Most blues performers pay their dues by grinding away in tiny clubs, often for years with little or no monetary gain and often keeping their day job as a safety net. Candye Kane has definitely lived a blues life although she's taken a rather different route. As a young unwed mother she went on welfare to support herself and her young son. To make ends meet she gravitated to the sex world. She appeared on the covers of over 150 magazines, with provocative titles like Hustler, Juggs and Floppers. Soon Candye was a columnist, writing a monthly advice series for Gent Magazine. Simultaneously, she became involved in the burgeoning punk rock music scene of the early 80's. She eventually gravitated to the blues, starting her musical career with 1994's "Home Cookin'." She hit her stride with 1995's "Knockout" followed by 1997's excellent "Diva la Grande", 2000's fine "The Toughest Girl Alive" and most recently "White Trash Girl" for Ruf, one of her best efforts to date.

 The blues was a good place for Candye who's ribald, saucy and tough persona follow a tradition of like minded blues ladies like Bessie Smith, Lucille Bogan, Memphis Minnie, Big Maybelle, Big Mama Thornton and Etta James. Candye's well aware of the history as she cited most of these blues ladies as inspiration on her recent live show at Rochester's Montage Grille. Decked out like a drag queen in bright colored feathers, sequins and rhinestones she took the stage and preceded to belt the blues with authority and swap some sexually explicit comments with the audience, liberally using the word "pussy" in one extended monologue. It might all be a novelty out except that Candye can really sing the blues.

 Kane's was backed by a tough little combo live that included her son, Evan on drums, Isaiah "Honeyboy" Mitchell on guitar, Smedley B on keyboard and legendary Los Angeles bassist Gil T, formerly of Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs, The Pleasure Barons and WC Clark. Candye delivered high octane blues with a feminist bent kicking into a few off the new record like "Work What You Got", "White Trash Girl", "Masturbation Blues" and "Estrogen Bomb" dedicated to all those 40 year old women. Candye also worked in a pair of sizzling Etta James numbers delivering a rocking "Something's Got A Hold On Me" that sounded straight out off the classic live "Etta Rocks The House" album and slowed it down for a powerhouse version of "At Last."

 Candye's in the midst of a huge tour to support her new record playing literally coast to coast. A hugely (in more ways than one) performer, make sure to catch her when she come to your town. For more info visit www.candykane.com.