Oh my God, it's like Christmas for Larry! Merry Christmas, Larry! :)

Hey Larry,

Glad you are happy with the change in the band. Just in case you've missed the incosistencies in your post #1 if they are an "incredible instrumental folk band" which they are....they don't require any singer to round out their show, #2 there is not nor has there ever been anyone by the name of Harvey in The Duhks. I don't deny the possibility of Jessee having not responded to someone calling her by a name other than her own, just like you might not respond to someone calling you Lance or Lonnie. I have been to at least 9 performances of The Duhks, and the closest I have seen Jessee to being an audience snubber is when she leaves the stage for instrumental tunes, she has nothing to add so she gets out of the way for The Duhks instrumentalists to shine.

As to Sarah Dugas, she has a great voice and will probably perform beautifully working with The Duhks. The Duhks with or without Jessee are extremely entertaining, I know that I wish I could be at Merlefest to enjoy them and the rest of the great acts who will be there.

Have fun

Howard

Rumors are flying why Jessee Havey is leaving and sooner or later we'll hear the real reason. I wish her the best with whatever she does.

I have to agree with Larry. She just didn't seem to fit with The Duhks.

Ooooh! What are some of the rumors?? Enquiring minds want to know ...

Rumor #1: Jessee Havey is working on a cd with Ryan Adams!!!!

Howard, oops, sorry for the mispelling! Sometimes the fingers type what they want to, ya know?

And I think we agree on your point #1 -- they definitely don't need a singer to round out their show. My iPod playlists of the Duhks have hardly any tracks that include vocals. I've always considered them a fantastic instrumental band with a singer I didn't like. Now hopefully they'll be a fantastic instrumental band with a singer I *do* like.

I disagree. I think Jessee has a wonderful voice that ADDS too the Duhks' fabulous instrumentals. By me, at least, she will be sorely missed.

I'll miss Jessee, although I suspect she'll do well. One of the best young voices out there. Won't be long before it's the Duhks missing her.

Howard, obviously you aren't paying much attention, since the Duhks own website refers to the departure of Jessee Harvey who left "to pursue other interests".

Actually, Rylin, if you read more closely, you'd see that it's Jessee HAVEY... not Harvey.

I saw The DUHKS at Wintergrass last weekend. What a show! What a band! and WHAT a lead singer!!. Sarah Dugas is incredible, never mind beautiful,and a perfect fit for The Duhks.

Can hardly wait for the cd they cut during January in Nashville.

jessee has a magical voice that can blend in and go well with any band. jessee made the band what it is. the new girl sarah has nothing, repeat, nothing on jessee. And for that matter the band members of the duhks- without jesse, might as well be the mammals. anyone who thinks that the duhks new direction is going to take them further than the direction they would have gone on with jessee,does not know how to recognize talent when it is right in fromt of them. i am not here to dog out the new girl sarah but i hope that the duhks never play at the spirit of the suwannee again. hearing there new sound is noise pollution.

Losing Jessee was indeed the best thing that could have happened to the Duhks. Sarah Dugas brings a whole new energy to the band and they're now functioning more as an ensemble than as Jessee's backup band. Vocally, Sarah is every bit Jessee's equal, if not superior, but without the diva attitude.

I'm late coming to this discussion but I could not disagree more About Jessee Havey! She has an incredible voice and made the Duhks my favorite band of the last several Years. I first heard "death comes Knockig" in store at Borders and bought that cd at once. I've not seen them live but what does she owe an audiance other than a great performance. I've heard Sarah Dugas on a live cd with the Duhks. On a couple of songs like "Old cook Pot" and "heaven"s my Home" she does a credible job but not as good as Jessee. I'll have to wait until the new cd with Sarah to see how they do. They are a great band and should be fine, but they will be different.

The Duhks are incredible and have not decreased in incredibleness (new word) since Sarah joined. I fell head over heels in love with them at Spirit of the Suwannee years ago with Jessee at the helm...the first band and the last so far able to make me actually gasp and cry with the emotion and energy they put forth.

Jessee has a steady, deep power and beauty to her voice that is VERY rare, and amazing to hear, but I have to admit that she did come across as a diva the times I saw her interacting with bandmates and audiences. However, when she left, I was totally heartbroken and wouldn't listen to any of Sarah's songs for over a year. But! I just saw them a month ago in Nederland, Colorado, and man, oh man, they are JUST AS AWESOME and function more as one big happy family than they did before. Sarah is much more integrated into the band. She writes some material, has brought some influence. She isn't better or worse than Jessee, just different. The Duhks' future is nothing but bright, in my opinion.