Daniel Donato wrapped up a multi week tour with Eggy driving his Cosmic Country train through Memphis Tennessee for a high energy set in front of a high energy crowd at Railgarten. It was his last stop before heading up the highway to Nashville for his Christmas Jam.
Donato channeled the country flavor in the air with a furious paced Honkytonk opener Locomotive No. 9. He kept the country theme going with his live debut of Merle Haggard’s If We Make It Through December. The country theme continued with stops at Half Moon Night and setlist staple Big Iron. A nearly twenty minute Double Exposure provided plenty of cosmic energy to a full midweek crowd.
Fresh off his superb sophomore release Reflector, Donato will stay on the road with stops in Colorado and the West Coast starting early January. Donato graciously took time to reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 for SlideandBanjo.com.
“If there is anything I learned in 2023, it would be that for every truth and fact that I know, there is at least one other truth or fact that I do not know. With that rather cumbersome reality, I am embraced by the benevolent endowment of being able to enter and play myself into this musical kingdom as a Child; a Soul that wants to learn, express vision, bring light, and say what I want to say without the concern or care of what others may or may not find comfort with it. The Truth is worth everything. Find your own perception of the eternal Cosmic cadence of Truth and let it kill you and bring you to life simultaneously.”
My thoughts on 2024:
“I am not very certain of what the year of 2024 holds for me, objectively, and I’ll take that with mentioning that I am very much looking forward to enjoying the esteemed privilege of staying focused on playing with Faith, seeking Truth, and creating Beauty and Goodness with every opportunity that I find within space and time, whether that is on the stage or off the stage. Personally, I have some goals that I would like to live in and experience in real time, but as long as I can pay my bills, bring people the Light that they are consciously or unconsciously seeking, or both, then I feel that I am seeking and fulfilling the Will of what Is, what Was, and what Is Becoming.”
Mempho Presents: Daniel Donato Railgarten Memphis 12/13/23
Locomotive No. 9, Rose In A Garden, Broadside Ballad, Hangman’s Reef, If We Make It Through December, Half Moon Night, Big Iron, Cantina Jam, Playing Your Game, Ten Feet of Rope, Double Exposure
*** Photos courtesy Ant Braaten