Young and on the way

“Two years is nothing,” musician Jessica Lea Mayfield tells Xpress. She’s projecting how much time it will take before touring is easier and more affordable, before her fan base fills out the theaters she prefers over noisy bars, before she’s hand-picking her openers.

Sacred and profane: Mayfield has a sweet voice, an ace band and a penchant for the words “God” and “damn.”

Two years is something. For 19-year-old Mayfield, it’s more than a tenth of her life—but she’s both an old soul (the songs on her current album, With Blasphemy So Heartfelt, penned when she was 15 and 16, are a mix of lovelorn angst, bittersweet melodies and biting agnosticism) and a seasoned performer. Septum piercing and enviably trendy haircut aside, Mayfield can see the big picture.

“Building a career is a surprise,” she says. “Even now, I’m seeing that it takes a lot of work. Some people don’t know that.” Take the guy she met en route from her recent Belgium dates back to her digs in Tennessee. Spotting The Black Keys sticker on Mayfield’s guitar, the guy struck up a conversation. When Mayfield pointed out that she grew up in Black Keys-central (northeast Ohio) and has worked with Keys’ guitarist Dan Auerbach (whose father introduced him to Mayfield’s songs, resulting in Auerbach producing Blasphemy), the guy chalked Mayfield’s budding success up to a simple case right-place-right-time.

Sharp-tongued Mayfield isn’t having it. “To build this takes constant touring and phone interviews,” she says. “People think the only reason I have a career is because of [Auerbach]. He was more or less like a guide—someone to help me out, not do everything for me.”

In fact, Mayfield comes from musical roots. She grew up touring with her parents’ bluegrass band, One Way Rider, on a 1956 tour bus once owned by Bill Monroe. (“It’s special; it’s pretty much my home,” she says of the bus, which the family plans to donate to a museum.) Her brother, bluegrass musician David Mayfield, tours with her when not on the road with his band, Cadillac Sky. (“My brother and I are pretty close,” Mayfield notes. “I spent my entire life traveling and playing music with him. He looks out for me more than anyone.”)

But Mayfield’s current touring band is comprised of more than relatives. Newly added drummer Anne Lillis, a rare female percussionist who puts on a brilliantly emotive performance, came through a connection with The Avett Brother’s Scott Avett. And Mayfield’s roster of guest players on Blasphemy includes Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken and Frank McElroy. Though the teenaged singersongwriter is still learning the music business, she’s come a long way from recording in her brother’s bedroom: She’s already landed songs on songs on Gossip Girl and CSI:NY, and was named best new artist of 2008 by Blurt Magazine.

Add to that impressive resume opening gigs for high profile bands like the Avetts, the Black Keys, Cake and 11 dates this spring with Ray LaMontagne (while there’s no sound correlation between these headliners, there is a beard theme in the works). “A lot of bands will have a list of artists they’d like to play with,” Mayfield says. “I got on that list.” For example, she came through Asheville in February as support for Annuals because “the bass player for Annuals was a fan of my music.”

Though she wasn’t a LaMontagne fan before being picked for his tour, she now says, “I think he’s good” and looks forward to the folk-soul musician’s string of shows because “they’re in theaters so people will be listening.” For Mayfield’s particular brand of Americana-noir, an attentive audience is important (one reason her act wasn’t an easy fit with the more raucous Black Keys).

So, who’s on Mayfield’s list of potential openers as she moves from supporting act to headliner? “In Europe, I had a lot of local openers,” she remembers. “When I go back, I know some bands now and would like to pick someone.”

But as far as American groups: “I don’t know any bands that have a smaller draw than me,” she says. “My draw is still growing.”

Just give her two years.

who: Jessica Lea Mayfield (opening for Ray LaMontagne)
what: Indie singersongwriter
where: Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
when: Friday, April 24 (8 p.m. $34. 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.)

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.