JACK VAN CLEAF / JOELTON MAYFIELD – THE MIDDLE EAST
Tucked away on Mass Ave is a little restaurant-turned-club called The Middle East Restaurant and Club. What makes this spot so unique is its multi-room setup: multiple venues that can host several concerts at the same time and a full functioning restaurant. On this Sunday night, the “Upstairs” room, its most intimate stage with a 127-person capacity, was packed wall to wall for a sold-out show with Jack Van Cleaf.
Opening the night was Joelton Mayfield, a Texas native whose musical journey began in church as a music director before weaving through Nashville and Alabama. That journey inspired his latest LP Crowd Pleaser—a reflection on growing up in a sheltered religious household and emerging into the world as a hardworking Tennessee songwriter.
By 8:00 p.m., Mayfield stepped onstage with nothing but an acoustic guitar and harmonica. “I’m not lying, this is a great crowd,” he said with gratitude. “It’s hard to get onstage with just a guitar and mic and have people listen attentively. Thank you. This is special to me.”
And the truth was, you really could hear a pin drop. For forty minutes, the crowd gave him their full attention as he mixed songs from Crowd Pleaser with new material. He joked about “songs you’ll get to hear in 2028,” including the cathartic “Paper Cup,” which he admitted didn’t work out as a love song track but will be recorded a full octave higher on the next album. His second single, “Turpentine” about paint thinner, showed his blend of Texas grit and Nashville craft. He closed with “Afterlife”, released last year, leaving the room hushed and ready for Van Cleaf’s set.
The lights dimmed, and as ethereal music filled the PA, Jack Van Cleaf took the stage with his band—his closest friends, as he proudly introduced them. “It’s great to be back in Massachusetts,” he said, crediting his bandmates as “the best friends anyone could ask for.” Their chemistry was obvious; the four played like a group that had been together for decades, feeding off each other’s energy while the crowd sang along word for word.
The set kicked off with the high-energy “Smoker” and “Off to the Races,” immediately pulling the packed room into his orbit. From there, Van Cleaf balanced crowd favorites like “Using You” and “Hikikomori” with deeper cuts such as “Remember Katrina” and “Piñata.”
He shared stories behind older track. Like one inspired by a biker friend who had a guy questioning her ability to ride a motorcycle, which turned into a tongue-in-cheek revenge song, “The Primrose Chopper.” Later, the crowd eagerly joined in for “She Keeps It Cool,” their call-and-response of “uh huh, uh huh” swelling far louder than expected.
The middle of the set brought quieter, intimate moments. Jack Van Cleaf stepped out alone with his guitar for fan requests, including “Wild Roses” (solo acoustic) and “Northern Lights.” At another point, he delivered “Wildflowers” for the wine drinkers in the room, joking as the crowd stayed completely captivated despite a metal show raging elsewhere in the venue.
“Margo” was played by request from the crowd, then flowed into “Thinkin’ About It” and “Green”. The energy carried through singalongs of “Cowboy” and “Couch Potato,” before building to one of the night’s loudest moments with the viral hit “Rattlesnake.”
As the show wound down, Jack Van Cleaf offered “Life” and then the lush, expansive “Northern Lights,” before closing with the reflective “Terrestrial Man,” the band returning one final time to bring the night full circle.
Van Cleaf’s sophomore record, JVC (2025), anchored much of the night’s set and showcased his leap forward as a songwriter. Written during what he calls “the vertigo of growing up,” the album is both restless and reflective, blurring lines between confessional folk and electrified indie rock. Songs like “Using You” and “Thinkin’ About It” wrestle with self-doubt and darker corners of adulthood, while “Off to the Races” and “Green” balance heavier themes with hooks that invite the crowd to sing along.
Recorded with longtime friends and collaborators in far-flung places like Joshua Tree and the Texas/Mexico border, JVC feels wide open in scope yet deeply personal at its core. Hearing those songs live, it was clear the album’s mix of candor and grit has struck a chord, giving fans both the intimacy of folk storytelling and the punch of indie rock.
At just 26, the California-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter has built a strong reputation. His breakthrough came in 2023 when “Rattlesnake” went viral, earning him a spot on Spotify’s 2024 Best New Artist list and praise from Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan. His debut album Fruit from the Trees and sophomore effort JVC (2025) showcased his knack for storytelling and lush, melodic folk.
Watching the sold-out room sing back every lyric, it was hard to believe Van Cleaf is still considered an “emerging” artist. Mayfield set the tone perfectly, and Van Cleaf ran with it—bridging intimacy with energy, leaving no doubt that his career is only just beginning.
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