Four Fine Gigs To Finish Off May
Donna the Buffalo has a run of shows coming up that guarantees to make the rest of May a stellar month to be a DtB fan, especially those of you in or near Virginia. The fun begins on Thursday, 5/17, when the band returns to Edinboro, PA for the Edinboro Art & Music Festival, a fest they've played each year since 2009. From there, it's south for a pair of shows in Virginia: Friday, 5/18 at Kingdom in Richmond and Saturday, 5/19 at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville. The following Friday, 5/25, DtB will be in Greenfield, MA for the Strangecreek Campout. Tickets for all of these shows are still available from the respective venues. See you there! (posted 5/14/12)First Photos From Spring Shakori; Jeb Breaks Out The Pedal Steel
The biggest news coming out of this year's Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival: The return of Jeb Puryear's pedal steel guitar. The instrument has taken on an almost mythical status among the Herd since Jeb last played it, which most likely was in 2004. Jeb brought his pedal steel with the band when they traveled to Florida for a run of shows in January 2006, but it stayed on the bus. The instrument returned to the public eye during DtB's set at Shakori on Saturday, 4/21/12, first for a performance of (surprise, surprise) Riddle of the Universe, during which Tara played Jeb's Strat. Then, at the end of the evening, Jeb played on pedal steel for a moving, all-star version of The Band's The Weight as a fitting tribute to Levon Helm, who passed away on 4/19/12. This tribute also include guest appearance by Ritchie Stearns, Greg Humphreys, Chris O'Neil, and others. DonnaFans.com contributor Paul Roberge generously shares with us 11 photos of DtB playing at Shakori Hills GrassRoots in Silk Hope, NC, including shots of the aforementioned songs with Jeb on pedal steel from 4/21/12 as well as a few from the band's early-evening set on Thursday, 4/19/12. At this fest, DtB also performed with Preston Frank twice: a late-night dance tent set on Friday 4/20/12 and a mid-afternoon set on Saturday, 4/21/12. Thanks for the photos, Paul! (posted 4/22/12)Photos From Suwannee Springfest, Live Oak, FL
In late March, Donna the Buffalo returned to Florida for their annual appearance at one of the Herd's favorite festivals, the Suwannee Springfest, which is four days of retribalizing that takes place at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. Mark "DaBabe" Roth was on hand and provides us with 12 photos of DtB playing in Live Oak, FL on 3/24/12 and 3/25/12. Mark has already shared his video of the band's entire set on 3/24/12. His photos include that performance as well as the band's festival-ending gig the next day, which featured an always-enjoyable cast of friends sitting in. Thanks, Mark! (posted 4/11/12)New Video: 3/24/12 Suwannee Springfest, Live Oak, FL
Once again, Mark "DaBabe" Roth has generously taken considerable time and effort to shoot and share videos of a Donna the Buffalo performance for those who couldn't be there in person to enjoy. This time, Mark videotaped DtB's entire performance on Saturday, 3/24/12 at the Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL. During this set, the band served up tasty renditions of It's a New Day, If You Only Could, Funky Side, Locket & Key, Family Picture, Hot Tamale Baby, Blue Sky, Conscious Evolution, and more. "Suwannee Springfest, Donna the Buffalo, Saturday Night....Need I say more?" Mark said. We can say more: Thank you, kind sir, very much for sharing this treat with us! (posted 3/27/12)
New Video: 2/9/12 Virginia Key GrassRoots, Miami, FL
More video has been posted from the inaugural Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival, which took place 2/9/12 to 2/12/12 in Miami, FL. This time, Gene Martin has post a video of Donna the Buffalo's complete set on Thursday, 2/9/12 in Miami, FL. "A short but sweet set with great energy and a super selection of songs," Gene said. During this set, DtB played It's A New Day, Living in Babylon, Me and Depression, Love and Gasoline, 40 Days & 40 Nights, Part-Time Lover, Broken Record, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday, and The Ones You Love. Gene's got a bunch of great videos, including performances by DtB, Sim Redmond, the Horse Flies, Big Leg Emma, and many more, on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/Genegenedtb. Thanks, Gene! (posted 3/11/12)
More Photos From Virginia Key GrassRoots Fest!
