The Bakery Case

Whitney Chitwood connects a landmark civil rights battle to the pettiness of personal betrayal, establishing a distinct, highly personal voice that feels both conversational and precise. The centerpiece of this 2019 debut album, A Bigot, A Baker, A Wedding Cake Maker, links the Masterpiece Cakeshop Supreme Court ruling with the messy aftermath of a partner’s infidelity. Chitwood rejects the comforting cliché of don’t hate the player, hate the game with a sports analogy, pointing out that if Steph Curry ran around hitting people with hammers during the playoffs, no one would blame the game of basketball. Recorded at Chicago’s Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, making Chitwood the first comic to record a live album at the famed jazz venue, the Stand Up! Records release features material that oscillates between political commentary and self-deprecation. The album topped the iTunes and Amazon comedy charts and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Comedy Albums chart, capturing a comedian transitioning from a reliable local opener into a headliner with a fully realized point of view.