Daniel Donato Releases “Better Deal Blues,” Covers Buck Owens with Yonder Mountain String Band Members
Daniel Donato, photo by Jason Stoltzfus
Daniel Donato is keeping busy as ever. Last night, July 17, the ace axeman and his Cosmic Country band cruised into St. Louis’ Atomic by Jamo for the latest performance in their co-headline Summer Tour with Railroad Earth and Yonder Mountain String Band. In keeping with a custom of the run so far, the group capped off their turn in the rotating show-closing set with an encore featuring tourmate sit-ins. Today, as he makes his way to a follow-up in Kansas City, Mo., he’s shared “Better Deal Blues,” the second preview from his upcoming sophomore studio album Horizons.
Donato and his ensemble set into their performance on Thursday night with the staple “Sunshine in the Rain (Strange Presence),” then slipped into a mellower mood for “Better Deal Blues.” The track that continues his new album rollout has been part of his live repertoire since 2022 and proudly wears its influence from the golden age of Nashville’s country music. Over a twangy, uptempo arrangement, the singer-songwriter finds clarity at the end of a relationship gone wrong. “When I had the right heart in the wrong place, she gave me the best directions, on where to go to find the blues,’” he said in a release. “I hope Merle Haggard would be proud of this song.”
After the second track formally affiliated with his next chapter, Donato moved into a more recent gem with “Guilty Jubilee,” which he debuted during the tour’s second show at Manteo, N.C.’s Roanoke Festival Park and staged for the sixth time last night. Longtime originals “Chore” and “Half Moon Light” followed before “Riding that Midnight Train,” another 2025 debut. To wrap up the main portion of his set, Donato and his band sparked “Broadside Ballad,” a two-year live staple and the first single off his new record, which segued into a finale of “Hangman’s Reel.”
Donato returned to the stage for his encore in the company of not only his tried and true backing band, but also Nick Piccininni and Coleman Smith on Yonder Mountain String Band. Bolstered by the new string section, the band pulled up a special trio of Buck Owens classics, featuring their third all-time cover of “Act Naturally,” “Truck Drivin’ Man” and an anthemic closer of “Love’s Gonna Live Here.”
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Railroad Earth and Yonder Mountain String Band will return to the stage tonight at Kansas City, Mo.’s Grinders KC, then proceed through three further shared bills across the country before a July 26 finale in Eugene, Ore. Find tickets and more information at danieldonato.com/tour. Listen to “Better Deal Blues” below.
