Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – January 5th – Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom

Courtesy Photo

Last Friday night, Daniel Donato brought his Cosmic Country band and his Allman Brothers tribute project, Trouble No More, to Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom. The sold-out crowd was treated to a night of high-energy guitar wizardry, soulful vocals, and jam-packed renditions of classic songs. Donato is one of the hottest young guitar players on the jam scene and he has played Cervantes’ a few times over the last year. I was lucky enough to take in the same memorable double bill in January of 2023 and have heard it talked about as the show that cemented the Country infused powerhouse into the minds of many in Denver. I guess the musicians had as much fun as the fans on that night and they were obviously excited to do it all again.

This time Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country kicked of the show with two full sets (as opposed to just one last year). The quartet blends Country, Rock, and Blues influences into a fresh and original sound. Donato, who was named “Nashville’s New Guitar Hero” by Rolling Stone, showcased his impressive skills on the Telecaster, playing with speed, precision, and flair. He was joined by Nathan Aronowitz on keyboards and vocals, Will McGee on bass and vocals, and Noah Miller on drums and percussion. The band’s first set featured tracks from Donato’s most recent release Reflector including “High Country”, “Half Moon Night”, and “Gotta Get Southbound” alongside covers, such as “Darlin’ Cory” and “The Arkansas Traveler.” The second set was highlighted by a blazing take on the classic “Mystery Train” and a late set “Got My Mo-Jo Working” that turned up the heat in the packed ballroom.

After two stunning sets from Donato, the night rolled on with Trouble No More, an eight-piece ensemble that pays homage to the legendary Allman Brothers Band. Donato donned a slightly different musical costume as he shared the guitar duties with Brandon “Taz” Niederaurer, the 21 year old guitar slinger who starred in School of Rock on Broadway and has played with the likes of Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes, and Derek Trucks. The two guitarists traded solos and harmonized on the iconic riffs of the Allman Brothers, while Roosevelt Collier added some sweet and soaring pedal steel guitar. The rhythm section consisted of Taz’s brother Dylan Niederauer on bass, Jack Ryan and Nikki Glaspie on drums, and Peter Levin on keyboards. Lamar Williams Jr., the son of the late Allman Brothers bassist, handled the lead vocals with passion and power. Some well played Allman’s classics was a hell of a way to take the crowd into the early morning hours at Cervantes.