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UPDATE: 12/13/07

Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwaanza, Happy Christmas!

I am THRILLED to announce that I have FINALLY been acknowledged and nominated by the Blues Foundation awards for Best contemporary blues female!!!!!

I really can't believe this has finally happened to ME! After all the heartaches and bad luck I have endured recently, this is just the best news I could have received. I was beginning to feel invisible after 8 international cd releases and touring so hard for so long. Its just a wonderful, gratifying thrill! I don't think I will win but I couldn't be in finer company with my friends and sister nominees, Fiona Boyes, Teresa James, Debbie Davies and Bettye Lavette. Whoever wins, I am just so excited to be noticed and yes, it really feels good to know that my contributions to the blues finally matter to the blues foundation.

This is just a wonderful honor. Please join the blues foundation at blues.org so you can vote for me! It's a great organization dedicated to preserving blues music and blues history!

blues.org/bluesmusicawards/nominees.php4

I want to thank Bob Margolin, Bill Wax, Chip Eagle, Steve Hecht, Tina Terry, Michelle Kaplan, Nancy Edwards, Grit and Thomas at Ruf Records, Miki Du Nord, Bob Porter, Joris Wijngaarden and Blues DJs, club owners and journalists all over the world for raising my profile and helping me to achieve this long time goal. I also want to thank my wonderful band, My son Evan Caleb, Bill Stuve (who will leave me to join the Sean Carney band in January) and Heine Andersen (who will also leave me to start a band with his lovely wife Denyce in January.)

2008 looks like it will be an exciting year after all. I will start the Blues Caravan tour in January with my new guitarist, San Jose based Laura Chavez, and my friends Deborah Coleman and Dani Wilde. Look for us in your town soon and thanks again so much for your love, empathy, continued support and Yahoo's! Whether I win or not, this has been a lovely holiday surprise!

Happiest of Holidays,

Your favorite blues ho ho ho,

Candye

UPDATE: 10/31/07

Hello everybody!

We just got back from our three week tour of Europe that included stops in France, Switzerland, Belgium and The Netherlands. We had an incredible time Highlights included our shows in Paris when my friend Little Victor sat in, and the Netherlands where we auditioned new contestants for the United by Music tour we will do next year. We also had my new friend Dani Wylde play guitar with us in Holland. You can read all my notes about it on my myspace blog: www.myspace.com/candyekaneband

We missed all the fires in San Diego and Southern California. We were all so lucky to not have any damage to our homes or property beyond the ashes everywhere. I still haven't been back home as I will embark on my three week East Coast tour now but I have been told that the white ash looks like snow. I also got the sad news that my friend and sister singer, Etoile of Ruby and the Red Hots fame, lost her entire home in Del Dios along with all her possessions. The house also held her grand piano that belonged to her Grandmother. If you would like to write to Ruby and see how you can help; Rube@Rubyandtheredhots.com

I am excited to announce that I have been nominated for another music award. The 2007 Pride in the Arts Award. This awards program acknowledges Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered artists for their musical efforts. Also nominated here is my friend Georgie Jessup from the DC area. Please vote for us at the following link. It only takes a minute and costs nothing.

stonewallsociety.com/PITA2007/SWSPrideInTheArtsmusicartsvoteballot2007.htm.

Voting will end November 14, 2007. (The day after my birthday!) The recipients will be announced on Rainbow World Radio, www.rainbowworldradio.com, on November 30, 2007 at 8:00pm eastern time. You will also be able to find the recipients at the StoneWall Society & Pride In The Arts websites. Please let Len and the good people at Rainbow world radio know that you appreciate their attention to an often overlooked group of artists.

My friend, Hollywood legend and archivist Art Fein, has posted the following video to his You Tube site. It shows a very skinny me! with my friend, guitarist, Jerry Sikorski and my ex husband Thomas Yearsley on bass. I was six months pregnant with my son Tommy in this picture and that's why I wear pants that proudly show my big belly.

youtube.com/watch?v=LcS1eWo2Yhs

You can also check out my other favorite videos on my You Tube page; http://youtube.com/user/candyekane. Check out early Paladins and Dwight Yoakum vids along with others from my famous friends and idols.

Thanks again for all your love and friendship this year! This will be our final swing through the east coast so if you can come out to a live show, your support is always needed and appreciated. Clubs are closing all over so we all need to do our part to show that live music matters in our lives. Goddess bless you all and Happy HALLOWEEN!

UPDATE: HAPPY NO MORE WAR, LIGHT UP THE SMOG FREE SKY WITH FIREWORKS 4TH!

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and I am here in Lincoln, Nebraska. This is corn field country where people actually stop for you when you get a flat tire, drive you through the Mcdonalds on the way to pick up the new tire, pay for lunch and then insist on changing your tire for you on the side of the freeway while the whole band stands aghast, watching. (This actually happened!) This is plain-spoken people country where they look you in the eye, with a firm handshake that they mean and do, what they say they will do. This is the heartland part of the US where young boys and girls go off to war because they really believe in our Grandparents vision of a democratic, honest country that would never condone torture. This is the part of the country where young soldiers go off to war not only because they want to see the world and get a shot at a good education but because they were brought up to respect the flag and the people whose blood spilt for it.

I am not a real patriot. There are a lot of problems in this great country of ours. We are stuck in the quagmire of this losing war in Iraq; we will leave our huge deficit to our kids and grandkids; The President has an imaginary friend who gives him advice (that, or he hears voices in his head.) Our government seems to virtually ignore global warming and is so gluttonous from the big money they get from oil lobbies that they spend zip on research for new energy resources. They would rather worry about keeping hard working Mexicans out of the USA and worry about whether two men might choose to marry and live in a committed relationship. The health insurance problem is vast, not only because we poor people have to choose between paying our phone bill or getting a check up, but because a woman of my size can be denied health insurance even with low blood pressure and low cholesterol, just based on my weight. Yes, it’s a mess here, my friends.

