Donna the Buffalo Brings Roots-Rock Magic to Boca Raton

By Larry Marano

The veterans of Americana proved they've still got it at the Funky Biscuit on Jan. 4th, delivering a 21-song marathon that had the intimate South Florida venue absolutely buzzing. From the opening notes of "It's a New Day," Donna the Buffalo locked into that signature groove—part Cajun stomp, part folk wisdom, all heart.

The band jumped between styles effortlessly, weaving through originals like the soulful "Greatest Love of All" and the driving "Positive Friction" before dropping into a scorching cover of Canned Heat's "Going Up the Country" that felt both reverential and fresh. Tara Nevins' fiddle work cut through the room like lightning, while Jeb Puryear's vocals carried the weight of a thousand highway miles.

What made this show special wasn't just how tight they were—though they absolutely were—but the joy radiating from the stage. By the time they encored with "Heaven and the Earth," the crowd was a sweaty, smiling mass of converts and longtime faithful alike. In an era of overproduced arena spectacles, Donna the Buffalo reminded us why small rooms and real musicians still matter. This was roots music at its purest.

All images by Larry Marano: