The national anthem will get an alternative feel when the lead singer of a local band performs it live at the Columbus Chill game Saturday night.Suzen Carson, lead singer of The Susans, will use her deep, powerful vocals to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game against Huntington Blizzard. The Susans have been together for five years and consists of Carson, who also plays the guitar, Sue Davison on drums and vocals, Jon Thoms on guitar and Ken Lambert on bass guitar. Last fall they won the “Battle of the Local Stuff,” which was a battle of Columbus-area bands sponsored by WBZX The Blitz.Their musical influences range from the famous to the not-so-famous. Davison said her biggest influences have always been the Pretenders and REM – to her they are gods. Thoms was highly influenced by Led Zeppelin, while Carson and Lambert were both influenced by their fathers.Each band member was exposed to music at a young age. Carson loved singing in the Ohio State Symphonic Choir as an OSU student. Davison was classically trained as a percussionist with Latin and African influence. Thoms taught himself to play guitar at 13, and Lambert’s father played the guitar when he was growing up.While they all have day jobs, the band members said they enjoy drinking beer, making some extra money and having lots of fun playing music on the weekends.”We are four friends that like to play together, love to interact with each other and our audience and love to be animated on stage,” Thoms said.The music ranges from modern/alternative rock to acoustic ballads. They do cover songs from artists like Fiona Apple, 311 and Tool. They said although they cover these artists’ songs, they add their own edge. The Susans also play from a list of original tunes.”Each original song is different and has its own personality,” Carson said. “They are all very aggressive.”As are the people playing them. The Susans said they have been known to jump around, bite, lick and headbutt one another as well as their audience. Wireless guitars allow them to perform on the tops of bars and tables.”We are serious about entertaining, but not too serious about ourselves,” Thoms said. All the members of the band agree if you only want to hear background music, The Susans is not the band for you. They are very into their music and their performance and want their audience to be too.And like any other band, they hope to one day sign a record deal and rule the world.Following the performance at the Chill game, The Susans will be performing live at Oldfield’s 2590 N. High St. Anyone who brings a ticket stub from the game will receive $1 off at the door.