Still, I am happy to be an American. Why? Because in my neighborhood growing up, there were black people, Mexicans and white kids. There were Catholics, Jews and Mormons. (I have been all three!) We didn’t all agree about everything and we spent a lot of time fighting with each other but I learned early that people come in all sizes and colors. Here in America, there are mosques and churches of all kinds, synagogues and Krishna temples. There is Eckankar and Paganism, self-realization and even the dreaded scientology. There are women who walk around in cut offs and halter-tops, butches with beards and rings in their noses, women wearing Islamic head coverings and Amish dresses and bonnets at the same rest stop. There are hookers who hang out on my street and sell their wares to men who drive by in their souped up Toyotas with their stereo so loud it makes my I.U.D. vibrate. There are surfer boys, retired Marines, lesbians, Jehovahs witnesses, Rastafarians and Samoan Christians all on the block where I live.

I love America because my government sucks, but I have the right to write about it and talk about it and write letters to my congressperson and my local paper. I have the right to protest and hold up signs and yell and scream at rallies. I don’t have every right that I should have. I should have the right to marry whomever I want and I should have the right to be treated the same way under the law as any married couple, heterosexual or otherwise. Poor people and regular folks should have the right to run for office and it shouldn’t be about money. But I still believe in an America that will eventually try to right its wrongs. (Not the ones that can’t be righted; we can’t bring back the buffalo or give the Native Americans back all their land. We can’t take back our historic mistakes like slavery, refusing shiploads of Jewish children and women during WW II and Japanese interment camps. Some wrongs are so horrific they cannot be reversed or fixed.)

However, just like women fought for the right to vote, and people fought in the 60’s for freedom and civil liberties for every American regardless of skin color, I believe someday we will get back to the noble American ideals of our forefathers and mothers. The America that our Grandparents loved and fought for; The America that valued honor and believed diversity made a country stronger just like the statue of liberty inscription said. An America that really does take care of its poor and its meek and huddled masses; An America that doesn’t just fill us with fear while lining their pockets but cares about each citizen, poor and rich, gay and straight and strives to protect each of us. That’s the America that I am reminded of when I am here with the good people of the Midwest.

There are good and bad people in every city in the world and I am not naïve enough to think otherwise. But I want to be the kind of American who helps my neighbor fix a flat and pays for lunch while doing it. I want to be the American that holds out a hand to someone who is suffering. I want to get my childhood vision back of an America that was good and noble, honest and true. A country where your vote counted and you didn’t just have to vote for the evil guy or or the other evil guy. A country where our civil liberties are protected 100% and where we would never hold people in prisons without due process or overthrow the Geneva Convention as antiquated and out of date. I believe in an America that is compassionate and cares about our planet and all its inhabitants, realizing that we are all one in the great cosmic universe. So, when I sing that National anthem tonight at my show in Lincoln, I will envision that America and these salt of the earth American kids who are dying to defend her. I will envision us all as one human family protecting and caring about each other in a pollution free, peaceful world with polar bears and hybrid cars and health insurance affordable to us all!

Happy no more war, light up the smog free sky with fireworks 4th of July!

UPDATE: Summer Tour notes, May 2007

The tour just started. Played in Austin on Thursday night with Seth Walker. it was a super fun show. Had lunch with Derek O’ brien and Toni Price; both old and dear Austin friends. Toni will be moving to San Diego in June so we San Diegans are very lucky. I guess a lot of people in Austin are really hassling poor Toni about her decision to leave Austin. She has been there and been playing her happy hour at the Continental for 15 years! She said people have been really hostile to her since she announced her move. That’s just so sad and she is really disillusioned.

Last night was a super fun show in Houston at the Continental. The Octanes opened and they were just awesome! They reminded me of a young Paladins. Really good. That Adam has a great guitar tone and a cool singing voice. It wasn’t very packed since I was going up against Texas legend Marcia Ball, but some really nice people came down from KPFT; Sandy, Buddy Love and Nancy and some other incredible folks. it was so nice meeting them and Sandy will be in Memphis so we will get to hang out.

I am playing in Dallas tonight with Blue Lisa, Cheryl Arena and Andrea d. Pianist Red Young will be sitting in with us. Red is an old friend and he is just amazing. He’s been touring alot with Eric Burdon so I am real lucky he’s not on the road. We are playing at Sons of Hermann Hall which I hear is a super cool place so I’m excited.

Tomorrow is OKC and then we will spend two nights off in Clarksdale, MS!! We will just hang out and try to visit all the sites in Steve Chesebroughs delta blues book. Bill Stuve has never been to Clarksdale either so we are both really excited. I was shocked that Bill had never been down there after 30 years on the road. Bill says Rod would never go anywhere unless they paid him a lot to be there! Charlie Musselwhite sent me a detailed email with who to ask for and what to see in Clarksdale. He said he will quiz me on it when I get to Memphis!! I am so excited about coming to Memphis and going to the awards show. This will be my very first time there for the awards. I played there once at the New Daisy theater during the awards but didn’t go. So I am really looking forward to meeting any of you, who will attend. I can’t wait to hook up with my old friends and make some new ones. Anyway, travel safely and hope to see you down the road somewhere somehow.

