Review/Music Mayfield Four Bring 'Fallout' to Viper Room

Reuters 29-JUN-98

The Mayfield Four (Viper Room, West Hollywood; 175 capacity; $10)

By Troy J. Augusto

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Washington State-based rock band the Mayfield Four certainly have their ducks all in a row, and look as close to a sure thing as any recent new major-label contender.

Together less than two years, this clean-cut (by contemporary standards) crew is managed by Eric Hoppe, a recent graduate of Susan Silver's (Soundgarden, Alice in Chains) management team, and enjoys the services of influential attorney Peter Paterno, a one-two punch that earned the quartet a fat deal with Sony's Epic Records.

The eight-song showcase was highlighted by a passionate, set-closing rendition of Marvin Gaye's ``Inner City Blues,'' which smoldered with the intensity of 1985-model U2 and was by far the loosest groove of the evening.