CANDYE KANE "SISTER VAGABOND" Source: The Alternate Root Date: 09/2011 Writer: n/a

Candye Kane "Sister Vagabond"

There was a moment in time, now buried deep in the past, when elections had their own season, like Halloween and Valentine's Day. Maybe it's me, but the political pitch comes in as year-round open season. Given that there is no downtime for smiles and slogans, the best plan for success would be a good, consistent message and platform. Never one to be shy, Candye Kane steps up and lays it down, letting the track title be the vote getter in "Everybody's Gonna Love Somebody Tonight". Candye, alongside producer/guitar slinger Laura Chavez, builds a sturdy campaign with 'Sister Vagabond'. Spotlights are spotlights, whether the entertainment is behind a podium or a microphone. Candye covers all bases, doesn't matter if your hand is on your heart, the voting booth lever or the little lead hole-poker pencil, she is out for votes. She locks the closet door before the skeletons get out ("You Never Cross My Mind"), is the welcoming Zydeco-stepping hostess ("Have A Nice Day"),  makes sugar-coated promises ("Sweet Nothin's") and lets you know the she, above all other candidates, is the one for the job ("I Deserve Love").

Ms. Kane and co-hort Laura Chavez have delivered a winner with 'Sister Vagabond'. The duo mix co-penned tunes with like-minded covers on the album and navigate through a river of blues, dipping oars into soul, zydeco and rockabilly arrangements.  'Sister Vagabond' covers a lot of territory but spends a good deal of time uptown. Songs like "Hard Knock Gal", "Side Dish", "Love Insurance" and "I Love to Love You" are Saturday night standards, making sure all the right words are spoken and any lack of self can be put back into place through a song. They are a feel good smile waiting to happen but  in case a little more after hours reflection is needed, you can unwrap your finger from the whiskey glass to point it at someone else ("You Can't Take It Back From Here") or back at yourself ("Down With The Blues").

The characters that ramble through 'Sister Vagabond' are drawn with clarity,teased by the edgy emotion that fuels Candye Kane's vocals. Rather than fitting into, Candye's life climbs out of that of the 'Hard Knock Gal' described in song. The lyrics form flesh that does not come close to fully realizing what the East LA Mom, songwriter and blues singer goes through on the day to day. She has been nominated for four National Blues Foundation Awards and starred in a play about her life while beating physical hurdles. Her blues belting on 'Sister Vagabond' is both challenged and supported by SF Bay Area guitar goddess Laura Chavez, who came into Candye's band sight unseen on the recommendation of Sue Foley.

Candye and Laura hit all the targets in 'Sister Vagabond'. The blues comes as a natural extension of the playing and vocals, effortless, equally delicately dark and light. More on Candye Kane can be found on her website  (http://www.candyekane.com/).