Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Debut 10 Tracks at Third Annual Camp Cosmic
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country at The Caverns, photo by Ant Braaten
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country returned to The Caverns of Pelham, Tenn. over the weekend for another Camp Cosmic. The Nashville axeman and his trusty backing band’s third annual event in the subterranean space included a full program of music and community activities, including late-night campground jams, sets from the Kyle Tuttle Band and Lindsay Lou & the Honey Moon Trio and three performances from the host band, who treated attendees to several live debuts.
On Friday, May 8, after visitors had a chance to explore the cave and catch an opening set from Lou, Donato and company warmly welcomed the crowd with a first set featuring reliable originals like “Blame The Train,” “Cosmic Country Gardens,” “Tennessee Tumbleweed” and “Translations,” alongside fan favorite covers like Hank Williams’ “(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle” and the traditional “Foggy Mountain Top.” In a severe turn towards the frame’s end, the band related their underground dwelling to the Volunteer State’s coal mining history with a well-placed debut of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s labor anthem “Sixteen Tons,” featuring tap dancing from Emily Clark, then moved into a fiery set-closing jam of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”
Following a more or less standard second set and a night out under the stars, Donato and his band performed above ground on Saturday afternoon with a special Mother’s Day acoustic set. Across 11 covers, the frontman and keyboardist Nathan “Sugar Leg” Aronowitz, drummer Will “Bronco” Clark and bassist Will “Mustang” McGee offered up seven debuts and a pair of bust-outs; the first-time treatments included Bob Seger’s “Trying To Live My Life Without You,” Johnny Paycheck’s “I’m The Only Hell (My Mama Ever Raised),” Simon & Garfunkel’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy),” Al Green’s “Take Me To The River,” Ennio Morricone’s Once Upon a Time in the West theme, Mahalia Jackson’s “Peace in the Valley” and “You Never Even Called Me By My Name,” in tribute to the late David Allan Coe.
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country took a beat before venturing underground for their second full show of the weekend, which began with a medley of “Prairie Spin” and J.J. Cale’s “Travelin’ Light.” Two electrifying sets ensued, including seven tracks with McGee on upright bass, a full-band beatbox break on Tony Rice’s “The Gold Rush” and dancing from the Cosmic Ladies on a finale of “Dance in the Desert.” For a fond farewell, the quartet tacked on a four-song encore, including the fresh original “Show Horse” and a new cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Peggy-O,” culminating in the fan-favorite movement of “Luck Of The Draw” into “Sugar Leg Rag.”
Donato will head up to Ludlow, Vt. this week to take part in the Divided Sky Foundation’s star-studded Music on the Mountain festival. Find tickets and more information on his full tour calendar at danieldonato.com/tour