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Dallas was awesome! we played at this historic hall. You could feel the ghostly energy in there. It was an old saloon dance hall. It was a fun show but the Dallas crowd wasn't very emotional. We had a fun time though. Cheryl Arena played with us and she was just amazing, and Red Young came down and played again. It was really fun having these two incredible musicians onstage with us. OKC was a lot of fun too, I sat in with the opening western swing band, The Stockyard City Boys. They were very sweet and it was fun singing with a fiddle and steel player in the group. Just like my old days in Hollywood at the Palomino. VZDS is an old drug store in the historic part of OKC. My myspace buddy Jason came down with his sweetie and we all had a really fun night.

Tonight we are in Clarksdale, MS. We are going to the Delta Blues Museum and to the Cathead store. We'll visit the Riverside hotel which is now on the site where Bessie Smith died. We'll eat soul food at Sarahs and visit Memphis Minnie’s grave. Then we'll mosey on up to Memphis, on the same highway Muddy Waters traveled, for the Blues Music Awards. You can feel the soul down here. It's eerie the way the fog rolls across the cracked asphalt and the lightning and fireflies flash in the sky. The air feels humid, thick and serious and even though its impossible to find the exact spot where blues man Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads, you can see why this would be the place where legends like that live on. So many amazing musicians traveled these roadways - hwy 61, hwy 49, with their lucky mojo bag and their black cat bones, risking everything to try to find a way to make music for a living. I am so lucky to be able to travel these roads after them.

Today we were driving through all kinds of gnarly thunderstorms and tornado warnings. It dawned on me how many times I have risked my life on the road, just to get to the next town to play music. I have been stuck in several blizzards; jack knifed my trailer in the snow; stayed in scary dumps where I was sure I would be robbed or the van would be broken into. I have weathered floods and electrical storms; had shows cancelled because of hurricanes (including katrina!) I have seen semi trucks collide and seen hairy accidents when you just knew there were no survivors. I have witnessed drunk drivers swerving all over the road and seen hail the size of golf balls. I have almost collided with moose and deer and elk. I have had so many near misses when cars have cut me off going 80 miles an hour. I have had hotel rooms that cancelled out by mistake and had to sleep in the van with all the other guys in freezing temperatures. Through snow, sleet, freezing ice and rain, I have driven across the country from San Diego to Portland, Maine again and again and again and been stuck in snowstorms from Copenhagen to Lillehammer to Stuttgart. But I am so blessed to do this for a living, I still manage somehow to get in the van again the next morning and put myself through it all over again. Not just me, but tons of road musicians out here doing the very same thing, bringing our shows to your town because we love this life and love this music. So that’s why it means so much when you come out and spend your hard earned dollars to see a live band. Thank you for coming and seeing me in big cities and little towns, everywhere and thanks for continuing to support any kind of live music. Risking your life for music may seem weird to some, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. See ya soon in your town!! xo

Yesterday was awesome. I am still sore from dancing. Explored Clarksdale; visited the Riverside hotel where Bessie Smith died and hung out with the colorful and sweet proprietor "Rat." he was full of stories and gave us a lovely tour of the hotel where Sonny Boy, JFK Jr, Lightin’ Hopkins and many others have stayed. He was spraying diesel when we arrived to scare off any snakes that might come up from the river!! We went to Morgan Freemans club, Ground Zero and I was thrilled to see my old friend Joni working there who used to manage the Grand Emporium in Kansas City, That was a great surprise. Hung out awhile with Pinetop Perkins on the couch in front and bought him a coke in the 80 degree humid heat. He is 94 and just a sweetie. He said, "I sing songs about big fine gals like you and your double bubbles." We visited the delta blues museum, the Cat Head store and the Hambone gallery where I discovered the amazing folk art of Stanley Street. wow, he is incredible. stanleystreet.com Then at night we went to an old juke joint called Reds. Red was a big, jolly kind of intimidating character who kept demanding that everyone tip more. He loved me though and we took lots of pictures There were people there from Paris, Rotterdam, Australia and Japan. I guess the people who are craziest about blues and southern history tend not to be Americans! Johnny Rawls played with Roger Hurricane Wilson on guitar. Johnny’s smooth, sexy soulful voice kept all of us ladies up and dancing. Eventually, the night turned into a big jam session with my son Evan on drums, Stanley street on harp, Bob Stroget on bass, then switching off to Bill Stuve, and soon my whole band was up there and even me singing a few. Both Pinetop and Mitch Woods showed up but alas, there was no piano! I danced and laughed and drank beers and poured sweat in the humid Mississippi night. It was wonderful to be making music in this historic and magical place. Now were off to Memphis Minnies grave on our way to the city of Memphis. more later!

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Blues foundation award show impressions

Wow. The Blues foundation awards (formerly known as the Handy awards) were amazing! I had such a great time. I have never been before, mostly because I am usually on the road during the time period and its expensive to travel to Memphis and pay to get in. BUT this year, my bassist Bill Stuve was nominated and we were able to launch our tour around the awards. I am soooo glad I went! I saw so many of my old friends and the show was a great chance to see people I admire.

