Her Rough And Rowdy Ways

Winnipeg's Romi Mayes takes no prisoners on stage

by Jason Schneider

"I tend to cuss quite a bit and I like to nip at the bourbon before and during a show," Romi Mayes admits. "I have overdone it in the past and probably turned off a few people along the way. I just have too good of a time sometimes and want to party with the audience. Fronting a band can be like being the host of a party. The gig's only as much fun as the people are having."

It's just such an attitude that is making Mayes a rising star within the Canadian roots music scene. The 30-year-old Winnipeg native has been playing her brand of down and dirty country rock for several years, finally capturing it on disc with last winter's The Living Room Sessions, Vol. 1, which led to a full year of touring.

"This year has been a freakin' incredible," she says. "We did something like 10 festivals and I'm about to start my sixth tour. Crazy indeed. Being on the road is the only way to celebrate the recording of an album. It's a damn good excuse anyway. It's also undeniably a killer time to hone your tunes, write new ones, meet new great people, find out if you like your band mates, and get drunk guilt free. But the best thing I love about the road is the only responsibility in the world that I have is to wake up, get to the gig, and play."

Although Mayes has worked hard on her own, she has been fortunate to have gained the support of Fred Eaglesmith and his large, loyal fanbase. Eaglesmith's guitarist Dan Walsh is now a part of Mayes' band too when their schedules allow.

"It was probably only a year ago that I saw Fred and his band play in Grand Forks, and I remember thinking how lucky the opener was for getting the chance to reach that audience and be in such good company. What I'm definitely learning is that Fred Eaglesmith fans are some of the most respectful group of music lovers one can have the pleasure of playing to. They listen to your words, they want to shake your hand after a show, they want to buy your album, and they want you over for supper. They are amazing. It's almost like a religion for them."

Another important figure Mayes met recently is Americana legend Gurf Morlix, one-time guitarist/producer for Lucinda Williams, who will do the same for Mayes' next album. "Lucky for me he'll make the trek from Austin to Winnipeg and help me put together the album I've dreamed of since I picked up a guitar at age 15," she says. "I plan to go full band on this album, leaning a little more to the electric side of things. But I know that a large part of what appeals to people about my music is the soft heart-wrenching stuff, so I know to keep that in there. Gurf has worked with my heroes so I know that putting the project in his hands will be one of the best moves of my entire career. The album will hopefully pull out some of the edge that lurks underneath the sweetness."

Until then, Mayes is more than happy to endure a Winnipeg winter, since it is once again earning the reputation as one of Canada's musical hotbeds. "I really can't say enough about Winnipeg. It has more heart and soul in its small music community than in any big city's scene. The tight-knit music community is so unpretentious and uncompetitive. Instead, everyone is trying to help each other and push each other and nurture each other. But even better is that we're all friends and all play together whenever we can. If I wasn't in Winnipeg I can't be sure where I would've got this much strength to take it elsewhere."

Romi Mayes & The Temporarily Employed play The Boathouse in Kitchener on Friday. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $10. For more info, call 745-7202.