On Halloween night, Daniel Donato and his Cosmic Country bandmates transformed Milwaukee’s Turner Hall Ballroom into a fantastical land of pure imagination with an ambitious and surreal “Cosmic Chocolate Factory” show. Staged as a live homage to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the concert journeyed through a psychedelic reimagining of Roald Dahl’s characters and themes, turning the classic story into a colorful exploration of temptation, self-discovery, and ultimately, cosmic harmony.
Drawing from the storyline and characters, each vignette in the concert represented a “deadly sin” manifested through Wonka’s eclectic cast. With Donato as Charlie Bucket, his band and crew donned costumes to embody figures like the gluttonous Augustus Gloop, prideful Violet Beauregarde, and slothful Grandpa Joe. After setting the tone with a few high-impact jams, “Charlie” held up his golden ticket and initiated the Wonkastic journey with a shimmering rendition of “Pure Imagination”, seamlessly segueing into “Candy Man” as the band led fans into a dreamy, candy-colored world of melody and mirth.
The set was not just a collection of songs but a masterclass in thematic storytelling. Every song was carefully selected to reflect the essence of each character and their quirks. When Augustus Gloop’s chocolate obsession took center stage, the band launched into a spirited “Down By The Riverside,” which flowed into Johnny Cash’s “Big River”, a nod to Gloop’s fateful chocolate river plunge. The audience was treated to the Oompa Loompas’ iconic chant as an acapella interlude, punctuating each character’s folly with tight harmonies that reemphasized the moral undertones of every scene.
Related: Check Out Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Playlist
The real madness unfurled with “The Wondrous Boat Ride”. Lit in pulsating colors to heighten the night’s trippy ambiance, Donato’s rendition of “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” morphed into Wonka’s own “Rowing Song”. With projected visuals echoing Wonka’s frenzied monologue, the night’s intensity peaked as the band brought everyone aboard for a head-spinning journey.
No Wonka-inspired set would be complete without a nod to Violet Beauregarde’s inflated ego and eventual ballooning into a blueberry. Taking the cue, the lights bathed the room in vibrant shades of blue as the band served up “Blueberry Hill”, followed by Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue”, and Eiffel 65’s quirky pop hit “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”. With a playful wink, Donato made it clear that the night was as much about indulging in whimsy as it was about musical mastery.
As Veruca Salt met her “bad egg” demise, Donato and the band brought “Big Rock Candy Mountain” to life, backed by visuals of golden eggs and Veruca’s meltdown.
The set closed with a magical surprise for one lucky fan. In the spirit of Wonka’s giveaway, Donato called out a ticket number, gifting the winner a special signed poster and commemorative gobstopper-colored “Everlaster Caster” guitar, as evidently “supply chain issues” had halted production on the everlasting candies. After a triumphant crowd photo, Donato led the band in a heartfelt rendition of “Luck Of The Draw” as fans prepared to leave the world of pure imagination behind.
This year’s Daniel Donato Halloween show wasn’t just a tribute to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but a reminder of the universality of its themes. With standout vocal performances from band members, improvisational twists on classic hits, and the seamless integration of video scenes, Donato and his band went above and beyond this year, topping previous Halloweens with their most ambitious production to date.
In the end, the night was as sweet as it was strange, an inventive and deeply immersive ride that left fans impressed and enlightened by the edifying tale.
Check out fan-shot videos from the Daniel Donato Cosmic Chocolate Factory Halloween show and click below to view a gallery of photos courtesy of Daniel Ojeda. Scroll down to view the setlist.
Next up, Donato will reunite with Kitchen Dwellers for a three-night run in Denver. For tickets and full list of upcoming shows, head to his website.
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – “I’m Going Down” (Jeff Beck) – 10/31/24
[Video: keaton6921]
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Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | Turner Hall Ballroom| Milwaukee, WI | 10/31/24
Set: Free Wheelin’, Heady Open Jam, Sugar Shack, Sunshine in the Rain (Strange Presence), Tell Me I’m a Lover, Hi-Country, Lose Your Mind, Bass Solo, Mystery Train (Little Junior’s Blue Flames cover), Pure Imagination, Candyman (Grateful Dead cover), Pure Imagination (Repraise), Down by the Riverside (traditional cover), Big River (Johnny Cash cover), Oompa Loompa, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (The Beatles cover), The Wondrous Boat Ride, Double Exposure, Blueberry Hill, Tangled Up In Blue, Blue (Da Ba Dee), Pure Imagination (Reprise), Big Rock Candy Mountain, Pure Imagination (Reprise), Going Down, Oompa Loompa (Reprise), Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, Pure Imagination (Reprise), Luck of the Draw, Sugar Leg Rag, Oompa Loompa (Reprise), Sugar Leg Rag (Reprise), Samson and Delilah (traditional cover)