The highlights? It was great to see Sugar Pie De Santo so spunky after losing her husband and her home to a fire earlier this year. Irma Thomas was ever soulful and inspiring. I hung out with old friends I love - Gracious Marcia Ball backed up Irma Thomas and also won an award. My buddies Johnny Dyer and Kim Wilson blew me away again with an awesome version of "Juke." It was so cool hearing all those harmonicas onstage at once with Mark Hummel, Sweet Dick and Mitch Kashmar. Sweet Bob Margolin backed up Diunna Greenleaf whom I thought was the best performer of the evening. What a voice! Janniva Magness was sparklingly lovely in her silver beaded gown as she won for best contemporary blues artist, yet again. I got to see people I have heard about but never seen – EG Kight whose song "Call me sugar" was amazing. Slick Ballinger did this Pentecostal style gospel thing; a bit weird, I thought, for a drinking, partying crowd. He almost started speaking in tongues! Thankfully Bobby Rush followed him with his three hoochie mamas, shaking their big, luscious behinds for a little bit of sexual healing. Watermelon Slim was incredibly dapper in a lime green suit and his performance was top notch. Right after Tab Benoit won, he took Amanda May (Kim Wilson’s luscious girl toy) and lucky ME on his arm, right into his big, fancy tour bus. It was a lot of fun hanging out with Tab, moments after his big win. I loved his words about Hurricane Katrina in that sexy Louisiana drawl! All that talent and brains too. Oh my gawd!!!

I was surprised how many fans there were that asked for my autograph or wanted to take a picture with me. I wasn't even nominated but people wanted me to sign their programs and posters. That was a real honor. It was fun seeing all my musician friends who also were there for the fun. I wasn't even looking and I ran into old friends Al Blake, Kid Ramos, Richard Innes, Larry Taylor (whom I mistook for Junior Watson! Sorry Larry!); Ann Rabson who is warm and wonderful as always, Bob Corritore and beautiful girlfriend Kim. I saw Charlie and Henri Musselwhite (Henri looked so classy and elegant in her black dress), gorgeous Jeff Turmes whose new CD I really love; Mitch woods in his cute vaudeville straw hat; Chip Eagle with long hair! He is as smart and adorable as ever; Spunky Trudy Lynne; Little Ed who had on an amazing fez; Guitar Shorty who won an award in his Texas shirt; RJ Mischo – my fave harp playing Midwesterner; Guy Davis - a gorgeous and talented hunk o' guitar picking and singing love; and accordion blues man Jt Lauritzen all the way from Norway.

I cried through the whole entire memorial part of the show. I mean, I was sobbing from Sam Myers in the beginning all the way to the end. Floyd dixon, Clifford Antone, Chico Chism, Ruth Brown, Tayo Lesmayer...we lost so many beautiful people this year!

It was a wonderful night full of fun and friendship. The only criticisms I have - the show was way too long. Performers should be limited to one song unless they fall into the "legend" category like Irma Thomas or Dr. John. It went on well after 1:30 am. 5:30 to 1:30 is a long, long time even for music we love. I don’t understand artists who hog the stage for too long causing their colleagues to go on too late. All of us play for a living. we should be polite and limit our time onstage so everyone gets a chance to be heard! I also wondered why they served pork ribs, which are pretty hard to eat when you are wearing a suit or an evening gown or are a Jew. There were no vegetarian options for dinner, which I found strange. The service though, was really great I thought. They shouldn't lump big stars like Etta James in the same category with young upcoming stars. It makes it impossible for a newcomer to win because people will always vote for name recognition. And I still wonder - who are these people that decide who gets nominated? I went up close to the stage to see who was seated at the VIP tables (I assume the tables up front were VIP or for photographers) and I didn't recognize anybody. I mean, I don't know everyone that's a who's who of the blues but it would be helpful if they had some information about each person who is on the nominating committee on the website at bluesfoundation.org or somewhere! Maybe it's there and I am just clueless!

Overall though, I thought it was an awesome evening. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I made lots of new friends and I got to hug and kiss my old ones. I took some amazing pictures and I smiled so much, my cheeks hurt when it was over. I recommend this event to anyone who loves the blues. You get to see your musical favorites up close and personal and you meet fans and friends from all over the world. I don't know why I didn't do it before but I hope to get to come back next year! Maybe, Goddess willing, if miracles do happen, I'll be a nominee myself! Keep your fingers crossed for me. Hope to see YOU there in 2008! >join the blues foundation at bluesfoundation.org.

Candye in Alabama

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Had a great show in Montgomery Alabama at the Capital Oyster Bar. When we arrived, we were shocked to find that they were without power due to a lightning strike nearby. I was pleasantly surprised by my good friends Michael and Kristen Benoit who had driven down from Atlanta to see me and lovely Fiona Boyes and her husband Steve stopped in as well. We ate delicious oysters by candlelight and then the power came on just in time for us to take the stage. We played a 75 minute set and just as we were ending, it started pouring! sometimes our timing is just right! Now we are in Nashville for a night off, and I was lucky enough to be able to catch my dear friend Ranger Doug with his western swing group the Time Jumpers at the Station Inn. I sat in and sang " all of me" with these ten amazing musicians. They will do a live broadcast next week on XM radio. They are just tremendous musicians. If you’re in Nashville, they play the Station inn every Monday night timejumpers.com Tomorrow we play here in Nashville at Bourbon Street. I hope to see you there!

