December 2008
New Year's Eve Show Will Be Webcast!
Audio from Donna the Buffalo's New Year's Eve performance tonight at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC will be webcast live at http://webcast.haveyouherd.com, where you'll also find a chatroom to hang out in during the show. Last night's show at the same venue also was webcast. The set included America, Let Love Move Me, Living in the Promiseland, and Jeb and Tara only doing Mystic Water as a duet to lead off a three-song encore. Many thanks to Chris, Rand, Carol, and the rest of the crew who make these webcasts possible! (posted 12/31/08)
Just Added: Photos From 12/13/08 Buffalo, NY
Before taking a short break in preparation for the New Year's extravaganza (see below), Donna the Buffalo returned to Buffalo, NY for a show at Town Hall, a venue they've played once each year since 2005. This show was the last of a special four-night run with longtime DtB drummer Tom Gilbert back on the skins (Vic Stafford has been the band's drummer more or less since October), and the band played with particular enthusiasm. The show started with Hit the Groove and also included Voice in My Head, Killing a Man, Jamestown Christmas, a set-closing Forty Days and Forty Nights, and an atypical encore: Funkyside followed by Hollywood Dream. Karen Landau was at this show and provides us with 11 photos of Donna the Buffalo playing on 12/13/08 in Buffalo, NY. "Tara was smokin' on fiddle and vocals, Jeb was in the Jeb Zone, Tom was on the drums showing us why he should not be gone, Jay was fleet fingering the bass, and David was Cracken on the keys," wrote David Grace. "Very good stuff." Thanks for the photos, Karen! (posted 12/27/08)
Special Hotel Deal For New Year's Shows
Fans planning to attend Donna the Buffalo's shows at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on 12/30 and 12/31 can get a special room rate from the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville. To get the $96 rate, call the Crowne Plaza at 800-733-3211 or 828-254-3211 and mention Donna the Buffalo and that the group has a rate offer. (posted 12/23/08)
New Photos: Teaneck, NJ 12/11/08
It's a commonly accepted fact that Teaneck, NJ is a musical hotspot, and so Donna the Buffalo has made sure that Mexicali Live has been a regular stop on its tours. Lucky for me, the band's most recent performance there occurred on my birthday, 12/11. Not one but two of DonnaFans.com's regular contributors and personal friends of mine share with us photos from this gig: Gene Martin provides us with 8 artistic shots of DtB performing on 12/11/08 in Teaneck, NJ, while Phil Ross, who came all the way from FL, gives us 4 images of the same show. Highlights of the gig included The Ones You Love, Greatest Love, and Nashville Christmas. As I predicted (see below) the encore was indeed special: First just Jeb and Tara performed a beautiful version of There Must Be, and then the entire band came out for my absolute favorite Donna the Buffalo song: Let Love Move Me. Tom Gilbert was on drums for this show and sounded fantastic. Thanks for the photos, Gene and Phil, and it was great seeing you! (posted 12/19/08)
Special Treats Planned For The New Year's Shows In Asheville!
Donna the Buffalo will share the stage with some very special musical friends when the band celebrates its upcoming two-night New Year's Eve run at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC. On Tuesday, 12/30, before their full set, DtB will host the New Year's Asheville Revue from 9 to 10 pm. This will be a taste of featured Asheville performers, including Mad Tea Party; Old Time String Music with Trevor Stuart, Cary Fridley, Meredith McIntosh, John Herrmann, and Ira Bernstein's Traditional Appalachian Clogging; Woody Wood; Josh Phillips Trio; and Jonathan Scales Fourchestra and a burlesque act. WNCW's Martin Anderson will be the MC for the evening. This Revue came about because of the band's strong connection to the area: Nevins and Puryear have taken part in many old time circles around Ashville for years, and many members of DtB--former and current--also have ties in Asheville. Ten songs from DtB's current CD, Silverlined,
were recorded at Asheville's Echo Mountain Studio.
