Donora to perform at 123 Pleasant Street

Donora, an indie pop rock band native to Pittsburgh, will perform in Morgantown Saturday at 123 Pleasant Street. The show marks the fourth stop of the band’s recent tour alongside TeamMate, an indie-rock band comprised of two West Virginia University alumni.

Both bands will also play with Phildedelphia’s Turning Violet Violet, another indie rock band.

As for Donora, this show won’t be the band’s first stop in Morgantown. Brief trips from Pittsburgh were common for the group a few years ago, first playing at the 123 venue for one of its MayDay events.

Singer Casey Hanner recalled previous Morgantown performances as a "blast," mostly due to an energetic, young crowd.

"People are ready to dance!" Hanner said. "Morgantown has a great community of young people who love to dance, which is perfect for our band."

Former WVU student Alex Trafecante recalled a number of Donora shows, citing their performances as "impressive."

"Honestly, I just remember not expecting much," Trafecante said. "But Donora ended up being really good, and the crowd was really into it and just dancing. My expectations were beat, by far."

Hanner said the upbeat tone of their shows is essential.

"It definitely makes the show more fun when people are dancing," Hanner said. "For us and, I think, for the audience too!"

2011’s "Boyfriends, Girlfriends" was Donora’s last official release, and while the band will certainly perform tracks from their last album, Hanner assured new songs are on the way.

"We have a new EP in the works (coming out in the fall most likely), so we will be testing out a new song or two on this trip for sure," Hanner said.

Along with the 123 appearance, Donora will also stop by WVU’s college radio station, U92-FM, for a live in-studio interview before the show on Saturday. This event continues the station’s recent string of Q-and-A’s as U92 tightens its focus on not only playing music but also talking to the artists behind college radio.

U92 Music Director Jacob Peirce said the opportunity to have the band in studio is a great one, allowing for a unique chance to network.

"We are one of the few outlets at WVU with available contacts and privileges to host bands on a regular basis," Peirce said.

"We not only have the opportunity to play them, but build relationships that allow them to keep ties with Morgantown and have them return for years to come."

Of the band’s sound and craft, Peirce said Donora’s a great match for college radio because their songs are "a pure form of pop that you don’t hear too often on mainstream radio."

"Donora writes catchy songs that people can dance to," Peirce said. "It’s a simplicity that is often overlooked elsewhere or just masked completely in overproduction."

And it’s this pop pedigree that will hopefully catapult this upcoming show, making it the type of performance Hanner prefers.

"I like a show where people are just having fun," Hanner said. "When the band members on stage are enjoying themselves, so is the audience."

Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday, and you must be 18 or older to attend.