Authors: Heather Lalley

Document Column Name: NIGHTWATCH

Abstract:

All of the band's original members ([Zia Uddin], frontman Myles Kennedy, bassist Marty Meisner and guitarist Craig Johnson) are Mead High School graduates. Johnson left the group a couple of years ago. A touring player is filling in on guitar for shows.

Catch the Mayfield Four at 9 p.m. tonight at Boomerangs, 109 W. Pacific. Tickets are $6, through G&B (325-SEAT, 1-800-325-SEAT or www.ticketswest.com).

Donations will go to needy kids around the area. The event will feature food, prizes and an auction, as well as performances by Papa Glenn & the Local All Stars, Charlie Butts & the Filtertips, Len Volpe, Blue Tattoo, Pat Coast & Out of the Blue, Tommy & Vance, Anita Royce & the Rollers and Jeff Aker.

Full Text:

Go to medical school.

That's a tip from Zia Uddin, drummer of the Mayfield Four, to musicians hoping to nab a major-label contract.

"Oh, it's not that bad," he says quickly.

As a member of one of the few Spokane bands to sign a deal with a major label, Uddin knows of what he speaks.

"There's so many misconceptions as to what it's like being signed," he says. "Everybody else sees money before you do. . . . But I'd rather trade that for being able to create art and have a career making music."

Mayfield Four released a debut CD, "Fallout," in 1998 on Epic. The group recently finished its second album. "Second Skin" is scheduled for a May release.

"It's definitely a departure from the first album," Uddin says. "In general, I think the song structures are simpler on this album. It's more of a true rock album."

"Fallout" missed the mark, he says.

"The first album is dark, very sort of ethereal," he says. "It's more of an artsy type of album. For it to be the first record is really difficult for a lot of people to digest."

The guys live in Seattle, but have been in Spokane for about a year-and-a-half, writing tunes for the new album.

"We decided to write here to keep it kind of low-key, a lot less distractions," Uddin says. "It sort of acts like a big security blanket."

All of the band's original members (Uddin, frontman Myles Kennedy, bassist Marty Meisner and guitarist Craig Johnson) are Mead High School graduates. Johnson left the group a couple of years ago. A touring player is filling in on guitar for shows.

Catch the Mayfield Four at 9 p.m. tonight at Boomerangs, 109 W. Pacific. Tickets are $6, through G&B (325-SEAT, 1-800-325-SEAT or www.ticketswest.com).

And on Saturday at 9 p.m., Boomerangs hosts the Fetish Festival, featuring Hell Equipped, Necrofiliax, Titan and Off to the Left. Tickets are $12 at the door, $10 in advance through G&B.

Good reason for the blues

Mumbo Jumbo, The Bone Daddies and other big names on the local blues scene will perform at the fourth-annual Blues Cats For Kids fund-raiser at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Spokane Valley Eagles, 16801 E. Sprague.

Donations will go to needy kids around the area. The event will feature food, prizes and an auction, as well as performances by Papa Glenn & the Local All Stars, Charlie Butts & the Filtertips, Len Volpe, Blue Tattoo, Pat Coast & Out of the Blue, Tommy & Vance, Anita Royce & the Rollers and Jeff Aker.

You must be 21 or older to attend.

Photo; Caption: Mayfield Four, made up of Mead High graduates, will play tonight at Boomerangs.