Friday the 13th was anything but “unlucky” for the music-loving patrons at The Westcott Theater on 12/13/19! The luckiest listeners were those who arrived by 8 pm. These folks were treated to a nearly 45 minutes of powerful bluesy rock delivered by Central New York’s “The Lightkeepers.” Their mix of almost all originals got the audience dancing right away. The Lightkeepers consists of Jes Sheldon on vocals, PJ Will on rhythm guitar, Mike Vincitore on lead guitar, Elliott Jarvis on bass, Sean Benz on drums, and Will Fugel on keys.
Donna The Buffalo took the stage soon after 9 pm. They were greeted by a comfortably full room of devoted fans…..from college-aged to retirement-aged. Donna The Buffalo’s music has universal appeal! Their Zydeco-tinged grooves described as a blend of “cajun, folk, reggae, and country.” coupled with thoughtful and relatable lyrics kept the audience’s heads bopping for over 2 hours straight.
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Tara Nevins switched between acoustic guitar, metal washboard, accordian, and electric fiddle. Jeb Puryear shared vocals and guitar duty. The rest of Donna the Buffalo is comprised of Dave McCraken, Kyle Spark, and Mark Raudenbaugh. Most songs are originals, written by Nevins and Puryear. This team has been going strong since 1989, (yes…that’s 30 years ago!) when the band came together in Trumansburg, NY.
What is it like see a Donna the Buffalo show? Be prepared for t-shirts with the saying “Herd of em?” Their fans are known as “The Herd.” Expect to notice the generation-blending followers to know every song…..although very little radio play has happened. These are devoted fans who find a way to get their music anyways! Released in November of 2018, their newest album, “Dance In The Streets” was their first album since 2013. Relix Magazine published an interview with Nevins and Puryear doing a track-by-track description of each song.
Do your best to see a Donna the Buffalo show next time these CNY rockers come to your town! Their tours take them across the US to many festivals, some of which they are the founding members of. The Trumansburg “Grassroots Fest” is one example. Also, Donna the Buffalo have a long-standing tradition of performing in Tampa Florida for New Year’s Eve.
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