Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country closed out its Horizons Winter Tour in New York City on Saturday night with the band’s headlining debut at the historic Beacon Theatre.
The two-set show was chock full of memorable moments, some more cosmic, others more country. After the opening salvo of “Lose Your Mind”, Donato and his bandmates dug into their outlaw country roots with a cover of Waylon Jennings‘ “Waymore’s Blues”—the night’s first train song. Later in the set, they paid tribute to another outlaw country legend, Willie Nelson, with a song he famously covered, Irving Berlin‘s “Blue Skies”.
Other highlights included a dizzying “Dance in the Desert”, two more train songs (Little Junior’s Blue Flames‘ “Mystery Train” and “Blame the Train”), and a fortuitous “Luck of the Draw”.
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The band also paid homage to the Beacon’s hallowed history with a nod to the Allman Brothers Band, who made the venue their home with a series of record-setting residencies—selling out a staggering 239 shows—a tradition carried on by Tedeschi Trucks Band, who wrapped a ten-show stay at the theater just last week.
The first set culminated with “Jessica”, giving Donato and Nathan “Sugarlegg” Aronowitz a chance to flex their guitar hero chops with harmonized leads à la Duane Allman and Dickey Betts (or Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, who shared the same stage seven days prior).
The show may have marked the end of Donato’s winter tour, but he shows no signs of slowing down, with upcoming dates spanning the Southeast, a pair of nights with Grahame Lesh & Friends in New Orleans, a duo run with Lesh at Woodstock’s Bearsville Theater, summer festival appearances at Electric Forest, Rooster Walk, Blue Ox, Salmon Fest, Telluride Blues & Brews, Bourbon & Beyond, and more, plus a co-headline run with Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives. Find a full list of tour dates and ticketing details here.
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY – 4/4/26
[Video: Tiny Rager NYC]
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “Sunshine In The Rain” – 4/4/26
[Video: Tiny Rager NYC]
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “Half Moon Night” – 4/4/26
[Video: Richard Wolf]
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “Mystery Train” – 4/4/26
[Video: Richard Wolf]
Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | Beacon Theatre | New York, NY | 4/4/26
Set 1: Lose Your Mind > Waymore’s Blues (Waylon Jennings) > Mystery Train (Little Junior’s Blue Flames), Along The Trail, Weathervane > Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) > Weathervane (Reprise), Ten Feet Of Rope [1], Sunshine In The Rain (Strange Presence), Justice > Jessica (The Allman Brothers Band)
Set 2: Rose In A Garden [2], Broadside Ballad [2] > Hangman’s Reel [2], Blame The Train [2], Dance In The Desert [3], Sugar Shack [4], Chore, Luck Of The Draw > Sugar Leg Rag
Encore: Half Moon Night [2]
[1] Will McGee On Lead Vocals
[2] Will McGee On Upright Bass
[3] Nathan Aronowitz On Guitar And Keys
[4] Nathan Aronowitz On Lead Vocals And Guitar
