By M. Stephanie Murray
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 4, 1997

Citizen Kane

Photo courtesy Levon Parian. Candye Kane and her Swingin' Armadillos play the Rialto Theatre on Saturday.

Candye Kane wants you to "love yourself, love your body -and love everybody else's body if you get the chance!" Preaching her brand of omnisexual love and musical eclecticism, Kane and her band, the Swingin' Armadillos, stomp into the recently reopened Rialto Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Kane and company are touring in support of her new album, Diva la Grande (Discovery Records), which features such Candye-centric tracks as the hallelujah-tinged "The Lord Was a Woman," and the bisexual swing of "I'm in Love with a Girl."

As much is said about Candye's physical appearance and background as about her music, so let's get that out of the way. She's a former stripper and porn-mag cover girl. She has enormous breasts and is really, really happy with them. She claims to have found her self-esteem through the adult-entertainment industry. Now she's a gay/lesbian/bisexual rights activist who also fights against "size-ism."

Now, onto the music. She's as much a blues belter as a catty crooner, dipping into genres like you'd dip into a pu-pu platter; she calls it "burlesque swing," which is also the title of an early album of "dirty songs." Diva la Grande ranges from gospel to heartbreak blues to country coyness to pure camp, all with a cheeky, irreverent attitude. Who knew that "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" was crying out for an accordion and yodeling? "Love 'Em & Forgive 'Em" is a big, gospel revival of a response to naysayers everywhere. And if you're lucky, maybe Candye will treat you to the rollicking cathouse rhythms of "All You Can Eat (and You Can Eat It All Night Long)." She's not talkin' about Luby's Cafeteria, here.

Opening for Candye Kane is Exit 56, a Phoenix rockabilly band. Tickets are $6 if you get them today or Friday at Hears Music, Yikes! or Guitars, Etc., $8 if you wait and get them Saturday at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9. The Rialto Theatre is located at 318 E. Congress. Call 740-0126 for more information.