Opening up for The Hold Steady (who are being promoted as “arguably one of the greatest live bands on the planet”) is going to be a wee bit tricky, but it’s certain that California’s psych-pop outfit, The Donkeys, will pull it off with style and aplomb. The Dead Oceans Records band may not have the same anthemic qualities, but they do have a similar mindset re: a youthful, party-minded outlook, touted by their label as “simply four California beach bums who love to surf, drink cheap beer and jam as the sun sets over the Pacific. The long legacy of music hailing from California — from Bakersfield to the Beach Boys, Sweetheart of the Rodeo through Slanted and Enchanted — has shaped our sense that everything and everyone “out west” is laid back, comfortable and cool.” Listen to The Donkeys on WMSE live, today, as they perform an acoustic, in-studio set on Melissa’s show at 2 p.m. Listen live at 91.7 FM/WMSE.org or check back in the WMSE archives, if you missed out. The Donkeys play at Turner Hall tonight at 8 p.m.
