Authors: Heather Lalley

Document Column Name: Nightwatch

Abstract:

[Kennedy], drummer Zia Uddin and bassist Marty Meisner set up shop in a Spokane basement to record their major-label follow up, "Second Skin."

The guys of Mayfield Four grew up together in Spokane and graduated from Mead High School. They went on to become one of the few Spokane bands to get signed by a major label.

Hastings will sponsor shows from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Clocktower Meadow. Among those scheduled to perform are Paradox, Selfles, Thirteen, Jupiter Effect, Fluid, d'Qydj, Trailer Park Girls, 50Fifty, Sweet Fancy Moses and Civilized Animal.

Full Text:

It's a wonder more bands don't record in Spokane.

It's the perfect place, really, to keep musicians on task.

"We didn't want to go anywhere that would have a lot of distractions," says Mayfield Four frontman Myles Kennedy. "This is not the cultural mecca of the world. . . . It's just been a great place for us to work."

Kennedy, drummer Zia Uddin and bassist Marty Meisner set up shop in a Spokane basement to record their major-label follow up, "Second Skin."

The home-grown band will host a CD release party Tuesday, with a show at Outback Jack's, 321 W. Sprague.

"Second Skin" is a fitting title for the new album, which represents a reinvention for the band since 1998's "Fallout."

Some had complained that "Fallout" was a bit inaccessible, a little tough to get into.

"We really worked hard at creating something that was a lot more compelling than it was before," Kennedy says. "It was just a lot more immediate."

The guys of Mayfield Four grew up together in Spokane and graduated from Mead High School. They went on to become one of the few Spokane bands to get signed by a major label.

"It's been a real educational process," Kennedy says. "The sad truth is a lot of people think when you get signed it's limos and five-star hotels from the get-go. Once you're signed, it's a lot of work."

But Kennedy has no regrets after signing with Epic.

"You need it, for a band like us," he says. "We're kind of a radio- driven band. We write radio singles."

This fall, Kennedy will take his rock star image from the stage to the big screen. He'll be appearing in "Rock Star," which features Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. The movie is loosely based on the story of Judas Priest singer Ripper Owens, about a wannabe star picked to be the lead singer of his favorite metal band.

Kennedy says he's in the film for about five minutes, including a scene with Wahlberg that includes a little dialogue.

"I'm certainly no thespian," he says. "I'm a musician first and foremost."

The only way to get into the Mayfield Four CD release party is to win tickets through 94.5 FM or at Outback Jack's. Those without tickets can test their luck by lining up outside the club at 9 p.m.

If you miss the Mayfield Four this time around, don't despair. The guys will be back on Aug. 4, opening the Everclear concert at Playfair.

Music for literacy

Eighteen local bands over three days will play in Riverfront Park to benefit the Spokane Literacy Coalition.

Donations to the coalition will help pay for reading programs and for books in school libraries.

At noon today, Lokomaika will play Hawaiian music in a KPBX kids' concert. Aaron Richner & the Bluesdrivers play at 6 p.m., followed by The Bone Daddies at 8 p.m.

Hastings will sponsor shows from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Clocktower Meadow. Among those scheduled to perform are Paradox, Selfles, Thirteen, Jupiter Effect, Fluid, d'Qydj, Trailer Park Girls, 50Fifty, Sweet Fancy Moses and Civilized Animal.

On Sunday, Hastings will sponsor world-music shows from noon to 5 p.m. at the Clocktower Meadow. The day starts with Calliope's Burden, followed by Menagerie, Sidhe, Mad Mama Moon, LaRae Wiley and Jim Boyd.

Club-hopping

* Kind of Blue, a modern jazz sextet, plays at 8 p.m. in the Neville Auditorium, 1445 N. Argonne. Tickets are $10, $7 for students.

* The Arnie Carruthers Trio, with singer Jan Harrison, brings jazz to the Spokane Valley Doubletree Lounge at 8:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday. Cover is $4. The group will appear regularly there on Friday and Saturday nights.

* Calliope's Burden plays instrumental guitar at 8 p.m. tonight at Hastings, 7706 N. Division. On Saturday Federation 7 plays rock there at 7 p.m.

* Spokane Christian singer-songwriter Matthew Ebel will celebrate the release of his second CD with a show at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9704 N. Division. The show is free, but donations are accepted.

* The Bone Daddies play at 9 p.m. Saturday at Capone's, 751 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d'Alene. Cover is $4.

Photo; Caption: Mayfield Four is having a CD release party Tuesday at Outback Jacks. The only way to get tickets is to win them.