The Donnas

Do you remember the charmingly named Applicators? They played at last year’s Reading/Leeds festivals and were an all-female Texan punk-rock band. Thankfully I’ve not heard of them since that horrible Sunday morning at Reading last year. Slightly worried that I’m about to be subjected to something similar now – I turn up to see The Donnas.

There’s no doubt that a large portion of the male crowd are here for one reason – and that is that the young, not-so-hairy, female versions of The Ramones are just that – young, non-hairy, females.

To work off the preconceptions that I’m given by most all-female bands is going to take some doing. It’s a sad fact but a lot of rubbish female bands get signed just due to the novelty aspect. Let’s now get over the fact that they’re female.

Once you strip away their gender, what you’re left with is a band that not just play together, but one that thinks with one mind. You can see how well they work together – feeding not just off the crowd but each other as well. There is true chemistry here that you can’t fabricate in a board meeting at a major record label.

With a set that leaves you with tight, thumping drumming, amazingly beautiful vocals, basslines melodic enough to work by themselves and guitar work that you’d expect from a band of hairy old men – it’s clear why The Donnas are gaining success fast.

The Donnas are proof that not only can female bands work, but that they can put the stereotypical band formation to shame. The Donnas are one of the freshest, most interesting and lively bands that you will ever get to see.

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