On a rain-soaked Thursday, September 25th in Saratoga Springs, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country pulled into the station at Putnum Place like a locomotive at full steam. Delivering two sets of jaw-dropping musicianship and improvisational fireworks that left fans buzzing well past the final encore, if this jam-packed sold-out performance at the 300-capacity venue is any indication, it may very well be the last time Cosmic Country plays a room this intimate. With their brand-new album Horizons freshly released and their recent headlining debut at the world-famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville still echoing in the collective memory, Donato and company are no longer just “ones to watch.” They’ve arrived and those lucky enough to be on board at the Putnum won’t soon forget the ride.
Daniel Donato’s journey from teenage Telecaster phenom busking on Nashville’s Lower Broadway to cosmic country torchbearer has been anything but conventional. After years cutting his teeth as a sideman in honky-tonks and soaking up the sacred traditions of bluegrass, rock, and outlaw country, Donato launched Cosmic Country, a genre-defying project that fuses Grateful Dead-esque improvisation with deep country roots and psychedelic exploration. Backed by fellow ace musicians Nathan “Sugar Legg” Aronowitz (keys/vocals), Will “Mustang” McGee (bass/vocals), and William “Bronco” Clark (drums/percussion), the band has been burning up the road for the past several years. 2025 marks a milestone though. Graduating from a cramped van to a full-sized touring bus, an upgraded lighting rig, and an ever-growing fan base that treats every show like a sacred gathering, the gig in Saratoga Springs felt like a symbolic turning point for the charismatic guitarist who’s spent the better part of the last decade earning every inch of his success.
On Thursday, as the lights dimmed just after 8 p.m. bathing the room in ethereal tones, the band opened up with “Along the Trail”, immediately setting a cinematic vibe. Wasting no time shifting gears into high velocity with “Lose Your Mind” > “Waymore’s Blues” and a blistering “Mystery Train,” the thunderous opening stretch proved Cosmic Country is as much about atmosphere and feel as it is about virtuosity. That was just the beginning of what would become a nearly 3.5-hour marathon of Cosmic indulgence. At the center of it all was Donato himself, a force of nature wearing his influences on his sleeve while channeling something distinctly on his own. From the first note, his guitar playing served as the locomotive engine. A masterclass in tone, technique, and telepathy. With long, flowing hair cascading like a country-rock Samson, his expressive face contorted and beamed with every note. He doesn’t just play, he feels every bend, run, and pedal steel-inflected flourish with Chicken Pickin’ precision. Rooted in tradition but unbound by genre, Donato’s fretboard work is where Buck Owens meets Jerry Garcia. Country picking at light speed, run through a prism of cosmic improvisation.
Meanwhile, “Sugar Legg” on keys brought a funky, soulful swagger to the sound, lacing the grooves with deep-pocket organ runs and Rhodes sparkle. “Mustang” McGee, donning a wide-brimmed hat and sporting a mustache that’s somewhere between ‘70s outlaw and French café, switched effortlessly between electric and upright electric bass, anchoring the jam-heavy segments with calm precision. Bronco Clark, as always, was the train’s steady conductor behind the kit , loose but locked in, with the kind of behind-the-beat confidence that gives this music its swagger and sway. Other highlights from the first set included the infectious “Guilty Jubilee,” the swampy strut of “Better Deal Blues,” and a blissed-out “Sweet Tasting Tennessee.” “See Through” closed the first leg with a soaring jam that seemed to stretch time itself.
Trying to get a drink or make your way to the bathroom proved challenging. Putnam Place was jammed shoulder to shoulder, and the fiercely loyal Cosmic Country faithful down front guarded their dancing space like sacred ground. You had to weave and dodge like a running back just to refill your beer, but if the first set was a ride through rolling hills, the second was a runaway train charging through the night. Opening with “Blame The Train,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to the night’s theme, the band barreled into “Lay Low Lucy” and “About the Angles” without missing a beat.
Donato paused mid-set to thank the packed room. “This is show number five of the tour, and I really feel like we’re starting to feel the cosmic frequencies and lock in. Thank y’all for selling this place out. We don’t take that lightly.” Then it was back to business, with a confident “Big Iron.” “Workin’ Man Blues” gave McGee the spotlight to lay down thick, funky basslines while “Cornerstone” and “Tell Me I’m a Lover” added heartfelt Southern storytelling to the mix. “Gotta Get Southbound” revved up the room before erupting into the set-closing “Boogie Man”, which turned the dancefloor into a full-blown cosmic hoedown.
The crowd, hungry for more, hollered and stomped until the band returned for a double encore. First, “Nobody Nose” offered a final burst of exploratory jamming, followed by a raucous singalong cover of “Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn).” As Donato stood center stage afterward, taking a long bow, you could see genuine gratitude in his eyes. A moment of reflection for a band that knows they’re on the brink of the next big leap.
While this was just another tour stop for Donato and crew, for the people of Saratoga Springs, it felt like a final farewell to the small rooms. As the band continues to ride the rails toward larger venues, including a marquee New York date at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on October 25th, those who witnessed Thursday’s show know they caught a moment that won’t be replicated. The train has officially left the station and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country is the kind of ride you don’t want to miss. All aboard, Saratoga Springs. Yeehaw!
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | September 25, 2025 | Putnum Place | Saratoga Springs, NY
Set 1: Along the Trail, Lose Your Mind > Waymore’s Blues, Mystery Train, Guilty Jubilee, Better Deal Blues, Sweet Tasting Tennessee, See Through
Set 2: Blame The Train, Lay Low Lucy, About the Angles, Big Iron, Workin’ Man Blues, Cornerstone, Tell Me I’m a Lover, Gotta Get Southbound, Boogie Man
Encore: Nobody Nose, Quin The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
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