I’m sitting on a bench in front of the legendary Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California, I was sent there on assignment by Backstage 360 Magazine to cover Whitney Shay’s performance. As I sat there, I noticed an electrifying woman with skin as white as the driven snow and the deepest fire engine red hair I’ve ever seen walking towards me encircled by, what I can only assume, were her peeps. As she passes by, she gives me a pleasant look as if she was thinking, “I think I know this guy”. She disappears into the venue, and as I sat there, I had to ask myself, “How, can all that energy, all that power, and all that control come from such tiny women”? The answer is simple, she’s Whitney Shay, that’s how!
There is no denying that Whitney is a musical tour de force with her charisma, super friendly demeanor, and earthy charm, that it’s no wonder audiences quickly get behind her as she moves through song after incredible song.
It is important to note that Whiney Shay is the recipient of the San Diego Music Awards “Best Blues Artist” for 2017 and 2018, and with the release of her latest body of work entitled “A Woman Rules The World”, I believe she is hitting an unstoppable stride. “A Women Rules The World” is my first album in 8 years,” says Whitney, “this album is the amalgamation of lots of hard work and growth in my career as an artist.” She also adds, “I feel like I know what kind of music I really want to make, and this album reflects that to a T.” The album was produced and engineered by Christoffer “Kid” Anderson in addition, Kid played the guitar, Bass, Sitar, and Wurlitzer. Whitney was also backed by the core ensemble of gifted musicians, most notably, Jim Pugh on organ and piano who is also was the executive producer. We have Kedar Roy on bass, Alexander Peterson on drums, with Gordon ‘Sax” Beadle on, you guessed it, Saxophone. The magic came together at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California and released on August 1, 2018, by the Little Village Foundation. Please note: Little Village Foundation exists solely through donations. To learn more, please visit Littlevillagefoundation.org.
I popped the CD into my car stereo and I have to tell you straight up, from the very first song, “Ain’t No Weak Women” to the last with “Get Down With it”, Whitney weaves a tapestry of strength, weakness, courage, romance and in your face independence that defines a strong woman and breaks through the glass ceiling, straight to the top.” “Don’t You Fool Me No More”, “Love’s Creeping Up On You” and “A Women Rules The World” chained together, tells it like it is, life gets in the way of life, take control and make it yours, good advice for both women and men. Whitney’s latest CD is not a “hear me roar” collection but much, much more, it is a, ‘hey we arrived a long time ago and you need to catch up!” If you want to get something out of it, you must first, get into it, “A Woman Rules The World” does rule, and I got into it, and I guarantee it, it will take you to that place and make you think about all the challenges of life, in a way that will also have you singing along in no time.
Whitney Shay: A Women Rules The World” go out and buy it you won’t be disappointed.
Okay, back to the Belly Up Tavern, in a matter of minutes the ticket line was clear around the building and I’m realizing that this is going to be a serious event, but ya, like I really had any doubts.
As our lead photographer and I enter, I immediately feel the buzz. Whitney is running around personally overseeing last minute changes and protocol because she knows, when the light go on, at the music starts, hold on to your hat so because it has to be perfect.
I pull out my trusted Nikon and start backup shots to our lead photographer, when I find myself backstage. I’m snapping away with all of photo opportunities in front of me when, Whitney approaches me and says “come over and take look at my dress” as we walk into the band room I see it and all I can say is “whoa”!! A green sequenced formed fitting floor length, strapless gown that was over the top perfect in contrast to her fire engine red hair, man, it was the perfect choice.
After snapping shots of friends, musicians and well-wishers, I make my way back to my seat to catch the moment she appears, and before I could get to my seat the packed, sold-out house erupted and Whitney steps out and kicks off the evening with “Midnight Special”, right into “Ain’t No Weak Woman” then boom, she has the audience in her corner. With that magical green dress, she slides across the stage, that familiar spot at the altar of light, that moment when she steps into another state of consciousness that allows her to express without judgment, without apprehension, letting herself testify to whoever will listen that she has a message, she has a purpose, and in that moment I realized that Whitney Shay is here to stay.
Straight into the third and fourth songs, “You Don’t Fool Me No More” and “Loves Creeping Up On You” her white hot band settles in to a groove that would be the envy of and rhythm section. With each word, with each verse, beginning to end she leads her fans through the musical gospel according to Whitney. Building the evening with her well calculated set list, she continues to drive us with “Strange Things Happen” and her title track “A Woman Rules The World”. Her voice resonates in perfect pitch, as she opens to the audience as to say, a woman in fact, is ruling the world and I, along with everyone else is in total agreement. With her trusted backup vocalists Rhea Makiaris and Akarsha “Aki” Kumar who also plays a mean harp, set a harmony that shows they are in sync with Whitney and they have her back. Loyal to the end, I love that. And I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the coolest cat this side of Mars, one of my personal favorites, the great guitarist Laura Chavez rounding out this astounding band.
Whitney disappears for a brief moment while the band jams on taking solo after solo and I am soaking it up. Then out of nowhere, Whitney reappears in a green sequence romper, yes, I said romper (I actually verified this on google) and man, she looked great! Kicking back into “Check Me Out”, “Saved” and “Don’t Pick Me For Your Fool” how can the night get any better, well hang on because she enters into the most soulful song of the night with “Empty Hand”, and I just sat there and witnessed her heart and soul escape through that incredible voice, and even with her eyes closed, she could still see everyone staring right back at her as she bringing the evening to a close.
“Well alright everybody”, “let your hair down”, and “Let’s Get Down With It” and the crown erupts and without hesitation jump to their feet. Taking us through to the end she says, “you wanna raise your hands” and we do, “you wanna clap your hands” and we do, “you wanna snap your fingers” “c’mon baby”, “move it around” and we did, we made some sound. What a fun, rocking song with Laura ripping up on guitar and “Sax” tearing it up, and yes we were “stomping our feet” because “it’s alright, one more time” We were exhausted and we still wanted more, Whitney took us to the end with her encore ending to a fantastic show with Can’t Shake it.
There is no doubt in my mind that we recognize Whitney Shay is something special. She has a message she wants to share it with us. May it be serious, playful, heartache, triumphant or loss? From my vantage point, both on stage and her album, she did in fact, put her sweat, grit and tears into this show and her album. She has earned her Music awards, but deep down inside, I doubt that is what motivates her, I believe that we, her audience, her fans, the ones that stomp their feet and raise their hand or tear up at the soulful cries of her beautiful voice is who she does it for.
In closing I say this, I can’t tell you where Whitney Shay lay’s in the pantheon of our beloved music community, but I do see someone who was willing to take a chance and wear their convictions and emotions on their sleeve and make no apologies for it.
A Woman Rules The World, yes, I am more than okay with that.
By: Patrick D. Raymond / BackStage360
Editors Note: I guess it shouldn’t come as any surprise that this was just another great event orchestrated by Kenneth Rexrode and Six String Society