The Mayfield Four Net: Band of the MonthI thought it would be fun to have a "Band of the Month" featured on the front page of this site. In a way, it's an 'homage' to the 'Band of the Week' feature on the Ultimate Band List because that's how I originally found out about the Mayfield Four. I plan on featuring bands that I can tie in someway to the Mayfield Four (though I presume at some point I'll run out of bands like that...). Current Band of the Month April 2007: Forever Like Red From their myspace page: "You won't forget the first time you heard Forever Like Red. It will be on a day such as this when nothing feels right and it seems like as good an idea as any to fill the silence with reason. Songs very rarely make you stand up and sing but Exit Signs and Dream On and What Will You Pay and Breakdown just might. And you could stand here all day and say that Forever Like Red sound like this and Forever Like Red sound like that but it wouldn't get you anywhere – you'd still be standing up and singing." Past Months July 2006: Slow Motion Reign July marks the release of Slow Motion Reign's self-titled debut album on Serjical Strike records. The band's lush music is sure to entrance you! Sample such songs as Twilight Skylight and Isn't It Time on myspace.com/slowmotionreign. I think you'll enjoy the rich complexities and emotional intensity of their sound. Slow Motion Reign's debut album was produced by System of a Down's singer Serj Tankian. According to Tankian, "They're great songwriters in the tradition of the Beatles and Pink Floyd, their songs are beautiful and filled with all sorts of wonderful textures. It's all very emotional and moving." Listen for my favorite song, Isn't It Time, as the first single off the album. March 2006: International Heroes The International Hereos is the new band from Mayfield Four drummer Zia Uddin! Check out some outstanding drumming on their new EP. I especially enjoy the dynamic, energetic When in Rome. According to the band, "We are not interested in sounding like anyone else out there right now; we just want to be true to ourselves, make music that we are proud of and bring people in to be a part of what we are doing." From the official bio: Listen to their music at: myspace.com/internationalheroes September 2005: Dark New Day It was hard to avoid listening to this band since it seems all of my Mayfield Four loving friends are die-hard Dark New Day fans now. So I listened and sure enough, this album is a keeper. There is alot of power in this album, and much creativity. I only hope I get to see them perform live soon, as I have heard they are an exceptionally tight band. Singer Brett Heslta's former band Virgos Merlot toured with Mayfield Four way back when, and some of you may remember him from his stint playing bass wth Creed. Check out their music on their website or on myspace.com, where you can watch the video for Brother. July 2005: South Normal Detroit's South Normal knows what it means to be a Rock 'n' Roll band. Their music is fresh and exciting modern rock, with the feel of old school rockers like The Who. The band is signed to an Australian record company - their first single, Don't Break My Heart, is being released this month with their album, No More Songs about Girls, coming out October 2005. They also have a song, Tatoo, on the soundtrack for the upcoming horror film FEED by director Brett Leonard(Lawnmower Man, Virtuosity). Check out their music on their website or on myspace.com. You will definitely find something you like! April 2005:Overloaded If you are looking for a band that has the drive to succeed - this is the band. I've watched them evolve from an alt-rock band a year ago (when they were known as Inner Recipe), to the hard rock machine they are today. Their live shows are captivating - so much so that you'll be left wondering what hit you. If you're in the Detroit area, come hang out at a show with me! If not, order their new CD Hail the Kingdom from overloadedmusic.com.February 2005: Mylestone Don't waste anytime - check out this band now! I first heard about this band when they openned for Myles Kennedy's new band Alter Bridge in Spokane last Halloween. I'd heard good things about the band from people I knew at the show. So I downloaded a couple of tracks and was completely surprised by how amazingly professional these guys sound. Take the time to download "Myself Alone" and "Relieve" from their site. Pat (lead singer) and Curran (lead guitar) took lessons from Myles for about a year. Currently, bass player Cole takes lessons from Mayfield Four's Bass Player, Marty Meisner.December 2004: Velabonz Since I haven't seen Velabonz live, and I only know the songs from their website,
I'm stealing their little bio on their My Space page: November 2004: Holfiller More new music from one of the Mayfield Four boys - Marty Meisner's band Holfiller! Check out the
song Let You Know from the band's upcoming album. It's a solid, enjoyable rock tune that leaves
you wanting more. I'm definitely going to be looking for that album when it comes out. August 2004: Alter Bridge I sincerely believe that any fans of Myles Kennedy's music and voice will bethrilled when they hear Alter Bridge. We are treated to all of the versatility in Myles Kennedy's voice that we've come to expect - and from what I've heard so far, he's going beyond his previous works. I've only heard two of the songs so far, but they give a glimpse of greatness. Find The Real has a sort of modern Seattle/Grunge sound- but with it's own unique appeal. The soaring and expressive first single, Open Your Eyes, sounds better each time you hear it.