Turning in the next batch of photos from the inaugural Virginia Key GrassRoots festival is longtime fan Phil Ross, who kindly shares with us 12 photos of Donna the Buffalo performing on 2/9/12 to 2/12/12 in Miami, FL. Besides DtB, this newest addition to the GrassRoots festival series included performances by Chaka Kahn, Del McCoury, The Lee Boys, Sim Redmond Band, Toubab Krewe, and many others in a varied mix of GrassRoots favorites and bands popular in the Miami/Florida music scene. Phil's photos include a few beauty shots of the Virginia Key Beach Park, such as this one, a great shot of Keith Frank, and several of DtB's festival-closing Sunday night set. Thanks, Phil! (posted 2/25/12)
Fantastic Videos (And Audio) From Virginia Key GrassRoots!
Coverage of the inaugural Virginia Key GrassRoots festival, which took place 2/9/12 through 2/12/12 in Miami, FL, continues with some wonderful video and audio contributions. First, Gene Gene Martin produced an excellent 17-minute video that captures the essence of this festival that includes not just Donna the Buffalo perfoming but also a sampling of the rest of the event. He's posted this to his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh06wOrWOes.
Next, Mark "DaBabe" Roth has shot and shared a unique video: Donna the Buffalo's Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins performing a special pre-festival set in the Dance Tent for the VK GrassRoots volunteers and special guests on Wednesday, 2/8/12. Mark posted his video of this entire set on his YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/vfD8y31lRsM. Finally, several audio tapers captured Jeb and Tara's set; capnhook created a matrix of his recording and a soundboard feed from Gene Martin, which he's shared on the Live Music Archive at http://www.archive.org/details/DonnaTheBuffalo2012-02-08.matrix.flac16. Thanks so much, everyone! (posted 2/20/12)
First Photos From Virginia Key GrassRoots Fest!
The inaugural Virginia Key GrassRoots festival was just about hitting full speed when Mark "DaBabe" Roth thought it was time to begin sharing some of the sights of the event with those of us who couldn't be there in person. Mark generously provides us with 15 photos of Donna the Buffalo performing on 2/9/12 and 2/10/12 at the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival in Miami, FL, including a shot of the fantastic full rainbow that perfectly framed the camping area. DtB played early in the evening on Thurs. 2/9; their set consisted of It's a New Day, Living in Babylon, Me and Depression, Love and Gasoline, 40 Days and 40 Nights, Part Time Lover, Broken Record, Tonight, Tomorrow, and Yesterday, and The Ones You Love. On Fri. 2/10 the band performed with Jim Lauderdale. In addition to DtB, this fest featured Chaka Kahn, Del McCoury, Arrested Development, Fishbone, the Frank family, and many, many more. Thanks so much for the photos, Mark!
(posted 2/12/12)
Sweet Recording Of 1/26/12 Show Now Available On LMA
John Bischman has generously uploaded to the Live Music Archive his stellar recording of Donna the Buffalo's performance at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC on 1/26/12. The show is notable in several regards: in addition to a deep selection of fan favorites, DtB also performed a selection of lesser-heard songs, including a cover of Keith Frank's Give Me Just A Little Time, It Will Be Right, a new Tara Nevins tune, a handful of songs with supporting act Woody Pines and members of his band, and a 14-minute version of Hot Tamale Baby to end the night. You can grab John's recording from http://www.archive.org/details/donna2012-01-26. Thanks, John! (posted 2/11/12)
DtB's Show in Buffalo On Fri 2/3 Will Be Webcast
Donna the Buffalo's performance on Friday, 2/3/12 at the Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo, NY will be webcast live as it happens on Herd.tv. This webcast is brought to you by Herd.tv and the Vest Bros. The expected audio source will be GeneGene's matrix (audience/soundboard combination). The fun should start around 8 pm EST; to watch the show, visit http://webcast.herd.tv. If you want to attend this show in person, tickets are available at the Tralf box office (716-852-2860) or from Ticketmaster. (posted 2/2/12)
GrassRoots Is Coming To Miami!
