Saving Shirley: From Storm to Stage

When Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina last September, the devastation left residents searching for stability and connection. For Joshua McKinney and a circle of longtime friends, the storm also lit a creative spark — one that transformed casual jam sessions into a full-fledged band with a mission.

“Life is short. If we want to do something, we better do it,” McKinney said.

That moment of clarity led to the birth of Saving Shirley, a party cover band now making waves across the region with a high-energy mix of rock, pop and R&B spanning from the late ’90s to today. Their shows blend nostalgia with fresh takes on crowd favorites, creating a soundtrack that bridges generations.

Roots in Southern Appalachia

Music has always been in McKinney’s blood. He picked up a guitar at a young age, studied under local bluegrass musician Rhonda Gouge and grew up surrounded by gospel in his father’s church. A middle school discovery of Lynyrd Skynyrd expanded his world into Southern rock and metal, eventually leading him through a series of original and cover bands.

By adulthood, music had shifted into the background. McKinney still posted covers online and occasionally filled in with local groups, but the fire had dimmed until friends coaxed him back.

Drummer Chase Thomas, vocalist Jimmy Hinshaw and bassist Joshua “JB” Brown had been casually playing with guitarist David Shirley. When Shirley stepped aside, McKinney filled in. The chemistry was instant.

A Turning Point After the Storm

The real breakthrough came in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Hinshaw, who also organizes the local Toe Jam Festival, put together a free community concert in Spruce Pine.

Onstage, Saving Shirley ran through everything from Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” to Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin' Down.” The reaction was unmistakable.

“People went from sitting in chairs nodding their heads to rushing the front of the stage,” McKinney said. “That’s when we knew we had to go in that direction.”

From there, the band doubled down. They secured a larger rehearsal space, developed a business plan and leveraged their backgrounds in marketing, photography and video to build a polished brand.

What’s in a Name?

The band’s name began as an inside joke. Shirley, the original guitarist, played full-time elsewhere, and the others often joked about “saving” him from that gig.

“One day, Jimmy Googled ‘Saving Shirley,’ and nothing came up,” McKinney said with a grin. “The URL was available; the YouTube channel was available. It just worked.”

Finding Their Sound

Today, Saving Shirley performs a rotating set of about 45 songs — a kaleidoscope of hits from Bruno Mars and Rihanna to Linkin Park, Blink-182 and Post Malone.

“We’re trying to reach people 18 to 40,” McKinney said. “Most bands around here are stuck in 1986 playing Bon Jovi. That’s great, but we want something fresher.”

Audiences agree. Sing-alongs to “Mr. Brightside” and “In the End” regularly shake the walls, while a surprise performance of The Lonely Island’s “I’m On a Boat” left one recent crowd roaring with laughter.

“It was probably the most fun I’ve ever had onstage,” McKinney said.

Looking Ahead

Though still new, Saving Shirley has already played notable venues like Capone’s in Johnson City, Tennessee, and released a string of slickly produced music videos online.

Covers remain their bread and butter, but original music may be on the horizon. Whether those songs will carry the Saving Shirley name or launch as a side project remains to be seen. For now, the band is embracing both the business and the joy of performing.

“We’re taking this more seriously than anything I’ve done musically,” McKinney said. “But at the same time, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had in a band.”