If you look around where live music is playing in Carson City, chances are you’ll see Canyon White performing. The singer-songwriter is in high demand with the pandemic slowing down, and the next week will be very busy with something booked for eight days in a row. “This week I’m balls to the wall,” she said. “I’ve never done at least seven days in a row.” It all begins Sunday night in Virginia City when she performs at the Canvas Café. Monday she will be at The Bank Saloon for The Brother Dan Show in Carson City. Tuesday she’ll be at Shoe Tree Brewing Company in Carson City; Wednesday she hosts Open Mic Night at Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City; Thursday she has a show booked at the Allstar Bar & Grill in Carson City; Friday she hosts Open Mic Night at A to Zen Thrift Shop in Carson City; Saturday she’ll be at the Dayton Tap House in Dayton and then Sunday she’s back to her weekly gig at Canvas Café. SINGER-SONGWRITER White has written more than 300 songs and she is working on her fifth studio album. At her shows she plays her own music and mixes in some cover songs. “I’m constantly writing,” she said. “The beauty of what I’m doing is I can play gigs and play my own songs, and I can play covers. I love cover tunes.” She said many songs come from her own life experiences, but many come from the people she’s met and the voices in her head. She can write songs where she is not familiar with the subject, and she says people still connect through those stories. “I’m a vessel for the song to come through,” she said. “I think that’s where my talent lies.” VERSATILITY She was born in Carson City and traveled as a musician for many years and then moved back to the area 11 years ago. She said she had a hard time finding gigs until she found Open Mic Night at A to Zen Thrift Store. “That’s been really successful for me,” she said. “I got to meet a lot of people and start networking and I got myself out there.” Since she can play several instruments, it’s helped her get several gigs. During open mic nights, she can sit in with other musicians and fill in when they need someone. She’s even held a spot on the drum kit while touring in a Tex-Mex band. “I didn’t know what they were singing, but I was playing drums with them,” she said. “It just made me so happy.” COMMUNITY SUPPORT She said she loves Carson City because it has a strong following for live music. There are many venues with different styles, and she said she’s proud to be a part of it all. With more opportunities to see live music, she hopes to see the city come out and support them. “I highly encourage people to go out and support their local musicians because it’s been hard for us,” White said. “We really love playing and need people to come to our shows.” White is grateful for her career as a musician and making a living through her art. She said he hasn’t had a day job in 30 years, as her needs are small and simple. She said she drives an old car, doesn’t own a house and has no kids or husband to support. She said a running joke of hers about her retirement plan is to go out and get a job like normal people do. “That’s my retirement plan,” she said. “I’m living my life backward.” As far as goals for the future, White says she wants to do more. “More,” she said. “I want to do as much as I can with what the good Lord has given me.” ONLINE Find Canyon White on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanyonWhiteMusic Listen to her music on Spotify, Itunes etc.: https://www.reverbnation.com/canyonwhite SCHEDULE MONDAY – The Brother Dan Show at The Bank Saloon, Carson City; TUESDAY – Shoe Tree Brewing Company, Carson City; 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY – Open Mic Night at Red Dog Saloon, Virginia City THURSDAY – Allstar Bar & Grill, Carson City Canyon White is recurring gigs every Friday at A to Zen Thrift Shop, Carson City; Saturdays at Dayton Tap House, Dayton; and Sundays at Canvas Café, Virginia City.