The legendary GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance—which Donna the Buffalo and friends started 22 years ago as a not-for-profit supporting arts, education, and the fight against AIDS—is expanding to 4 fests a year in 2012. The inaugural Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will take place 2/9/12 through 2/12/12 at Miami's Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. The musical lineup virtually guarantees that the fest wil be a success: In addition to multiple sets by Donna the Buffalo, there will also be performances by Chaka Kahn, Del McCoury, Jim Lauderdale, Arrested Development, Fishbone, Keith Frank, Preston Frank, The Lee Boys, Sim Redmond Band, Toubab Krewe, Locos Por Juana, Suenalo, ArtOfficial, and many, many other artists. The events will also feature healing Arts, movement, dance, and music workshops, a kids village, craft vendors, and more. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.virginiakeygrassroots.org. (posted 1/28/12)
New Video: 1/7/12 Orlando, FL (Complete Show)
Mark "DaBabe" Roth is at it again. This longtime fan has always made a habit of shooting photos and videos of the Donna the Buffalo shows he attends (see his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dababe44), but his efforts during the recent FL tour were especially superb. In addition to photos of many of the shows on this run (see below), Mark now shares with us a video of DtB's complete performance on 1/7/12 at the Plaza Theater in Orlando, FL. "What a great ending to a totally memorable and fun tour," Mark said. "This stretch of shows, cities and venues made for the very best of vacations...Thank you Donna the Buffalo and The Herd for all the joy and life you bring to mine!" Thanks to you, Mark, for putting all of the time and effort into sharing this experience with those of those who weren't there. (posted 1/21/12)
Just Added: Photos From Key West, 1/4/12 & 1/5/12
In the middle of their recent late December/early January Florida tour, Donna the Buffalo did 2 nights at the legendary Green Parrot in Key West. These shows were on weeknights, but that didn't stop the crowd or the band from enjoying a couple of back-to-back 3-hours-plus gigs that included plenty of surprises. Mark "DaBabe" Roth was at these shows and generously provides us with 12 photos of DtB performing on 1/4/12 and 1/5/12 in Key West, FL. On 1/4/12, the band's set included a number of songs from 2008's Silverlined, such as Beauty Within, Locket and Key, Broken Record, and the title track, plus a handful of zydeco tunes, including Chocolate Three-Step, Hot Tamale Baby, and Revelation Two-Step. The next night the band set the pace with a Conscious Evolution opener and also played In Another World, Revolution, Forty Days and Forty Nights, Off to Dreamland, The Ones You Love, and more. The 1/5/12 set also featured a guest vocalist for a pair of reggae covers (Stir It Up and Soul Rebel) and ended close to 3 am with Jeb, Mark, and Kyle playing America, Little Wing, and Magic of Love. Both of these shows were webcast via http://webcast.herd.tv. Thanks for the photos, Mark! (posted 1/14/12)
New Photos: 12/30/11 - 1/1/12 Tampa, FL
Donna the Buffalo ended 2011 in more or less the same way they started it: by playing some high-energy shows to a large, overly enthusiastic group of fans in FL. After performing a pair of shows at Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa in early January 2011, the band returned to this venue to ring in the New Year with a run of shows on 12/30/11, 12/31/11, and 1/1/12. A three-night stretch gave the band the opportunity to play all of their greatest hits plus a mix of newer songs and a few less-often-heard older tunes, including It's a New Day, Times Are Bad, Magic of Love, Faith to Believe, Bloody Mary Morning, and Push Comes To Shove. Mark "DaBabe" Roth did the full run and kindly shares with us 15 photos of DtB playing on 12/30/11 - 1/1/12 in Tampa, FL. Recordings of the 12/30 and 12/31 shows are already available on the Live Music Archive at www.archive.org/details/DonnatheBuffalo, and all three nights were webcast. Thanks so much to Mark, the Vest Bros, Herd.tv, and everyone else who put their time and energy to sharing the sights and sounds of these shows with those of us who couldn't be there in person! (posted 1/9/12)
