Jessica Lea Mayfield Credit: Photo by Jana Birchum

Jessica Lea Mayfield/Brett Dennen

Radio Day Stage, Austin Convention Center, Wednesday, March 16

At some point in Austin this week, Jessica Lea Mayfield and Lucinda Williams may cross paths, and the space-time continuum could collapse on Sixth. The 21-year-old Ohio songstress’ light twang and languid drawl is so shot through with a barroom’s worth of longing and bittersweet sultriness from affairs gone wrong that she seems twice as broken as her youth and shock of blond hair would allow. Biting into her new third album, Tell Me (Polymer Sounds), Mayfield’s disaffected style lent a nonchalant front to the emotional turmoil manifested by electric guitar bursts on tunes like “Somewhere in Your Heart” and “Our Hearts Are Wrong.” Brett Dennen, on the other hand, emerged charmingly awkward but laid down infectious, nasally slurred rhythms and playful stage kicks and shimmies that promise to help land upcoming fourth studio LP Loverboy (Dualtone) among the year’s best. Opener “Surprise, Surprise” immediately shook the seated crowd, though Dennen deserves a dance floor to fully realize the effect of new highlights like “Comeback Kid (That’s My Dog)” and “Queen of the Westside.” Rousing the room with the unhinged twinge of closer “Sydney (I’ll Come Running),” Dennen proved he has a groove for even the most staid audience.

This article appears in March 18 • 2011.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.