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Man I am burnt out. I just flew back from Munich Germany. I left on Thursday and played gigs on Friday and Saturday and came back Sunday. I am in Richmond, Virginia now. I am so tired but am trying to stay up to get on U.S. time again. Heine and I went and did four acoustic sets at this High End Messe 2007. It was a stereo convention for high tech audiophiles. They had some amazing stuff there. Turntables made out of plexiglass on brass legs with diamond needles that sold for 118,000 euro!! Boze, Phillips, Wurlitzer all had booths. There was a super cool jukebox that kind of looked like my Seeburg but it was new. There were a bunch of record dealers too and I bought some cool records ; Ray Charles with betty Carter, Muddy sings Big Bill broonzy, Muddy sings folk songs, The Bluesbreakers with Clapton and Mayall; Nellie Lutcher. Bought some drummer records for Evan. It was fun. We played in the big hall and had some very nice audiences. I saw Hans Theesink there. Hes a cool dutch musican I have known for quite awhile. I really can’t believe there are people who can afford turntables for 30,000 euros! WOW. thats amazing. I am just fine with my dumb 99$ model from Fryes. Yes, I have to go and turn the records over manually and it doesn’t play more than one at a time but its cool and it sounds good. And I love being able to hear all those old records I haven’t heard in years. Anyway, I am going to bed, I have to change over my laundry first, Thankfully this hotel has a laundry room. It’s hard to even find time to do your laundry on the road. Evan opened a beer bottle and the thing exploded and hit him in the eye!! Now I am freaked out that he damaged those beautiful eyes. I am looking for an opthamologist here in richmond. If anyone reads this and knows anyone; let me know. Is anyone even reading this?

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Balti- MORE rules and John Waters has nothing to do with it.

Well, I have just had whirlwind of activity in the last few days. Came back from Munich to a one eye-balled drummer. Evans eye is okay but I guess all those years of me screaming "Youre gonna put your eye out with that thing!!!" were for naught. He still pointed the beer bottle at his gorgeous green eyes while opening it. Thanks to my pal Liz Caufield in Richmond, I found the Virginia eye institute and they assured us that Evan will live and not go blind anytime soon. That night, we played the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville, va and it was so wonderful. The sound was great and it’s a book store! The people who go there are smart and they actually read! And they served good pasta and alcohol too, in a bookstore! It was really a cool venue. Check it out. Next night was Arlington and the Clarendon ballroom with swing king Tom Koerner and his swing dance group gottaswing.com He and his dance partner Deborah were so wonderful and we were just dazzled by all the incredible dancers there at all levels. Its so much fun when the swing dancers come out because they entertain us!! Thanks so much Tom for being so wonderful.

And then LAST NIGHT!!: I have to say, I had started to hate Baltimore and had begun to think my future there was doomed. I was robbed there once, had poor attendance at the shows and then the latest debaucle with John Waters and his threat of a lawsuit pushed me over the edge. And if that weren't enough, my van broke down yesterday here in Maryland. I got it fixed and it was less than $200 but I really thought there was a Baltimore curse for me. Enter sweet Joe Burton who hired me for what may be the most amazing house party of my life! Joe is just a big sweetheart who used to live in San Diego and thankfully saw me play there a few times. He organized the show last night at this wonderful artists loft called loadsoffun.net He called all his friends to come and see me and he got the fabulous burlesque/comedy duo Trixie and the Evil hate monkey to open and host/hostess the show. It was so incredible from the moment we pulled up in front of this brownstone bldg with the colorful commie mural and parked in the garage next to beautiful large floats from mardi gras parades past. A huge fifteen ft. furry, brown goat smiled down at me and a giant, sequined hand waved me in. I knew it was going to be a special evening. Joe is a wonderful host and missed his true calling as a promoter. He should be named the cultural ambassador of Baltimore after the feat he pulled off last night. He is a musicians dream, as he fulfilled each part of my rider and then some. He had a deli tray, fresh strawberries and some lovely chardonnay waiting for us. When the show began, it was hilarious with the Evil Hate Monkey baring almost all in the funniest sketch ever. Then, the drop dead gorgeous Trixie came out and they did a fabulous martini glass acrobatic act with feathered fans and Trixie balancing carefully on the monkeys feet, ending in a scrumptious tassle twirling. If you haven’t seen them, you must! they are just awesome! They won best duo at the Miss Exotic World competition last year. The audience was wonderful. They listened carefully, laughed and clapped in all the right places and enthusiastically welcomed each of the songs and introductions. This is the audience I wish I could plant in every bar I play in. They weren’t screaming over the band or yelling out "Freebird." They weren’t having beer guzzling contests while I sang a heart drenched love song. They didn’t sit there like mannekins watching TV. They were fun, engaged and intelligent. They danced and sang along. They smiled, made eye contact and gave us all support. I just felt surrounded by so much creativity and love. It was really beautiful. Trixie and the monkeys artwork had a lot to do with making the whole vibe eccentric and spirited. I am so happy to have met them and hope to play with them again soon (trixielittle.com). Thanks Joe Burton for introducing me and my music to so many cool people. I want balti-MORE MORE MORE.

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Today we went to the XM studios and recorded some live tracks with Bill Wax. Bill is the host of XMs Bluesville. He plays me more than any other DJ I know of. He is a wonderful man and is committed to underappreciated artists and to preserving the blues as much as he can. He is a big believer in sharing the wealth and thats just one of the reasons why I dig him. We recorded five songs; Toughest Girl Alive, Back with my old friends, For Your Love, I could Fall for you and Work what you got. If it comes out good, I may post a couple of them at myspace. We really had a great time at the beautiful XM studios. Now I have to run and get ready for my show at Chicks surf hall in bladensburg. wish you were all here with me.

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Well, you can't have a good night every night. Tonite at Chicks Surf Hall in Bladensburg was fun and the crowd was wonderful. We had local blues diva Ruby Hayes sit in and she is just a classy and lovely lady. BUT the talent buyer at the club, Texas Fred was a real jerk. He treated me like crap. It was so weird. I admit we started ten minutes late, (@ 9:10 instead of 9:00) and I missed a last minute radio show he wanted me to do this afternoon, because I was at the XM show, but really his rudeness was just uncalled for. I have never been treated that badly by a promoter. Can’t say I will ever play that Chicks surf hall again in my lifetime. It was really humiliating to be treated like that after traveling so far to play. It made me grateful for the majority of the club owners and promoters who are so sweet and gracious even if we do have an under attended show on occasion. Thank god people like Texas Fred are the exception and not the rule. There’s just no excuse to treat other human beings like shit. we are all in this together.

