Romi Mayes and Jay Nowicki rip it up at the Twin Butte General Store

Jay Nowicki and Romi Mayes
C. Davis photos

Chris Davis

Romi Mayes and Jay Nowicki brought their rollicking rock and rhythm show to the Twin Butte General Store and Restaurant on Tuesday, August 17.  Two electric guitars, one electrifying voice, a big bucket full of original gutsy songs, and an acerbic sense of humor made for a phenomenal show in the intimate space, before a small and enthusiastic crowd.
For a few people the volume was too loud, but Mayes and Nowicki struck a fine balance given the nature of the material they were performing.  Confident, raw, and self assured, Mayes delivered each of her songs with a direct and compelling razorblade melodicism, often pulling the audience into the performance with her.  "Are you having fun at my party?" she asked at one point, and a thunder of applause and cheering was her answer.  She held down a strong rhythm, sneaking bluesy guitar licks in whenever possible. Nowicki's stinging lead guitar was dazzling throughout.  A solid frontman in in own right with 'The Perpetrators', his lightning fast fretwork intermingled with solid rhythmic underpinnings.  Nowicki knows how to choose his moments, never overpowering the song or the singer, and tearing it up properly when it was his turn to shine. This was a duo that delivered like a four piece rock band.

Highlights of the night

• 'Hard Road':  A travelling musician's complaint with a heart of pure country music, a song that rivals Bob Seger's 'Turn the Page' as a definitive statement about life on the road.
• 'Ball and Chain': A deep dark blues, moody and very personal. "You can ride the wave in a broke down boat...you can hold on tight and hope you float..."  This is the song that got Mayes nominated for Songwriter of The Year (again) for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA) to be held this October in Whitehorse, YT.
• 'Lucky Tonight': The title track of the new album, nominated for WCMA Album of the Year.  Mayes and Nowicki made together in a live, one-take show in their hometown of Winnipeg. This thing should be blasting out of every radio station in the country.  It's electrified, catchy goodness in a can, I give it a ten, and you can dance to it.
• 'Don't Mess With Me": A rollicking blues vamp that reeks of 'Exile On Main Street' Rolling Stones grooviness.  Sassy, exuberant, and defiant.
• 'Bring it on home to me': The only cover song of the night and a perfect vehicle for her soulful voice, Mayes' got everyone singing along to the great old Sam Cooke song before bidding us goodnight.

Bottom line: Keep them away from the hay, because this is a real barnburner of a duo.  They have fun playing together, and it's reflected in the vitality of the music they pump out.  Kudos to the Twin Butte General Store and Restaurant for once again upping the ante and taking a chance on A-grade talent.

Jay Nowicki and Romi Mayes

Mayes and Nowicki are making their way around western Canada, and often play at the Ironwood in Calgary as well.  Visit www.romimayes.com for more information on upcoming dates.