Was it when they rocked late night TV audiences in the 1990s with their appearance on The Late Show with Craig Kilborn with their hit “Skintight?” (Check it out on YouTube and see the TV cameras catch frontwoman Brett Anderson’s knowing smile after they wowed the studio audience with their no-holds-barred performance.)
Or was it when they covered the KISS classic “Strutter” for the soundtrack to Detroit Rock City? (That may have been it for me … all the girls looking hot in full KISS makeup!)
Did your fascination with this then late-teenage rock sensation begin with their punk-infused song “Get Rid of That Girl” off their self-titled record in 1998?
Maybe it began in 2003 when they performed “Who Invited You” once again on late night television where lead guitarist Allison Robertson laid down screaming guitar licks worthy of rock anthem status.
How about when bassist Maya Ford couldn’t contain her boredom during the band’s interview with comedian Andy Dick? Who didn’t cheer when she shoved TV’s most annoying comedian in the pool?
What about Saturday night, when The Donnas took over Crown Room at the Crystal Bay Casino for their first-ever Tahoe performance?
Yeah, that’s a good time to fall for this band — every member a queen of rock and roll.
Their blitzkrieg of rock began with the blaring of a prison klaxon filling the showroom, igniting an hour-long set that never slowed down.
Most impressive from the start was drummer Torry Castellano, who put on a clinic in pounding the skins and set the tone for the rest of the night by launching the band into the chanting title track to The Donnas’ latest release, “Bitchin.”
Castellano guided guitarist Robertson and bassist Ford into “Don’t Wait Up For Me” the band’s shout out to the stadium rock of the 1980s.
Vicious solo riffing by Robertson gave promise to later meaty guitar licks, while Ford helped Anderson charge up the crowd in between songs.
More male fans than female dominated the front row as the fist-pumping, sign-of-the-beast-waving headbanging setlist maneuvered into “Fall Behind Me” a signature track from 2004’s “Gold Medal” — providing another chance for Robertson to display more incendiary guitar riffs.
Anderson kept the crowd’s arms in the air with a stable full of new songs off “Bitchin’” with the tracks “What Do I have to Do,” “Smoke You Out,” “GIRLTALK,” and “Like An Animal.”
Cranking up the volume once more, The Donnas covered Ratt’s early 1980s hit “Round and Round,” before closing out the set.
Hoots, hollers and chants brought The Donnas back on-stage to play “Make Me Hot” from their second record “American Teenage Rock ‘n’ Roll Machine,” and challenged the men in the crowd to “Take It Off” from 2002’s “Spend The Night.
An incendiary show from beginning to end, The Donnas didn’t disappoint. Our only request the next time The Donnas play Tahoe: “We want MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE!”
Did your fascination with this then late-teenage rock sensation begin with their punk-infused song “Get Rid of That Girl” off their self-titled record in 1998?
Their blitzkrieg of rock began with the blaring of a prison klaxon filling the showroom, igniting an hour-long set that never slowed down.
Cranking up the volume once more, The Donnas covered Ratt’s early 1980s hit “Round and Round,” before closing out the set.