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Charlotte, Asheville and Arlington encore

We had an awesome time in Charlotte. I was dreading the drive from the DC area down to North Carolina and back but it really was worth it all. The show at the Double Door was so much fun even though we went against a free music festival down town and Derek Trucks, I think, was playing down the street. We had a nice friendly crowd and my friend Bob Margolin came and sat in all night. It was a lot of fun. We rocked out and had a lovely sushi dinner next door, with his wife Pam and the rest of the guys. It was really fun playing with Bob. He is so special. I was excited to get to spend some time with my cousin Gene and his sweet wife Nancy. We visited them at their home in concord and listened to the roar of the racetrack nearby while we swam in their pool. Next, we went to Asheville to Jack of the Woods and had an incredible show down there. The crowd was wonderful. They danced all night. For a minute, I felt like I was back in Baltimore! Then last night, we played here in Arlington at the IOTA. I drove us through a huge hail and lightning storm to get here. There were bikers parked under all the bridges, on their way to various Memorial Day celebrations. We had a super fun show even though we were all exhausted from our insane eight hour drive from Asheville. They are so nice at the IOTA. Steven, Ryan the bartendar, Natalie the door girl and manager and Alex the chef and his cute girlfriend caroline. We really enjoyed it there and it was fun seeing Joe from Batimore! Rita and Mary from the Chicks surf hall show. Thanks so much all of the fans in every city! Texas, OKC, Alabama, No Carolina, Arlington, DC, Baltimore area for all the love and kindness. You guys made this long tour worth it. Still, I can’t wait to get home. This is the third week of the tour and I am really starting to feel like sardine in a can. I can’t wait to get home to my beach and to my bike again. It has been fun being here in DC for Memorial day though. We thanked Vets all day for serving our country and that was fun to give thanks to these brave men and women who make it possible for the rest of us to live freely. Goddess bless the USA and every country with human beings in it.

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Angola = agony on this run!

Made the 8 hour drive from DC area to Angola and had a terrible day. I ate something weird at Bob Evans and it gave me severe heartburn. I took a Zantac and then woke up in the a.m. w/ horrible abdominal pain. I swam laps and ate lighty hoping the pain would dissipate as the show approached but by 7 pm, I was doubled over and crying, it was so bad. Still, I got dressed for the show, went onstage, sang about six songs in terrible pain and then I just burst into tears. I couldn’t take the pain anymore. I thought I might pass out and fall off the super high stage at Skips. It was awful. Luckily my friend Bon was in the audience and she rushed me to the ER as Bill Stuve made an attempt to entertain the crowd. I am so sorry to have let you down, my sweet Angola fans and friends. I have never had to leave the stage before like that. Of course, once in the ER, they gave me a pain pill and ran a bunch of tests. They still don’t know what is wrong with me. I keep thinking it's my gall bladder but they keep telling me it may be acid reflux or something. I have no insurance like so many musicians and my money is so tight. Doctors have recommended that I get a scope done but it’s a very expensive procedure so I have chosen to pay my bills instead of getting this done. When I am home, I ride my bike daily and I eat well so I avoid this nightmare, but so often out here, we are forced to eat Dennys or Mcdonalds or whatever else is available on the run. Anyway, I feel much better now and want to thank all the kind folks @ Skips for being so compassionate. I will be back in angola and I WILL play a great show for you next time!

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Cleveland rocks. Had a great show last night at Wilberts with my buddies from Blue Lunch. The Cleveland sports teams won their games and so everyone was fired up and in a wild mood. It was really fun being able to sing last night with no pain except for the migraine headache that has been plaguing me since my ER visit. I am so glad I was able to do the show and want to thank my friends for coming out to support me. Some of them, like Kelvin, take the bus to see me! Now, that’s dedication! Anyway, thanks so much Cleveland for a lovely show. I was still bit weak but expect tonite in Columbus that I will be 100%. Hope to see you there! Only two more shows and then we get to go back home!!! yippee. I can't wait to see my son, my house, my bike and my beach again!

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One show to go and counting!!

Our show last night in Columbus was super fun. it was standing room only and we had a rocking good time down there. I am finally starting to feel 100% better after only eating fruit and baked potatoes on the road. It’s working. It was really fun last night celebrating Dan’s bday with the wild Phil Spector lookalike, Bruce Nutt. We had a fabulous time. Now tonite we play in Knoxville, Tennessee and we'll all be celebrating the end of this long arduous tour. I used to insist on only 3 week tours because I always found the last week to be sheer hell if it were longer than that. But now, with gas at $3.50 a gallon, I have no choice but to stay out here longer to maximize our earning potential. I can’t even tell you what troupers Evan, Bill and Heine are. They make less, work harder have to share rooms more often and they do it with a smile. I am really blessed to be playing with these great human beings. Tomorrow Bill and I will fly home and Heine and Evan will make the 2222 mile drive home to San Diego - 32 hours long. They are gnarly. I pay them a driving bonus but still, it’s a long tough road. Anyone who thinks a musicians life is easy should get in our stinky van and make a three day drive eating only road food. its tough out here but you wonderful fan are the ones that make it worthwhile. Thanks so much for allowing me to share my music with YOU.

