Artist Jessica Lea Mayfield
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Jessica Lea Mayfield
Jessica Lea Mayfield is a plaintive, emotionally weary early-twentysomething who sounds like she could be at least a plaintive, emotionally weary thirtysomething. That’s actually a good thing, as emotional weariness worn by someone born in 1989 tends to sound a bit like a 7-year-old wearing mom’s heels looks. The young singer happily avoids this with surprisingly full- and confident-sounding vocals; the lyrics, if not earth-shattering, don’t dip into messy teenage-poetry territory. Fellow Ohioan Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys got hold of a copy of her debut EP, which she self-recorded at the age of 15, and produced her first album with a sympathetically sparse touch, which helps her moody folk tunes feel more fleshed-out. But her recent second album, Tell Me, suggests that the maturity is coming from Mayfield herself. Or maybe it’s because she’s now old enough to get into bars.
Updated 03/24/2011

Chicago:
Win tickets to Justin Townes Earle at Metro Feb. 10
Madison:
Jessica Lea Mayfield at the East Side Club
Chicago:
Loretta Lynn and some decent local bands set for Taste Of Chicago