Kris Donahue is a singer, businesswoman, mother, dancer, teacher and all-around badass boss woman. She has fiery red hair and a warm spirit to match. I met her in the same fashion I met her bandmate, Pete, last month: as sleepy first customers at a cafe at 7 am.
Kris and I had a lively, meandering conversation, touching on everything from her business ventures to her family’s music legacy and what a tribute really means. Kris pays her respects to musicians of every era and genre through her projects, but especially to her grandfather, jazz tenor saxophonist and big band leader Sam Donahue; her father, folk-rock guitar legend Jerry Donahue; the voices of Fiona Apple, Courtney Love, and Alanis Morissette; the energy of Pearl Jam; and the spirit of Robert Plant.
In her work as a tribute band lead, Kris offers “an authentic, ’90s alt-rock concert experience.” Fundamentally, this requires honoring the tracks as they were recorded. To refresh or change a song to fit a certain aesthetic or energy would undermine the integrity of an honest tribute. Only after perfecting a song with technical precision, mastering the spirit and soul of it does she allow for adjustments. “Sometimes you earn the right to do a little more,” Kris grins. Opportunities like this happen during shows when the energy of a crowd might reward an extended guitar riff or one more chorus.
“We’re not promised tomorrow, so if there’s something you want to do… do it now.”
I was curious about her idea of “earning the right” to put your own spin on someone else’s art. For her, it seems to come down to respect. She has such love and awe for the musicians and groups she celebrates. To change a song too much would dilute its original power and magic. I wonder if her perspective on this is shaped, in part, by being the daughter of a highly acclaimed and revered musician.
I touch on the subject of Kris’s father lightly. I’m writing about her, after all. When it comes up, I’m humbled by her immediate welling of emotion. He suffered a massive stroke in 2016 and is now living in a long-term care facility. Kris tells me about her close relationship with her dad and his unconditional support of everything she ever tried. “Whatever you think is best,” he would always tell her. She still considers him the most encouraging person in her life. I think Jerry’s support has instilled in Kris a life-long love of learning and experimentation. She is almost literally boiling over with passion and curiosity. Kris also tells me that her mother has great taste in music, and she’s excited to finally be in a band again where she’d be proud to have her mom at a show.
Over the years, Kris performed with her father on stage several times, including the annual Fairport’s Cropredy Convention Festival in Oxfordshire, England. At the same festival in 2008, she also sang alongside Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. She remembers being incredibly nervous, but Robert had a way of putting her at ease with his easygoing nature. “He’s so chill,” she laughs. A group of his friends were hanging around backstage, and she remembers going up to introduce herself. She asked how they knew Robert, expecting to hear they were producers, venue managers, or somehow connected through the industry. Instead, they grunted: “Pub.” “Can you believe that? He just met them at a pub!” She grins. “That’s how normal he is; it’s inspiring.”
From there, our conversation shifts to inspiration. Kris finds inspiration in a wide range of genres, voices and styles. She loves Deftones, Garbage, Hole, and Tame Impala, but she also draws a lot of inspiration from Madonna. Madonna is fierce, tenacious, and doesn’t take no for an answer. She’s a businesswoman and a dancer—just like Kris.
Before she started singing and playing music, Kris was a dancer. She still dances and even teaches at a studio in Parker. She’s been in insurance and has several LLCs. Recently, Kris landed a job with Gulf Coast Entertainment as the Rockies Regional Manager, and she works to connect clients with headline artists and high-end party bands. The gig sits in the overlap of Kris’s unique talents, connections and passion for music.
Kris embraces what she calls “failing forward.” She’s always trying new things, failing, learning and mastering. We pause here a moment, talking about the time we spend on things that don’t bring joy or spark passion. Even though I’m in my 20s, I feel a constant (probably self-imposed) pressure that I’m not doing enough, or I’m running out of time. Kris doesn’t think that any time spent is truly wasted. Everything we do and experience is part of the journey to wherever we’re meant to go. That said, “we’re not promised tomorrow, so if there’s something you want to do… do it now,” she reminds me.
Kris and her bandmate, Pete, are currently looking to add a male lead vocalist to their ’90s alt-rock project “Don’t Call Me Daughter,” and will be focusing on securing high-end private parties and corporate gigs. They’ll also continue playing bar venues for the experience, fun and flow. To learn more about “Don’t Call Me Daughter,” audition, or inquire about booking, visit dontcallmedaughter.com or check them out on Instagram at @dcmdband.