On New Year's Eve, Wednesday, 12/31, The Believers will open up for Donna the Buffalo. Based out of Tennessee, The Believers--Craig Aspen and Cyd Frazzini--just completed the West Coast tour as DtB's opening act, typically sitting it with DtB for a song or two each show. The Believers' recently-released Lucky You effortlessly blends 1970s pop hooks and harmonies (a la Fleetwood Mac) while keeping one foot firmly planted in American roots music (a la Gram & Emmylou).
Tickets for these unique shows cost $20 in advance, $25 day of show for 12/30 and $30 in advance, $35 day of show for 12/31 and are available from The Orange Peel box office, online from www.theorangepeel.net/, or by calling 1-866-468-7630. For both nights, doors open at 8 pm and showtime is 9 pm. See you there! (posted 12/18/08)
First Photos: 12/6/08 Chicago
Donna the Buffalo recently treated fans in the Midwest to a pair of weekend gigs, including a stop at a venue they've played many times before, Martyr's in Chicago. John Yust made the the trip for this show, and shares with us 7 photos of DtB performing on 12/6/08 in Chicago, IL. As reported previously (below), this show was notable in that it featured the debut of a new Jeb Puryear song, tentatively titled It's So Beautiful. Thanks to taper Christos Georgacopoulos, a recording of this performance is available for download from the Live Music Archive at http://www.archive.org/details/donna2008-12-06.aud.ck1.16bit. Thanks for the photos, John! (posted 12/14/08)DtB Returns To NJ On Thursday, 12/11!
For years, Donna the Buffalo never played in New Jersey; then in October 2006 they scheduled a show at Mexicali's in Teaneck, NJ, and the venue's been a regular stop ever since. The band will return to Mexicali's (now called Mexicali Live) this Thursday, 12/11/08. The music starts at 8 pm with a set by NJ favorite Todd Sheaffer of Railroad Earth. DtB always breaks out something special when they play Mexicali's, usually during the encore, such as 3/15/07, when first just Jeb and Tara did Funkyside as a duet (right), and then Jeb closed the show with a solo performance of There You Are. This shows promises to be a memorable one, and many out-of-town fans are making the trip for this weeknight show. Tickets are available from TicketWeb or at the door. Don't miss it! (posted 12/9/08)
Jeb Debuts New Song In Chicago
On Saturday, 12/6, at a show at Martyr's in Chicago, Donna the Buffalo debuted a new Jeb Puryear song. The band performed the tune, which might be called It's So Beautiful, as the first song of a three-song encore that concluded with Nashville Christmas. Thanks to taper Christos Georgacopoulos, you can already hear the new Jeb song--and the rest of the show--on the Live Music Archive at http://www.archive.org/details/donna2008-12-06.aud.ck1.16bit. This show also featured Hit The Groove, Spinning World, Co Fa, and Jametown Christmas. Thanks, Christos! (posted 12/9/08)
New Dates: 5 Night In Florida In January!
Donna the Buffalo will close out 2008 with shows at State College, PA (on Wednesday, 12/10), Teaneck, NJ (12/11), Troy, NY (12/12), Buffalo, NY (12/13), and a two-night New Year's engagement at the venerable Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on 12/30 and 12/31. After a short break the band will head down to Florida for a five-night run of gigs that includes stops in Orlando (1/14/09), Tallahassee (1/15), Delray Beach (1/16), Jacksonville Beach (1/17), and Tampa (1/18). On the way home, DtB will play an Inauguration Party at the State Theater in Falls Church, VA on 1/20. (updated 12/18/08)
Videos From The Western Shows
Colorado's most dedicated Donna the Buffalo fan, Ziggy, has posted several videos of songs from shows on the band's recent tour of the Western United States, including parts of Broken Record and Wood and Stone from the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and Conscious Evolution from the Oriental Theater in Denver. You can see them at http://www.youtube.com/aziggy63. Thanks, Ziggy! (posted 12/1/08)
