Shawanda, 27, served up a variety of musical heat, starting with the title track of her new CD Dawn of a New Day
(RCA), set to drop Aug. 19. She wound through versions of the classics
“Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Hank Williams and “Stand By Me,” a
number first recorded by Ben E. King, as well as the in-your-face
anthem “You Better Love Me When My Roots are Showing.”
Shawanda’s laughter punctuated
between-song anecdotes about her past. Among the historical tidbits:
Her first public performance was at age 13, when she got up the nerve
to sing at Nashville’s Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. She warbled
“Two More Bottles of Wine,” then the lounge’s drummer told Shawanda to
do another number, so she followed with “Stand By Me.” That
skin-hitter—who later said, “I never heard a girl sing that song like
that,” according to Shawanda—turned out to be Eric Kaberle,
longtime drummer for Loretta Lynn. As Shawanda continued to frequent
Tootsie’s, Kaberle would immediately lure her back to the stage.
Shawanda’s voice has a husky quality
reminiscent of a Marlene Dietrich torch song, yet she can still belt
out the high notes with authority and confidence. The country crooner’s
last name, by the way, translates from Ojibwe to “dawn of a new day,”
ergo the title to her debut CD spinner. For more information, log onto
myspace.com/crystalshawanda.
B104.7’s next shindig, “A Day in the
Country,” will run in conjunction with the Bassmaster Elite Series
taking place at Oneida Shores Park, 9400 Bartel Road, Brewerton, on
Saturday, Aug. 9, at 12:30 p.m. Music starts with local talent Chris Taylor and the Custom Taylor Band, to be followed by Country Thunder recording group Heartland. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 472-9797.
—Dave Merriam
