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Donna the Buffalo News & Rumors

March 2006

More Scenes From Springfest
Of all of the fans who took photos of Donna the Buffalo's performances at the Suwanee Springfest in Live Oak, FL 3/23 - 3/24, Robert Chrismer's images are probably the best. Robert has graciously allowed DonnaFans.com to host a bunch of his fantastic shots of DtB playing on Thursday, 3/23 and Friday, 3/24. (Zan Buckner has already provided photos of both of the band's sets from Saturday, 3/25.) The band looks very cold but happy on all three nights. Thanks so much for sharing your photos, Robert and Zan! (posted 3/31/06)

Greetings From Jamm In Jamaica
Life doesn't always go as planned. Just ask Rand Knapp of HaveYouHerd.com. Rand's week at the Jamm In Jamaica festival in Negril, Jamaica, where Donna the Buffalo is playing this week, was interrupted by an work-related emergency trip back to Oregon. Undaunted, Rand still managed to write a beautiful description of the island and the festival, including his impression of the band's performance on the first night, with temporary drummer Chris Vanderpoll and Dave McCracken on keys. Rand sent it and a few photos of the island to me to share with you on DonnaFans.com. Rand made it back to Jamaica and is currently enjoying the rest of the festival, which concludes on Saturday 4/1. (posted 3/30/06)

Welcome To Jamaica, DtB!
I haven't yet received any photos of Donna the Buffalo playing at the Jamm In Jamaica Festival in Negril, Jamaica, but I did get two cellphone photos that prove they actually made it there: This one (left)of Tara, apparently walking through the airport, and another of Jeb on a shuttle bus with the beach and ocean in the background. Carol and Rand are still attempting to provide some live coverage of the event on HaveYouHerd.com, so keep checking their site, and I will post photos and more info as soon as I get it.
(posted 3/29/06)

New Photos: 3/25/06, Live Oak, FL
Thankfully, this year's Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL was considerably drier than last year. But it was also considerably colder, leading bands and fans alike to bundle up. A good time was had nonetheless, as evidence by Zan Buckner's photos of Donna the Buffalo performing on 3/25/06 in Live Oak, FL. Zan shot both DtB's early set with Jim Lauderdale and the band's frosty evening show. Her images include the first photos of temporary keyboard player Dave McCracken playing with DtB. Early reports from Springfest say Dave quickly got up to speed and was sounding good. Dave is currently with the band for the week-long Jamm in Jamaica fest, and rumor has it that he'll continue to fill in for Kathy Z after that. Thanks, Zan!
(posted 3/28/06)

First Report From Jamm In Jamaica Fest
DonnaFans.com and HaveYouHerd.com are joining forces to bring you news and coverage from Donna the Buffalo's performances at the Jamm in Jamaica Festival in Negril, Jamaica all this week. Rand and Carol Knapp of HaveYouHerd.com are at the fest, and their first report tells us that on Sunday 3/26, the band's set included several reggae tunes, including the Bob Marley gem One Love, that they played with the Overtakers. Also, in addition to Dave McCracken filling in on keys for Kathy Z, drummer Tom Gilbert is not with the band; Chris Vanderpoll is filling in on drums. Be sure to visit HaveYouHerd.com often, as Rand and Carol will attempt to provide some live coverage from Jamaica later this week, and will send me more info and photos to post on DonnaFans.com very shortly. Thanks, guys!
(updated 3/27/06)

Kathy Z: Still No Baby, But
Planning To Rejoin Band At Shakori

In a 3/22 blog entry on her site, www.KathyZiegler.com, DtB keyboardist Kathy wrote that she's "waiting as patiently as possible for this little one to introduce itself," and that if the baby arrives "fairly on time," she plans to rejoin Donna the Buffalo for the band's shows at Shakori Hills GrassRoots in Silk Hope, NC 4/20 - 4/23.
(posted 3/24/06)

David McCracken To Join DtB In FL And Jamaica
North Carolina keyboard player David McCracken will be filling in for Kathy Ziegler at Donna the Buffalo's shows at Springfest in Live Oak, FL and for the Jamm In Jamaica 3/26 - 4/1. McCracken, who plays Hammond B3 and accordion, was a founding member of Folkswaggin', has performed with artists as varied as Buddy Guy and Cyril Lance, and has toured extensively with CJ Chenier, the son of Clifton Chenier--the King of Zydeco. Welcome, David! All of us in the Herd look forward to seeing you, and hope you enjoy your time with DtB.
(updated 3/23/06)

Rumors Flying About Jamm In Jamaica Fest
With the band's next gigs just a few day away and no "official" announcement about who if anyone will be filling in for Kathy Ziegler on keys for Springfest (3/23 - 3/25, Live Oak, FL), there's a fairly solid rumor that Donna the Buffalo will be joined by the keyboard player from a very famous Zydeco band for the Jamm In Jamaica Festival (Negril, Jamaica, 3/26 - 4/1). There's also been speculation that DtB drummer Tom Gilbert might not be with the band for the Jamaica fest. DonnaFans.com should have confirmation (and, with a little luck, photos!) of exactly who was onstage soon after the encore of each of these upcoming shows, so if you want to know if these and other rumors I've been posting have been pure BS or on the money, check back soon. (updated 3/21/06)

