Texan producer Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier) hopped on a plane and arrived in the heart of the sunny prairies in Manitoba in June 2006 to produce Romi Mayes' new album, 'Sweet Somethin' Steady'. Mayes is joined by Chris Carmichael (who also doubled as drummer for the album), Dan Walsh (formerly of The Fred Eaglesmith band) on dobro and steel and Scott Nolan on bass. With the help of special guests Jaxon Haldane of D.Rangers fame and Sky Onosson from The New Meanies as well as Mr. Morlix, the new full band album delivers.
Romi Mayes and The Temporarily Employed : "The Living Room Sessions Volume I" dubbed appropriately due to the nature of the sessions. Nominated for Outstanding Roots Recording by The Western Canadian Music Awards, the album was recorded in three sessions in a living room on Beverley Street. It was released February 16th, 2005 at Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Some of the finest jamming around one microphone on a couple of wintery days nail some of Romi Mayes heartfelt material. Since her duo recording with Carmichael, Mayes put together a handful of new tunes documented here with the likes of Jaxon Haldane on banjo, saw, dobro, and harmonies; Tom (Twisty) Fodey on muck bucket bass - both from The D.Rangers; Tania Elizabeth from The Duhks on fiddle and harmony duty; Grant Siemens from Corb Lund Band on lap steel; and stickin' with the good chemistry, Chris Carmichael (known as bluesman Big Dave McLean's right hand man) on lead guitar and harmonies.