In 10 sincere, solid, original rock ballads that only occasionally slide into weepiness, What Lies Within explores love’s horizons rather than the right here and now. Mayfield listened to her parents’ country music as a child, got her first guitar at age 3, and at age 7 bought — with her own money — a drum kit. At the time, she was into Kiss, Journey, Boston, and other epic rockers, then Pat Benatar, and finally Sheryl Crow. She went to Texas A&M on an athletic scholarship and coached at the high school and college levels before moving to Austin about a decade ago to pursue music full-time.
The Kiss-Journey-Boston influences show up on the first, electrified half of the c.d.; Benatar and Sheryl Crow on the second, acoustic half. Mayfield has a big, passionate voice with good range. Producer and onstage partner Reese Perkins builds a full sound with the usual mix of guitars, bass, and percussion, adding bits of keyboards and mandolin. The unusual — artistic but awkward — packaging is made up of separate photographs held together by a large rubber band. The whole thing threatens to fall apart, just like the love affairs Mayfield sings of.
Fri at Sue Ellen’s, 3903 Cedar Springs Rd, Dallas. 214-559-0707.
