Photos and review by: Jason Robey

CHARLOTTE, NC — There is no more fitting description for the experience at the Fillmore Underground on Thursday than “Cosmic Country,” as guitar virtuoso Daniel Donato brought his act to the Queen City. A year after his last visit to the area at a much larger venue than last time, Donato packed the house with fans making their setlist guesses and gearing up for an explosive evening of music.

With no opening act, Donato and crew hit the stage shortly after 8pm with the opening lick of “Hi Country,” from his third and latest album, Reflector. From there, it was more than an hour before the band stopped to breathe. The studio recordings of their original songs are firmly planted in country influences, but the group’s live performances are musical explorations that delve into psychedelic improvisation with extended jams grown from Donato’s love for the music of the Grateful Dead. The group capped the first set with seamless transitions from “Yonder” to “Forgotten Days” to “Valhalla.”

Following a 20 minute break, the group returned for a second set with face-melting cover of Merle Haggard’s “Honky Tonk Night Time Man,” setting the tone for a high octane back half of the show. Donato, who is seemingly always smiling, led the band through musical peaks and valleys with jam vehicles like “Blame the Train” and “Passing Storm,” while sprinkling shorter covers like “Love’s Going to Live Here” and “Dark Hollow.” Donato handed lead vocal duties to keyboardist Nathan “Sugarleg” Aronowitz for “Tell Me I’m a Lover” before closing the set with an inspired run through a newer original “Prairie Spin.”

Acknowledging that they were already past the curfew, the group still played through their breezy-sounding encore of Bob Dylan’s “Country Pie,” which turned out to be the perfect winding down from the musical marathon that was the evening. Just days before his 30th birthday, Daniel Donato, along with his Cosmic Country band, showed his growing area fan base what the fuss has been about and undoubtedly picked up some more fans as he moves on with his Spring Tour. Follow Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country on social media for a never-ending list of upcoming tour dates.