By Chris Paul

originally published: 10/30/2024

My first sight of Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country was a live stream of the Vail, Colorado 7/7/24 show. The vision in my screen popped into my mind like a 1950's cowboy cartoon. As they played, Tumblin' Tumbleweeds I saw cardboard cutouts of an old west town compete with cactus in the horizon and critters turning on a circle like a classic shooting gallery in rhythm to the music.

Donato says, “country music's kind of like 3 chords and the truth. And the cosmic part of it is all the notes. And the truth? There's kind of a unification of simplicity with complexity.” Often, Cosmic Country is introduced using “Pure Imagination”. A whimsical nod to Willy Wonka, with Daniel driving the reigns of the chocolate factory tour. On 10/18/24 at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, I scored my first full show (2 set) cosmic prairie crossing.

Opening with Blame the Train and a how ya dern, Asbury Park, the introduction of this song reveals the roots of this band’s description. All the themes of a classic country jam, lost love, regret, and bittersweet bite of life. I rocked gently as the gears of the train turned and the band steered into a coal burning rendition of Merl Haggard’s Working Man Blues, another perfect sample of the band’s defined concept, and a perfect chance to introduce the band. Starting with Nathan "Sugar Leg" Aronowitz on keys who captures the player piano sound of a salon, Will “Bronco” Clark, with a solo breakdown that slightly reveals the vast universe of time Cosmic Country presents, joined by the sweet plucking of Will “Mustang” McGee’s upright bass. Donato’s top off this engine’s steam with his high electric golden ticket, characterized by him as all the notes. A ride on the frontier would not be complete without adventure and the twists come early this time round thanks to Broadside Ballad, amplifying the click clack of the tracks as the river valley floods around you. Nearly escaping we find ours trapped in a segway into Hangman’s Reel. Caught early is the silky web of Sugar Leg, the switch unveils in the timing and effort of Bronco. More notes pour into the coffers from Daniel’s guitar, and we begin to float above the track. Our train transforms into Back to the Future’s 3 hover train, and Doc Brown reminds us, where we are going, we don’t need roads!

But first a drink, Running Gun, the perfect song for a shot and for the first genre bending selection of the night. Diving into the rock and roll legacy of the venue, a budding leaf on the Stone Pony tree. The doors of imagination fly out open with a Three Amigos like tribute, Drifting sung by Mustang. Followed by a peak into Cohen Brother’s film Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Down by the Riverside sung by Sugar Leg, echoing the songs of the sirens. Finishing with Down Bedford, a revealing Bob Ross picture of happy farm life, metamorphizing into a house beat driven Bronco dance party. Downhill lighting strikes ripple through Daniel’s fingertips as act 1 of tour ends with windy crescendo into the valley below.

Act 2 begins with a memory of past performances at the Saint in Asbury Park, NJ and a thank you to area fans for the support and then we are greeted by Lady Justice, every gunslinger’s nightmare, and an instant reminder of the storytelling skills of Donato. The bar car starts rocking, the whole train redlines to ludicrous speed as we are caught now in Ten Feet of Rope, sung by Mustang, shifting back to the 70’s in a soulful day of miracles and wonders. Double Exposure turns us through time and space next. A picture flashing back and forth, through a viewfinder, positive to negative, dark to light sprinkled with some Weekapaug Groove cowboy hat tips to Phish. The dance party thrives on the backs of Bronco and the deep buzz of Mustang now singing and playing an electric bass for At the Ball (first time played). Including a complete backline breakdown crescendo into a Memphis dancehall hallelujah rendering.

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Sugar Leg shines next again, singing Take Me Back (first time played), a bittersweet blues hustle. Then the band hits the after burners and the nexus of our journey exposes true cosmic county, a transformative musical locomotive back from the future. The grind of deep roots and pure original jam fire, igniting a coal that has glowed bright throughout all of fall tour. A treat, a stop at the Sugar Shack, fuel up on Sugar Leg’s soulful vocals, let your spirit rise. Leading to a crossroads, Luck of the Draw, a line dance top hit meets edge of a cliff finger gymnastics by Daniel and synchronicity of jam structure by the band that delights. Straight up EDM beats collide in waves with that classic Nashville sound.

Joining the band to end the night was Asbury artist/musician Danny Clinch on harmonica. Cosmic Country performed with him every time appearing at the Stone Pony and tonight it was for covers of That’s What Love Will Make You Do sung by Bronco and Respect sung by Sugar Leg. Providing a perfect landing spot for tonight’s journey.