"Dark Star - Cumberland Blues" with Bill Kreutzmann - Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country

On 4/28/23 I received a text from Bill Kreutzmann's manager with a note that Bill wanted to play with #cosmiccountry at our show in New Orleans. This show already had a handful of guests on the bill, but we didn't have a second drum set available at the time. Our Tour Manager Joe Lentini searched far and wide, and at the last minute procured a kit that Bill could sit in on. This was Bill's second show since the last Dead and Co. tour, and his energy and spirit was in full brightness in each beat and note of this entire performance. The sound crew at this venue wasn't the best and weren't prepared for what CC was bringing to them that night, yet, Ant Braaten was able to capture the entire sit in , Sans Dire Wolf, with amazing grace and perspective. This is an hour of my life that I will never forget and will hold dear to my heart as long as I live.
🤠 Listen to this show on @nugsnet atwww.nugs.net/daniel-donato-co...
🤠 See #COSMICCOUNTRY on tour at danieldonato.com/tour
🤠 Listen to the new #COSMICCOUNTRY studio album at danieldonato.com/music
🤠Check out our new merchandise line at danieldonato.hilinemerch.com
🤠 Listen to our NEW LIVE ALBUM at linktr.ee/danieldonato
🤠 The "Lost Highway" Podcast has a new episode, listen at www.osirispod.com/podcasts/da...
Guitar/Vocals: Daniel Donato
Keys/Vocals: Nathan "Sugar Leg" Aronowitz
Bass/Vocals: Will "Mustang" McGee
Drums/Percussion: Noah Winner Miller
Touring Manager: Joe "Trippy Toe" Lentini
Video and Photo Production: Ant Braaten
Production Manager: Easton "Admiral" Adcock

[@tjruss86]

Bill making it a point to spotlight these young torch carriers is what it's all about.

[@myco.mantra7008]

Billy strings is a prime example.

[@maxw.midgett4975]

I literally can’t fathom what it’d be like to play Dark Star with Bill Kreutzmann behind you. Also, I think this is the longest Dark Star since the 70s.

[@Eeearthmusic]

With a telecaster ladies and gentleman. Bold tone in a delicate landscape and absolutely brilliant. Well done great band !

[@kckrye]

A tele can be a guitar that is a main axe for any style of music. Its such a versatile weapon in the right hands.

[@phishphamily1898]

I can't tell you all how unbelievable Daniel Donato and Cosmic Country is... let the music speak for itself! Sit back, partake in your favorite and explore the Cosmic depths of your mind! To the moon boys! So good.

[@sichuancowboy]

Dang, just 2 days ago he annouced leaving Dead & Co. And here he is jamming with you guys... sick.

[@kevinborchers3522]

He said he wanted to play less shows but still play. So hes kind of taking the phil lesh approach. No more rigorous tours but short runs. His health didnt hold up the last 2 dead and co tours

[@OspreyVision]

John Mayer is a cheese 🧀 ball & Bobby plays ▶️ too damn slow 🐌 now....Billy still loves to play with energy...mm

[@danielosullivan3110]

Daniel is the finest talent out there today ❤️‍🔥🥃

[@clysher]

Playing with your heroes must be a dream. Happy for you guys.

[@danbaird7414]

The vitality! Harking back to 68-70 era. Follow the juice Bill. It’s here.

[@Itaivarochik]

what a brilient guitarist

[@elaztec.aztecca]

Please observe Billy’s extraordinary facial expressions after 29:20 for the following 15-20 seconds or so….. he is emanating pure joy!!!

[@Free-uw4jl]

These guys really capture the essence of the original Grateful Dead. Phenomenal!

[@tjhanson3170]

Billy looking incredibly athletic again. This young man Daniel is pretty damn special.

[@RonaldRector]

Just recently I saw this kid playing phils birthday show. This video is over a year old I just saw this kid for the first time when I watched Phil's show were have I been lost in Babylon .

[@kevinconnelly9277]

New fan. Thanks for turning me on to Daniel and Cosmic Country, Bill! Keep the music alive!

[@grumpbutton]

How it's done. Real recognize real. This is real. Bravo ❤

[@thecooleretiquette]

This is almost too good.

[@dougpotosky4102]

Your right! Right into the real stuff!

[@fnord23]

​@@dougpotosky4102 😂

[@fnord23]

The "real stuff" 😂

[@iiz67]

Yeah.

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

try Dark Star (1973-11-11) by GD. that's scary good.

