Anita Suhanin: Press

ANITA STEPS OUT: Look who turned into Boston’s answer to k.d. lang. It’s Anita Suhanin, the former Groovasaurus singer whose new album, “Redland,” probes some of the atmospheric country-jazz turf that lang popularized. “It’s a self-produced record and very low-fi,” says Suhanin. And it’s also very good, as she sings original song in a promising cabaret style, and transforms Patti Page’s “These Worldly Wonders” (“we took it from a major-key jazz ballad to a minor-key country thing like ‘Jolene’ “) and the Mills Brothers’ “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire.” She is aided by David Goodrich, who was in Groovasaurus and now tours with Peter Mulvey and Erin McKeown. Suhanin’s voice is captivating and she’ll unveil it at a CD release gig at Johnny D’s on Wednesday. Tim Gearan, Noam Weinstein and Shwang (Suhanin’s other project) will open.

SHWANG LIVE REVIEW:
Shwang started things off with a modern-retro set of mellow torch songs and laid-back country and western. Fronted by Anita Suhanin, former Groovasaurus lead singer, Shwang exudes vintage cool without a trace of tongue-in-cheek. Suhanin sings like a more-nimble k.d.lang, gracefully soulful and impeccably tight; she grabs hold of a melody and doesn't let go until she's good and finished with it. The rest of the band, as well, exuded a generosity of musical spirit that's rarely heard in clubland. Shwang makes an affectionate, good-natured visit to classic Americana - where girls (and songs) are named "Jolene" and "Carmelita," dark rhumbas are all the rage, and musicians look, and sound, as if they're actually enjoying themselves.