracks done. Zia was amazing. He hit almost everything in the first take. I think with the three of us, everything just comes together so much easier as far as rehearsing, and playing and dealing with all aspects of the label and business and everything. That's made it a lot easier for us to focus more on the music."

But Epic, too, had a positive influence to bestow on the sessions. Meisner explains: "The label really wanted something to happen because the sales for Fallout weren't that great. We really didn't have any publicity other than local stations spinning us and getting a few spins around the country. With this record, the label really wanted to make sure that we had the time to get this thing right. They weren't on any timeframe with us. They just wanted to have everything set up properly. That helped because we really didn't have anyone breathing down our necks to put out this record. It really took a lot of the weight off."

In fact, the band's relationship with Epic has been a good one. And the label is strongly supportive of Second Skin (the album's first single, "Eden" is currently spinning at nearly 60 radio stations nationwide).

Still, this reporter thought there just had to be some big label-related friction to report, some ridiculous request that the band was disinclined to fulfill.

"They just wanted me to wear a tutu," quips Meisner. "No, they haven't asked us to do really anything out of the ordinary. We're not a band that has any kind of problem with the input of the label. You know, we're doing everything we can to make this record happen. Right now, Miles is in L.A. at a convention for radio. He's meeting with a lot of different radio stations and just taking care of business. We have to be available for stuff like that. This is our second record, and a lot of eyes are on us right now. Including those in the industry."

Zowie. The second record.

"It's make or break," he adds with disarming calm. "We were fortunate enough to be able to have another record. And another one after this. So, we'll see what happens."

The Mayfield Four CD release party at Outback Jack's is on Tuesday, June 26, at 9:30 pm. Tickets are free and will be given out as prizes through Rock 94.5 or at the door starting at 9 pm the night of the show. Call: 624-4549. The band will also appear with Everclear and American Hi Fi at the Playfair Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 4:30 pm. Tickets: $25. Call: 325-SEAT.