Lovin’ Shelby

Shelby Lynne and her fantabulous band played at HIRO in NYC this past Friday night. They’re finishing up a tour that started about a year ago for the press launch for Shelby’s latest gem Just A Little Lovin’. This of course is Shelby’s interpretation of selections from the late great Dusty Springfield’s songbook. That show was all about the Dusty material. This time around Shelby framed some of her originals around Dusty’s stuff and played an eclectic mix of these two great artists music. Shelby took the stage looking hot as fuck, wearing a white blouse, black tie undone, with a matching vest/miniskirt combo and knee high Emma Peel stiletto black leather boots. With her frosty blonde mane and fender telecaster strapped on she looked like Nancy Sinatra meets Chrissie Hynde. Possessing a similar tough yet ultra feminine vibe like those two iconic ladies of rock ‘n roll Shelby and band mates launched into ‘Life Is Bad’ from Shelby’s 2000 classic I Am Shelby Lynne. After a few more of her great originals like ‘I’m alive’, and her tribute to the Cash’s Johnny met June’. Shelby whipped out a copy of Lovin‘ and told the audience ‘After 22 years of making records It’s finally been released on vinyl’ and gave the LP to an adoring audience member. ‘Dusty Springfield is one of my favorite all time singers’; Shelby shared with the crowd and then tore into the Tony Joe White number ‘Willie and Laura Mae Jones’ originally from the Dusty In Memphis album. ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ and of course the title track followed. Before playing one of her numbers ‘Jesus On A Greyhound’ Shelby said ‘We’re gonna have to get out of her kind early tonight. They’re setting up for some disco party. Well fuck’ em, they can wait.’ Damn right, girl. Let the bridge and tunnel crowd freeze out on 9th Avenue like the fools that they are. Before playing her final number ‘Iced Tee’ she switched from electric to acoustic guitar and an overzealous fan shouted out for her to take her time because she was running the show. Ms. Lynne replied ‘I know I’m running the show. I appreciate your cheer leading and all but don’t strain yourself, baby.’ With that Shelby and co. broke into the old blues classic ‘Polk Salad Annie’ and ripped it to shreds right up there with The Velvet Underground’s version. While filing out into the freezing New York night I kept thinking why isn’t this woman a huge star? I guess that could be said of many female musicians out there. Thank goodness BUST has these ladies backs and gives them some exposure and the cred they deserve. Hey Shelby: You rule and I’ll always have your back at least in the wonderful world of BUST.  -Michael Levine