The art of being a rock god is dying. It wasn’t so long ago that we were hailing the return of rock in the mid aughts and early ‘10s with artists like Jack White (and his plethora of bands), The Black Keys, and Arctic Monkeys. But those who were paying attention regarded that for what is was, a flash in the pan, the last dying gasps of the “rockstar” older, and with a little more heft spilling over the tops of their skinny jeans, it was inevitable that hip-hop would replace it, just as rock replaced what came before it.
This does not mean that the dream of being a rockstar is dead though, and no one has made that more apparent than Matthew Mayfield. Mayfield has long aspired toward rock stardom, stating “I’ve always had a rock’n’roll heart. Regardless of whether it’s an intimate acoustic performance for 100 people or a full-blown rock show for 3,000 folks, my attitude remains the same. I’ve always been attracted to the dangerous side of music. I love taking chances. I don’t believe in censorship. Guns N’ Roses lit the initial fuse when I was 9 years old and THAT led me back to Zeppelin, Motorhead, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, Aerosmith, Joan Jett, Metallica, Peter Gabriel, Jimi Hendrix, Springsteen, The Cure, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and countless other acts that were PURE despite their flaws and so-called “ego-maniacal” tendencies.”
It’s that ethos that fuels his music. He makes rock that spiritually belongs in previous eras, but sonically feels as fresh and approachable as anything else coming out today. An apt comparison might be someone like Sturgill Simpson, at least when discussing his most recent album. Both artists carry a bit of the soul of the past with them while updating it for the modern era, and hopefully for future generations.
Given that thrust, Hotel Cafe serves as a wonderful venue for Mayfield. Originally existing as a coffee shop it’s become famous as a place where careers are launched into the stratosphere. Recently, it has evolved into a location where you can catch an arena level performer in a closer, more intimate setting. Mayfield is somewhere in between, he’s not quite arena certified just yet, but he’s clearly on the rise, so this serves as the perfect opportunity to catch him before he becomes a full blown rock god.
Special note: This show is 21+
Location: Hotel Cafe
Address: 1623 Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 United States
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