DtB To Return To Florida
Donna the Buffalo will perform five shows in Florida in late April. After Shakori GrassRoots in Silk Hope, NC 4/20 - 4/23, the band will head to the Sunshine State for shows at the Beta Bar in Tallahassee on 4/25, Freebird Cafe in Jacksonville Beach on 4/26, Revolution in Ft. Lauderdale on 4/27, and two nights at Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg on 4/28 and 4/29. Details are available on the Tour Schedule page of www.DonnaTheBuffalo.com. (updated 3/21/06)

Opening Acts Announced For Albany, Rochester Shows
Several groups will be joining Donna the Buffalo at shows in early April. On Thursday, 4/6 at the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany, DtB's peformance will be preceded by sets from Raisinhead (featuring former members of The Ominous Seapods) and the Kamikaze Hearts. On Friday, 4/7 at the Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, NY, the Sim Redmond Band (minus Uniit, who recently left the band) will open the show. Come out early and support these musicians! (posted 3/13/06)

Who'll Fill In For Kathy Z?
With Donna the Buffalo keyboardist Kathy Ziegler about to start her maternity leave and the band's next gigs (at SpringFest in Live Oak, FL 3/23 through 3/25) right around the corner, it's time to get serious about finding someone to take her place while she's out. Previous rumors have mentioned former DtB keyboardists Joe Thrift or Richie Stearns, but a recent rumor suggested a very interesting candidate: Garth Hudson of The Band. A quick check of the Calendar page on Garth's site, GarthHudson.com, reveals an apparent scheduling conflict: 4/29, when DtB will be in St. Petersburg, FL for one of two recently announced shows at Jannus Landing while Garth's slated to perform in Woodstock, NY. My prediction: We'll see various muscians filling in for KZ at various gigs until she returns. Let's hope Garth is one of them. Stay tuned. (posted 3/11/06)

Who's Who In Donna The Buffalo
After all this time, it finally occurred to me that not every fan may be familiar with exactly who is in Donna the Buffalo. So I decided to take advantage of the band's current break in touring to put together an unofficial band bio page. DonnaFans.com is a fan-based site that's not affiliated with Donna the Buffalo, so you should definitely be sure to also read the official band bios on the band's official site, www.DonnaTheBuffalo.com. (posted 3/7/06)

Break A String, Then Play Acoustic
If you've ever wanted to hear Jeb Puryear play acoustic guitar, you've got two options: Either wait for the summer festival season to start and try to catch him at one of the infrequent Songwriter's Circle-type workshops, or attend a regular Donna the Buffalo show and pray he breaks a string, because if that happens, he's sure to reach for his acoustic. While the Songwriter's Circles are probably more gratifying, being there for an unexpected Jeb acoustic moment scores high on the spontaneity scale. That's how I caught a sweet acoustic version of Living In The Promiseland in Amenia, NY on 12/9/04, and a broken string also explains how Kathy Roth snagged two photos of Jeb playing acoustic (on the song WV Rastafari, no less!) in Crystal Bay, NV on 1/28/06. I've added these two images to the dozen photos of this same show from Bob Bunce that I first posted in early Feb. Thanks for the photos, Kathy, and here's to hoping Jeb breaks a string again sometime real soon! (posted 3/2/06)

Special Deal On Tix For DtB's Show In Albany On 4/6
On Thursday, 4/6, Donna the Buffalo will perform at the Washington Ave Armory in Albany, NY as part of the Peer Impact Tech Valley Concert Series. Tickets will run you $19 if you order them from Ticketmaster ($16 + $3 fees) or $20 from The Armory on the day of show, but if you go to Tech Valley's VIP Club web page at www.techvalleyconcerts.com/
fanclub.html,
you can get them for $15 with no fees. Tickets ordered through this promotion will be held at Will Call. If you want to save a few bucks, don't wait--this deal was supposed to be good only through 2/28. Rumor has it that on this night the Armory will be configured with an open dance floor directly in front of the stage (no folding chairs as shown in the venue's concert seating chart) with fixed seats on the sides. Thanks to mrupstate for the info! (posted 2/27/06)

New Photos: Seattle 1/25/06
Donna the Buffalo started their recent tour of the western states on 1/25/06 at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, WA. This was new DonnaFans.com contributor Robert Tracker's first-ever Donna show, and he snapped a few shots of DtB onstage in Seattle on 1/25/06. "Dancing on the rail, singing at full lung, smiling at the band and enjoying life on the funkyside was my priority and it was a deeply satisfying experience on all levels," Robert writes on the site of his Internet radio station, Radio Memeworks. "We look forward to their return to the NW!" Thanks for the photos, Robert, and keep up the excellent work on Radio Memeworks! (posted 2/25/06)


News & Rumors Archives

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