Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country took Brooklyn by storm during a three-night run at Brooklyn Bowl, blending traditional country flair with cosmic jams and a heartfelt tribute to Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh.
Across each night, Donato and his band paid homage to classic country legends, curating setlists packed with covers and traditional tunes in addition to their own cosmic country jams. On the opening night, the band kicked up dust with “Honky Tonk Night Time Man” and Marty Robbins’ “Big Iron”. By night two, Donato was channeling Merle Haggard’s blue-collar pride with “Workin’ Man Blues,” Hank Williams’ timeless melancholy with “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, and adding a taste of Waylon Jennings’ outlaw spirit with “Waymore’s Blues”. Each cover showcased the band’s versatility, effortlessly weaving the roots of country music into their signature cosmic sound.
One of the highlights of this cosmic stretch came on Friday, October 25th, when Donato honored the legacy of Phil Lesh, who had just passed away that morning at the age of 84. The band launched into a soulful rendition of “Box of Rain”, Lesh’s most iconic ballad. Donato, who previously performed with Phil Lesh & Friends, infused the moment with reverence, offering a personal tribute that spoke to Lesh’s support of and impact on younger generations of musicians.
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Saturday’s finale reached new heights as Donato dipped into the archives of American folk and bluegrass. Standing around a single mic, the band paid tribute to the traditional bluegrass style with an acapella rendition of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”. The night also saw a dual-bass sit-in from Kevin Scott (Gov’t Mule), who joined the band for a cosmic pairing of Bob Dylan‘s “Down Along the Cove” and Eddie Harris‘ “Freedom Jazz Dance”. With Jerry Reed’s “East Bound and Down” and the Allman Brothers Band’s instrumental masterpiece “Jessica” also gracing the setlist, the night was a masterclass in cross-genre appreciation, carried out with Cosmic Country’s distinctive psychedelic flair.
Check out video highlights and the full setlists from Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country at Brooklyn Bowl below. Scroll down to view a gallery of photos courtesy of photographer Ken Spielman.
Next up, Donato continues his fall tour at the iconic First Avenue in Minneapolis before hosting his highly anticipated Cosmic Chocolate Factory Halloween show in Milwaukee, WI. For a full list of upcoming shows and to purchase tickets, head here.
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Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “Box Of Rain” (Grateful Dead), “Samson And Delilah” (Traditional) – 10/25/24
[Video: Scott Darragh]
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “Down Along The Cove” (Bob Dylan), “Freedom Jazz Dance” (Eddie Harris) – 10/26/24
[Video; Sean Roche]
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “I’ve Been Working On The Railroad” (Traditional) – 10/26/24
[Video: keaton6921]
Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY | 10/24/24
Set One: Rose in a Garden, Locomotive No. 9, Honky Tonk Night Time Man, Orange Blossom Special (Rouse Brothers), ‘Til the Daylight, Darlin’ Cory, Big Iron (Marty Robbins), Riders in the Sky (Stan Jones), Hi-Country
Set Two: Halfway (In Between), Forgotten Days, Valhalla, Tell Me I’m a Lover, Gotta Get Southbound, Another Dimension, Prairie Spin, Are You Ready for the Country? (Neil Young), Edge of the Mountain, For a Long Time, Chore
Encore: I Ain’t Living Long Like This (Rodney Crowell)
Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY | 10/25/24
Set One: Workin’ Man Blues (Merle Haggard), Half Moon Night, The Arkansas Traveler (traditional), Good Old American Guest (Merle Haggard), I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams), Broadside Ballad, Hangman’s Reel, Lady Justice, Free Wheelin’, Everybody’s Talkin’ (Fred Neil), Weathervane
Set Two: Lose Your Mind, Waymore’s Blues (Waylon Jennings), Mystery Train (Little Junior’s Blue Flames), Ten Feet of Rope, Double Exposure, Got My Mo-Jo Working (But It Just Won’t Work on You) (Ann Cole), Sunshine in the Rain, Tumbling Tumbleweeds (Sons of the Pioneers), Dance in the Desert
Encore: Box of Rain (Grateful Dead), Samson and Delilah (traditional)
Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY | 10/26/24
Set One: Why You Been Gone So Long (Mickey Newbury), Cigar Time (The New Mastersounds), Passing Storm, East Bound and Down (Jerry Reed), Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (traditional), Blame the Train, Cosmic Country Gardens, Translation
Set Two: See Through, Down by the Riverside (traditional), Down Bedford, Justice, Jessica (The Allman Brothers Band), Boogie Man, Down Along the Cove (Bob Dylan), Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris), Always Been a Lover, Luck of the Draw, Sugar Leg Rag
Encore: I’ve Been Working on the Railroad (traditional), Nighttime in the Switching Yard (Warren Zevon), Respect (Otis Redding)
The post Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Honors Phil Lesh, Jams With Kevin Scott At Brooklyn Bowl [Photos/Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