May 2004: Thornley Thornley is a new Canadian rock band featuring Ian Thornley, Tavis Stanley, Ken Tizzard, and Sekou Lumumba. Many of you may be familiar with the incredible talent of Ian Thornley from his former band Big Wreck. With the new album, Come Again, Thornley delivers a set of crunching rock tunes that will make you wish you were seeing these guys live! The songs are strong on melody. Check out the song clips on the website and download So Far So Good from their live performance on Leno. April 2004: My Regrets February 2004: Jupiter Effect
What can I say? This is a great rocking band from Atlanta that just exudes talent. I'd love to see them live because this is the kind of music that you can really get into in a live performance. The lead singer has beautiful, almost breathy voice, which is balenced perfectly with the rich guitar work. I highly recommend the songs "Erase Me" (check out the video and the live mp3 on their website) and "Open Road" from their debut album.
I first heard of Crashing Through because their bass player is a long-timeposter on the Mayfield Four bulliten board, including the current incarnation on this site. I got to see CT in July and was entirely impressed by their live show. It was outdoors (actually smack in the middle of a water park) yet they pulled it off brilliantly, with little kids running by in swimsuits and everything, and in the heat of an inland northwest summer. I picked up a copy of their demo - definitely worth repeated listenings. The songs are both catchy and intresting. Look out for more from this band. Now, just a quick note - i'm not trying just to pick Spokane bands, it just keeps happening. Maybe next month i'll pick a band from somewhere else. Or I might pick Mulligan ;)
I've only been listening to this band for a few months but I've bought both the albums on their site and can hear their potential - especially after hearing the new song, Lost Again, on their website from their up-coming release. Their singer has a very pleasing voice - rich and true. The music blends both acoustic and electric guitars with an intense and captivating effect. Listen to "Lost Again" on their front page, "Popullution" from the Green Monkey EP, and the song that made me a fan, "Wash" from Lifted.
Jim Boyd & Kyo-T is a four piece group based in Spokane, Washington, led by singer/songwriter Jim Boyd. The music is folksy rhythm and blues/soft rock with a Native American soul. Definitely good music to just sit back and enjoy. Their music is perfect for fun, summer outdoors festivals. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing the band live yet, but I hope to soon! One of the most enjoyable aspects of their music is the rich feel of the keyboards in the songs. And Marty Meisner's bass playing on "Not Drinkin' Song" is just, well, groovy! You can listen to their live album at CDbaby.com.
If you caught one the Mayfield Four's shows during 2001, then you saw and heardtheir touring guitarist, Alessandro Cortini of the band Modwheelmood. Formerly known as Gift?, they have performed around L.A. and Alessandro's homeland of Italy. I highly recommend stopping by their website and signing up for the email list so you can find out when their EP comes out (featuringZia Uddin on drums). There's alot to see on modwheelmood.com, which I also run. There's a fantastic video for my favorite mwm song, Sleep, song clips from tracks that may appear on the upcomingCD, and pictures of the new modwheelmood line-up rehearsing for shows. Modwheelmood is also featured on Anti-Industry's NakedBulb and on the front of Dmusic.com.
As many of you know, the Mayfield Four toured with Everclear in 2001. Theyalso did a few shows together in the summer of 1999. Everclear's bassplayer, Craig Montoya, also went to High School with the Mayfield Four boysso the connection goes back even farther... Everclear's newest album comes out on March 11. I haven't heard it yet myself, so I can only comment on previous albums. My recommendations would be Songs from an American Movie, Vol. I - if you're more "pop"oriented. If you're in a more alt-rock mood, pick up Songs from an American Movie, Vol. II. I'd also recommend catching an Everclear show if you can -the band and the crowd are always full of energy, and Everclear fans aresome of the coolest people i've met. For more about Everclear, stop by Hollywood Americana.
I first heard about Caroline's Spine from one of their biggest supporters - Nags. He joined the MF4 Yahoo group after Caroline's Spine told him about the Mayfield Four. So I decided to check them out and got a copy of their album "Monsoon". Great rock album with their own unique sound and style. And when they came to Toledo I went to check them out, wearing my Mayfield Four shirt of course. Stood right up front and actually had the guys in Caroline's Spine coming over and complimenting me on my shirt during the show. But aside from that, I found their live show to be immensely fun and exciting. I recommend picking up any of their albums - but if you can get their latest, Overlooked, I think that would be my top pick. Take a listen to July(mp3) and End Up With You (mp3). January 2003: Big WreckOf all the bands I've heard, I'd say that Big Wreck's sound hasthe most in common with Mayfield Four's sound. Lead Singer IanThornley has a wonderful voice with great range and attitude. The music has a style and a quality not matched by many bands. Big Wreckis a true rock band. I first found out about Big Wreck the first time I saw the Mayfield Fourlive, in Detroit. MF4 was opening for them on their tour back in1998. They were a perfect pair of bands to see together. I highly recommend both their most recent album, 2001's The Pleasure and the Greed and 1997's In Loving Memory Of. Myles does backing vocals on the song "Breakthrough" on The Pleasure and the Greed. You can download some live mp3's of their songs at Big Wreck - Live & Rare and learn more about the band at All By Design.
Inner Recipe has a distinctive blend of ever-changing and up-beat rock 'n' roll that will hook you immediately with it's complex and refreshing sound. I was lucky enough to meet their drummer after a Mayfield Four show in July 2001 (because he and his wife were wearing MF4 shirts!). I can't get enough of their music or their shows... as can be clearly seen by the shear number of pictures i've taken at their shows. |