If you‘ve got  an “Achin’ in Yer Bones” for some beautifully rendered roots and country music with a touch of the blues and a rock and roll edge for your Easter Monday, you won’t want to miss Romi Mayes at Henotic, April 5.
Her latest CD “Achin’ In Yer Bones” has  been nominated for a Juno award this year.
“It was really unexpected. You never know until you release it,” Mayes said, en route to a gig in Saskatoon.
“It’s juried by random people in the music industry. So it is really subjective. I had no expectations whatsoever, but it is great to see the CD has a lifespan longer than a year,” she said.
“It’s my first Juno nomination, so it’s pretty exciting,” she said adding she is even more excited about having her own band including Perpetrators’ guitarist/vocalist Jason Nowicki, drummer Ryan Voth and bassist David Landreth.
“I’m enjoying this band so much, I don’t think I’d ever want to play solo again especially when you get lucky and have these great guys. It’s a lot more exciting,” said Mayes.
“I really like to see the audience rocking, and it’s really frustrating as a duo or solo. But  it’s a lot more exciting playing with a band. It’s exhilarating to be able to watch the audience and watch their faces light up,” she said.
“ These guys free me up from stresses and they help with the driving,” Mayes enthused, adding she feels lucky to have Jason Nowicki on board.
“He’s been my best friend for 20 years. I’m a huge Perps fan. I was fortunate he had some time off from the Perpetrators, when he joined the band in September (Landreth also joined in September while Voth joined in December), that he was able to juggle between both. He still plans to dominate with maximum ‘perp’etration,” she enthused, adding the band works well together.

“ They’re a really great band of superb musicians. They bring a lot to the table. They’ve really helped with arrangements. They’re a perfect fit, like four puzzle pieces,” she said adding it is great to finally have a band to call her own.
“Last time I hired the Weber Brothers to play with me and before that was Andrew Neville and the Poor Choices.  But this is the first time I’ve had a Romi Mayes band rather than just session players. It’s the first band I really feel part of,” she said.

Surprisingly Nowicki hasn’t appeared on any of Mayes’ CDs as he was always on tour with the Perpetrators, but he’ll be a big part of the next one.
“I don’t have  any plans for the next one. I still have a lot of writing to do and I need to get the money together,” she said.
“The next album he’ll be all over it with the arrangements and we’re at the cusp of writing. I lean on him as sort of the music director. And I’m going in more of a rock and roll , Stones-ish  direction,” she continued adding she is on tour  for a solid six or seven months of the year.
“You’ve got to do it. You’ve got to get out there. You don’t make a lot of fans in the basement unless you have a great Youtube with a naked drummer,” she laughed adding the band just returned from playing several dates in Texas including several shows at the  South by South West festival in Austin.
“It’s crazy as always with too many bands, too many venues and too many drunks. It’s a little crazy,” she said adding it also gave her a chance to reconnect with producer and friend Gurf Morlix, not to mention play several shows outside of Austin for a bit of a break.
She is looking forward to coming back to Lethbridge.
“I’m really excited to open it up for people we’ve met over the years at the Tongue and Groove,” she enthused.