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Romi Mayes and Jay Nowicki — live onstage at the recording of Lucky Tonight at the WECC.

On a magical winter night in Winnipeg, Romi Mayes, along with long-time friend and guitarist Jay Nowicki (of blues band The Perpetrators), took to the stage of the West End Cultural Centre for a one-take live recording of previously unreleased material before a sell-out crowd of 400 rowdy fans. Inspired by Neil Young’s Time Fades Away, a live album of unreleased songs that was recorded mostly over the course of his 1973 tour, the idea was a gutsy one, but one that proved well worth it when the curtain finally fell.
   
"I think it was the best musical moment of my life," Mayes says. "I can’t think of another night that felt more exciting or challenging or successful.
   
"There were a few times during the rehearsals that I thought, ‘We’re fuckin’ insane, like, what are we doing? We should just go into a studio and make a good album. Why are we challenging ourselves like this?’ It was pretty nerve-wracking leading up to it. That night, the crowd was extremely generous… We felt really good and we just got out and nailed these tunes one after the other."
   
Boy, did they ever. Mayes’ aching vocals sound pitch-perfect amid Nowicki’s electric riffs and the hoots and hollers of the audience.
   
Having successfully pulled off the most challenging show of her life, Mayes says the resulting Lucky Tonight is her best work yet. She also feels more confident than ever as a performer.
   
"I really do feel that this album surpasses anything that I’ve done before," she says. "I think we captured something pretty righteous."
   
Since its release, the album has received positive reviews from critics. Mayes has also been nominated for two Western Canadian Music Awards, including Songwriter of the Year and Roots Album of the Year, for Lucky Tonight.
   
"I feel really great. Most of my reviews have been really good. But, you know, you can’t please everyone. Every so often someone will say something shady about your music and that kind of keeps it real," she says.
   
Mayes will celebrate the vinyl release of the album at The Park Theatre on Sept. 16 with a selection of songs from the new record, along with a screening of Stephen K. Johnson’s documentary chronicling the making of Lucky Tonight. The film includes footage from the one-take West End show, interviews and behind-the-scenes snippets. 
   
With the release party approaching, Mayes says some of the people who were at the West End show have been writing her to say that they can’t wait to see it again.
   
"Everybody that was in that audience was 150% behind us. We had such a crazy vibe in there that night. I think anyone who was there would agree that it was a particularly special night," she says.
   
"The success of the album has a lot to do with the fact that we all kind of did it together."
 

ROMI MAYES VINYL RELEASE
Sept. 16, The Park Theatre