It's On The Rocks

Kicking off the night with some raw rock energy, the Zoo Crew is spinning It's On The Rocks by The Donnas from their 2002 album Spend The Night. This track is a high-octane opener, packed with cowbell and gritty riffs, setting the tone for the album's party vibe. In a 2002 interview with Billboard, lead vocalist Brett Anderson described the song as "our way of saying we're here to have fun and shake things up." The band wanted it to feel like a punchy, in-your-face anthem, perfect for live shows. Fans on Last.fm have noted its infectious energy, with one user recalling a 2003 concert where the crowd went wild as soon as the cowbell kicked in. The song's raw production, handled by Jason Carmer and Robert Shimp, gives it that unpolished edge Zoo Freaks love, making it a staple for cranking up the volume.

Another cool tidbit about It's On The Rocks comes from a 2017 fan post on the The Donnas Fan Club group on Facebook. A member shared how the song was almost left off Spend The Night because the band worried it was too similar to their earlier punk tracks. However, guitarist Allison Robertson pushed for its inclusion, arguing it captured their live energy better than anything else. That decision paid off, as the track became a fan favorite, often cited on X posts for its relentless drive. The song's lyrics, dripping with attitude, reflect the band's knack for blending humor with teenage rebellion, a hallmark of their early 2000s sound.

The Donnas got their start in Palo Alto, California, in 1993 as a group of eighth-grade friends who wanted to crash the boys' club of rock. Originally called Ragady Ann, Brett Anderson (vocals), Allison Robertson (guitar), Maya Ford (bass), and Torry Castellano (drums) played their first gigs at middle school lunchtime shows. According to a bio on Epitaph, they bonded over shared loves of XTC, R.E.M., and metal, with Robertson learning riffs from her musician dad, Baxter Robertson. By 14, they’d morphed into The Electrocutes, playing punky local gigs, before adopting the Donna monikers (Donna A., Donna R., etc.) for their side project, The Donnas, with help from local musician Darin Raffaelli. Their self-titled debut dropped in 1997 on Raffaelli’s Super*teem! label, and by their senior year, they were touring Japan, as noted in a Wikipedia entry. Signing with Lookout! Records and later Atlantic in 2001 catapulted them to mainstream success with Spend The Night.

Though The Donnas haven’t been active since the mid-2010s, their legacy lives on through their official Facebook and X accounts, where fans still share memories and vinyl finds. Their Instagram is quieter but occasionally reposts fan content. For Zoo Freaks wanting more, the The Donnas Fan Club on Facebook is a lively spot for trading rare merch and show stories. Another fan hub, Last.fm, offers community discussions and track insights. The band’s Bandcamp page serves as their official website, with merch and music still available, keeping the rock ‘n’ roll spirit alive for fans worldwide.