From Columbus to Knoxville to home

Our last show in Knoxville at Barleys was really fun. What a cool town. Everything is vintage and the old buildings are amazing. We really had a fun tour and it was a great town to end the month in. I have three weeks home now and then will set off for the Midwest, Canada and Florida. I am looking forward to having this time at home. My son Tommy will graduate from high school on Sunday. I know this will be an emotional thing for me as my last baby grows up and leaves home. I have had a child since I was 17 years old so this is a real life change for me. Having kids has been the biggest blessing of my life and the fact that they have both grown up to be great musicians makes me proud. Tommy will attend Hofstra University in the fall and be a dual major in music/finance. I am very proud of him. Anyway, now that I am home there are all kinds of bills and weeds in my yard waiting for me. I have my work cut out for me but I am soooo glad to be sleeping in my own bed again; empty though it may be!

Thanks for reading my blogs.

Candye

UPDATE: 5/7/07

Howdy everybody!

This week, with so much tragedy and sadness on the news from Iraq and Virginia, I am especially grateful to be alive and blessed more than ever to play music. My heart goes out to all of those who have been affected by the lunacy of war and violence. Music is often the only place I can escape this scary world we live in. I know many of you also turn to music when you are in pain. I hope, if you have a minute, you will let me tell you a little bit about whats happening in my musical world.

Its our last weekend in San Diego before we embark on our summer of touring to promote our new cd, Guitar'd and Feathered that will hit the stores on May 22 here in the USA. Its my bluesiest cd yet with awesome performances by my own band, Evan Caleb, Heine Andersen and Bill Stuve, AND killer guests - Dave Alvin, Ana Popovic, Sue Foley, Popa Chubby, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Bob Margolin, Jeff Ross, Billy Watson, Sue Palmer and Bob Brozman. I am really hoping you will like it. Please write to me and let me know.

The band and I are coming out to the midwest and the south starting on May 3 to see some old friends and make some new ones. Come and hear our new songs from the new cd along with your favorites.

Also, theres a real nice story in the paper that my new friend Jim Tragesor wrote about me in the north county times. I love it because it's very well written and all about the MUSIC!! WOO HOO!!

nctimes.com/articles/2007/04/18/entertainment/music/12_39_144_18_07.txt

I am especially stoked about our upcoming trip to memphis for the Blues Foundation Awards. If you haven't voted for our bassist Bill Stuve yet, it's too late now! Keep your fingers crossed for Bill. You can check out all the amazing people who will be honored at the awards at;

blues.org/index.php4

I am also looking forward to my show in Dallas where my buddy, Cheryl Arena will be sitting in with us and opening. You have got to check her out too. She's a great songwriter and harp player! And look out Cleveland, when I hit the stage at Wilberts with the great swing band Blue Lunch. I'll be sitting in with them after our set so be sure and hang out late if youre in Cleveland. These guys will blow you away with their awesome musicianship and style. I am sorry to say that my New Orleans show at the Rusty Nail was cancelled. I guess they are having some trouble with their neighbors and the sound volume police. I hope to swing back through in the fall when things cool down.

I am also really proud to announce that fabulous guitarist and blues singer, Anna Troy will open for us on Beale street during the Blues foundation awards shows on May 11 at Blues city cafe on Beale street!! I am a fan of Anna's self release Ain't No Man, and I am hoping she will be my labelmate before long. She is darling, stylish, just 22 years old and sooo talented. AND if that werent enough in her favor, she's from San Diego!

Check her out at myspace.com/Annatroy

Please come out and support a live show when you can. We need YOU there!!! Your love and support means so much. Now, more than ever, we need music to heal our troubled souls. I am so blessed to be able to share mine with you. Each night onstage, I am healed again. Thanks so much for the opportunity to sing for you.

Goddess bless you;
see ya soon!
xo
candye

UPDATE: 2/22/07

Howdy everybody - hope you're staying warm and dry.

The Hillcrest Mardi Gras was this week and an amazing time was had by all. All the LIPPS drag queens were there, spearheaded by the multi talented Tootie. Impersonations of Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Cher were awesome as usual. I was on the cover of San Diego Buzz Magazine in the photo taken for my cd cover by Alan Mercer. check it out at sdbuzz.com - click on the cover story for the interview.

Tomorrow night is my son Evans birthday. He'll be 27! (as you know, I had him when I was 10!) We are having cake and celebration at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. It's a happy hour show from 5:30 - 8:00. Great food and swing dancers at the Belly Up. come down and hang out with us.

Saturday night will be our first gig at the new Blue Cafe in Huntington Beach - thebluecafe.com. We play at 9:30 with the delta 88s and the Kelly Wright band. This is a special show because it is our pianist Smedleys last show in Southern California for awhile. He is going back to Thunderbay, Canada where he and his wife Alice will have their first baby! We are all very happy for them and wish them all the luck in the world.

Special thanks to those of you who came to the staged reading of my life story; The Toughest Girl Alive - a musical. Portions of my memoir have been adapted to the stage by the head of the San Diego ballet, Javier Velasco. We are hoping the play will be picked up by a theater here in San Diego for later this year or 2008. I will keep you all posted about the progress. It sure would be awesome to make music and stay here in my home town for a spell.

I lost two very dear friends this past week; Heather Macallister "Revalucian"; the founder of the Fat Bottom Burlesque revue show lost her long battle with ovarian cancer. Her revue show opened for me in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, Santa Cruz, Hollywood and many other cities. She was just 38. And my close friend Dineen Kocak lost her life to violence in Oakland. She was only 42. You can read more about these two amazing women on my myspace blog.

