Daniel Donato and his Cosmic Country bandmates got some local support from Al Schnier during a visit to Syracuse, NY on Wednesday. The moe. guitarist made a surprise appearance during Donato’s show at the Wescott Theater in central New York.
Donato and his cosmic countrymen Will “Mustang” McGee (bass/vocals), Nathan “Sugar Leg” Aronowitz (keyboards/guitar/vocals), and Will “Bronco” Clark (drums) handled the first set on their own. The opening “Why You Been Gone So Long” was a bit ironic given that the band had just visited the same venue eight months ago. Irony aside, Donato and company barreled through a locomotive first set highlighted by a non-stop journey of “Half Moon Night” > “Arkansas Traveler” > “Fox On The Run” > “About The Angels” > “Waitin For A Train” > “Truck Drivin Man”.
Returning for set two, Donato and company took the stage with Schnier in tow. The guitarist lent his hands to a pair of Donato originals, with Al and the bandleader trading Fender Telecaster leads on “Sunshine in the Rain (Strange Presence)” and “See Through”. The latter recently-debuted, upbeat number vaguely reminiscent of the Allman Brothers Band‘s “Revival” was where the pair truly shined as a spacey funk jam crescendoed with intertwined dual lead guitar playing worthy of Allman Brothers comparison.
Donato and Schnier are well acquainted at this point, memorably crossing paths aboard Jam Cruise 20 earlier this year. The younger guitarist was an ever-present face aboard the MSC Divina, sitting in with Perpetual Groove, Eggy, The New Mastersounds, The Sweet Lillies and more, but his collaboration with moe. wasn’t a one-time deal. Over the summer, Donato linked up with moe. for the Best.Summer.Ever tour, including a Fourth of July weekend run of tripleheaders with Neighbor. The tour resulted in many memorable collaborations including jams on classics by the Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and more.
Watch Daniel Donato jam with Al Schnier of moe. in Syracuse. Donato’s Cosmic Country will settle into Brooklyn Bowl for a three-night run beginning tonight, October 24th. Find tickets and tour dates here.
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Al Schnier — “See Through” — 10/23/24 — Partial
Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | Wescott Theater | Syracuse NY | 10/23/24
Set One: Why You Been Gone So Long, Cigar Time, Two Hills, Drivin Nails In My Coffin, Half Moon Night > Arkansas Traveler > Fox On The Run > About The Angels > Waitin For A Train > Truck Drivin Man
Set Two: Sunshine In The Rain (Strange Presence) [1], See Through [1], Lady Justice, At The Ball [2], Illusions (Pretty Picture), Long Black Veil, Sugar Shack [3], Always Been A Lover
Encore: East Bound And Down(LTP 03/18/23 201 Show Gap)
[1] Al Schnier Of Moe. on Guitar
[2] Will McGee On Lead Vocals
[3] Nathan Aronowitz On Lead Vocals, Guitar, And Keys
[4] LTP 03/18/23, 201 Show Gap
[H/T JamBase]