Rock and roll band to rattle Tin Roof
Community
Posted By Kevin Rushworth, Reporter
Posted 1 month ago
The sheer notion of a band traveling across Canada in a van seems to
be a grueling task and for many it is. However, the attitude of the members of
the rock and roll inflected Romi Mayes Band is that with a good van and a good band, you really can't lose.
On August 4, for individuals yearning for some good old-fashioned
rock and roll mixed with southern country blues, front woman Romi Mayes will be
hitting the Tin Roof stage with her band.
For Mayes, who was born and
raised in Winnipeg, she said the song
writing process is a combination of lyrics, emotion and a killer arrangement.
As a young girl growing up in one of the best music scenes in Canada, Mayes
said listening to live performances affected how she heard music and how she both
listened to it and played it.
"It's got to be something believable, something you can bite into," she said."It has to move you or emote you in some way, even if it's just in a fun way."
She said there are thousands of
singer songwriters who just can't seem to portray the right emotions in their
performances. Although their songs
may be great, the emotion behind songs is key, she said.
Instead of touring a new album,
the group will be promoting all of Mayes' songs and the four members of the Romi Mayes Band will be hitting the studio
in the winter.
Mayes said the band has taken a
heavier rock direction and she
wasn't exactly sure how the fans would take the new sound. However, she said the transition is going well and the fans are "digging" their new groove.
For Mayes, key parts of the tour are the stories and things that happen to
the group. She said the members are
particularly fun and the tour is never boring.
When individuals go to the show at the Tin Roof, Mayes said the group just takes to the stage and goes for it. Plus, the group is no stranger to Crowsnest Pass,
having played the Blackbird Coffee House previously.
"It's pretty rocking and there are some sweet moments, but it's mostly just straight up country blues and rock and roll," she said. "It's a pretty heavy show."
For her, the best part of the tour is
when she is playing an audience that
hasn't necessarily heard their music before. Mayes said that at first, they are strangers, but by the end, she enjoys watching the progression towards audience friendship.
In what Mayes described to be a
mint condition 1991 Ford Econoline van, the group will be finishing up their Ontario portion of their tour and will be hitting up British Columbia next. Afterwards, they will be starting their prairies tour with their Coleman, Alberta show.
She said everyone has their own space in the van and their own comfort zone and it is some of the most painless touring that she has ever done.
The other members of the group are Jason Nowicki on guitar, David Landreth on bass and Ryan Vogh on drums. The Romi Mayes Band hits the Tin Roof stage on August 4.