I hope things are going incredibly for you in your neck of the woods. I hope to see you when it stops raining and the snow thaws out. Keep those cards and letters coming in.
xo
Candye

UPDATE: 2/8/07

Hey y'all!! Come down to Tio Leos (Napa street at Morena Blvd/ Seaworld drive exit east off the I 5 fwy) tomorrow, Friday Feb. 9 and check us out! We will be playing with an amazing band "Tell Mama," featuring our guitar player Heine Andersen and his beautiful wife Denyse. This girl can sing! She is the real deal. You must come and see her. I'll play first at 9:30 so I can hang out and see Denyse strut her stuff. Just an amazing show! They have great food and amazing cocktails at Tio Leos! And as usual my myspace buddies get a discount at the door.

In other news, Guitar’d and Feathered, my new cd is finished, mastered and on its way to the pressing plant! It's awesome and I daresay, my finest work yet. There are so many great performances on it. Popa Chubby, Ana Popovic, Dave Alvin, Sue Foley, Bob Brozman, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Jeffrey P. Ross and the incredible Bob Margolin.

There’s delta blues, country blues, rockabilly, Motown style, and soul ballads. It cooks. I am so proud of it. It will be released April 22 and we will immediately start our tour the first weekend of May in Texas with stops in Memphis for the Blues Foundation awards, Atlanta, Mississippi, Washington DC and many, many more cities! We are booking dates NOW so if you want to have a house party with us or have a paying venue suggestion, contact my agent Tina Terry at themusicmatters@hotmail.com

House parties are a lot of fun and give you the chance to have us come to you and play music in your home with all your friends present. They don't cost as much as you think, especially on a weeknight, so contact Tina now if you live in the south or the east coast. August will bring us back out to the Midwest and will include stops in Kansas City, Minneapolis, and points beyond. If you live out there and want us to come to your town, consider a house party with some friends and bring us right to your front door!

We are negotiating now with several blues festivals in the Northwest and Canada. Check back at myspace for the newest updates. And a special treat for those of you who have read this far; If you'd like to hear some samples of the new cd, go to: sonicbids.com/candyekane

xo
Candye

UPDATE: 1/17/07

Bob Margolin is GOD or is that DOG?

I have just finished making my new cd Guitar'd and Feathered with the amazing Bob Margolin producing and playing on it. I know I don't have to tell any of you here how freaking awesome he is BUT I just thought I would anyway.

Bob is a beautiful human being inside and out. He is a great producer because he is just the right combination of sensitive, serious and funny. He knows when to listen and when to speak. He brings out the best in everyone around him. His playing, of course, is incredible. He is a soul daddy through and through. He was so patient and so kind to everyone in the studio. I feel so honored to have worked with him. If this is any indication of how my year will go, then I am thrilled to be in 2007. I say he is god, but he loves his dog so much, I am sure he would prefer to be called DOG. be sure and check out his awesome new cd Bob Margolin in North Carolina with his gorgeous dog on the cover.

For those of you who dont know Bob Margolin, I say, where the hell have you been hiding out? Bob is on my top friends list not just because he is my real life friend and now hollywood produce-ah but he is an incredible guitarist, songwriter and human being.

He is most well known for his playing with the great Muddy Waters and appearing in movies like The Last Waltz but Bob has also played with the biggest legends in blues and is a gifted and brilliant writer and guitarist.

Please click on his face if you haven't already and check his action OUT!! He is incredibly gifted and if that ain't enough, he is sweet and humble too! What a combo. I am in love with this man I swear.

He did such a great job on this new cd. Can't wait for you to hear it. All the performances are awesome. Sue Foley came out from canada to play on my song "I'll put the blues on you." She is beautiful and a groove queen. Dave Alvin played some amazing national steel guitar with Bob Margolin on slide, Evan Caleb on the bass drum and Bill Stuve on string bass on "Back with my old friends." It felt especially poignant to do this song with dave since we have been friends now since 1982.

Junior Watson played magic on an incredible cover of Big Maybelles tune "Country Man." Popa Chubby lent me his scorching hot licks on the fifties style rocker "Crazy little thing" about a girl who dances on the bar with her top off.

Jeff Ross played sultry gypsy guitar licks on my original "I'm not gonna cry today." Kid Ramos swayed us with his acoustic guitar on Nellie Lutchers "Fine Brown Frame." My regular band with Heine Andersen on guitar, co wrote two songs on the cd. The funky motown style song "I'm my own worst enemy" and my son Evans soul ballad "Goodbye my heart. My youngest son Tommy even came down and played Hammond B3 on this track. The whole band played on many more and gave their best performances to this cd.

Bob Brozman did an amazing job on my tune with Jack Tempchin, "Mohammed and Jesus." With the help of Sue Foley and Bob Margolin, we covered Guitar Slims "I done got over it" and our buddy Billy Watson blew some harp on it for us.

Jimmy Sloan was a wonderful engineer and his lovely, pregnant, singing wife Kim Fox sang back up for me on a tune. Their studio and home is so beautiful and I am so grateful for the chance to have recorded there.

I am always excited about a new cd but I really think this will be my best one yet and definitely my bluesiest. It has just the right combination of sexy, soulful singing, making for an incredible mixture of music if I do say so myself.

I will shoot the cd cover tomorrow with awesome hollywood photographer Alan Mercer. Check him out here on myspace. He's the bomb. Guitars and feathers and a big diva in the middle somewhere should make a great cd cover! I want to thank Nancy Edwards for the cd title. She's the one that thought of it and I think its great.

I am really proud of this project and I sure hope you guys will like it too. It will be out on april 22nd on Ruf Records!

Long live Bob Margolin and DOG bless you all.

Candye

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