[@user-jb9uz4rn2z]

Dark Star into Cumberland Blues is at the top of my mountain of GD catalog. Thabk you for all that made this a reality 🙏🏼✌🏼💜⚡

[@toddladner866]

This is just what the doctor ordered. Great jam

[@Michaeloftheland]

Bill is in such great health because drumming literally keeps the body young.

[@scottpalatnik3509]

ShitGoddam shabbam! You guys sound great. About 5 or 6 minutes into the Darstar and you have now stolen my face right off my head. Thank you. Peace, Love, Music

[@toddsmith3199]

New to Cosic Country, been into Billy on drums for 43 years. Love the sound. I will be doing a deep dive soon.

[@chicklets4ever51]

Terrific "Dark Star." My compliments. Donato makes it his own.

[@leonardomartinsdacostarodr6946]

Amazing you play like Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia together...the noise sound of the pick when playing chords like Bob and soloing like Jerry...😔👏👏

[@deanpeters3097]

Fantastic stuff. Good to know that the spirit is still alive. As an aging Deadhead, sometimes you just don't know. But Daniel, you and your friends are great. Keep it up. And that other drummer you got is pretty good too.

[@susiefairfield7218]

WE LOVE YOU BILLY🙌🏼🙌🏼❤🔥🥁🌈🔥🥁

[@camking8817]

47+ minute Dark Star, nbd 🔥

[@rickhancock3398]

One of our south WIlco homies doin us proud. Been a follower for many years all the way back to DKB days. Fella is a MONSTER player of the highest order.

[@williammccarty3393]

daniel so proud of you buddy!! what a long strange trip!! keep pushing forward and being you!! 🌹💀🪩❤️

[@mynameisnotcory]

What a bunch of LEGENDS

[@user-yb6rw9tk4g]

Just coming across this particular clip. Simply unreal! Awesome!

[@LoudmanSpeaks]

Lots of little gems in there…

[@BeantownToBigD]

Phenomenal guitar...No surprise Kreutzmann wanted to play with you...Jerry is smiling

[@netdaddy]

indeed- the vocals, really, really bring it down

[@iiz67]

wtf? Where did You come from? Thanks for playin', don't stop!

[@avecchi85]

God bless anyone rocking a Telecaster as the lead guitar. You know, Jeff Beck, Syd Barrett, Prince, Michael Houser, Double D's, and guy from the Magic Castles. ❤

[@STSGuitar16]

Bill sounds better here than all throughout Slow & Co. I’m starting to understand the “creative differences” he had with Bobby. This performance sounds so alive and authentic to the original spirit of the band and it looks like Billy totally gets that and is really enjoying himself here with you guys. Congrats on being part of one of the best Dark Stars that Billy has been a part of since Jerry was still with us. Amazing stuff!

[@sweetdaddyjangles7194]

I'd have to say the Dark Stars over the last couple tours have gotten pretty darn good with D&C. The 6/24/22 split between the first and second set was amazing. Billy was sitting out that show, but D&C is actually better without Billy in my opinion. He doesn't seem to like the different/slow arrangements, so it sounds like he's just been phoning it in for a paycheck all these years. Jay Lane actually adds some energy to the arrangements. Excited for the last tour and what comes next. It's great to see the old timers, but frankly the core 4 are the weakest links in all the bands they play in. Phil still plays well, but his lineups aren't for me these days, and they don't get any practice from touring. Bobby is good to hear sing, but his guitar playing is embarrassing most of the time. Billy never seems to want to be there, and Mickey is just playing with his dildos until he gets to play the beam. It's nice we have so many options these days, I'm just hoping for a new band that can play most of the songbook, improvise impressively, and sing in key. To me it's more about the songs than the people playing them. I've seen random guys at little festivals and bars play much more inspired Grateful Dead music than I've seen from various bands the core 4 have put together. This show for instance, has pretty great jamming, but the vocals are awful until Kanika takes over : )

[@DMB414034]

Yes but the other drummer is jamming and bill has 1/2 the kit as D&C

[@STSGuitar16]

@@sweetdaddyjangles7194 D&C is better without Billy, and to my ears, Billy is better without D&C. You def can’t say Billy looked disinterested during this performance as he has with dead and co. I personally don’t like the slow arrangements that Bob leans towards these days, and that’s probably one of the biggest parts about dead and co that I don’t like. You’re right, the core four are definitely not in their primes anymore (Phil is probably the one who has retained much of his skill over the years). I only saw the New Minglewood opener of last nights Cornell show and I gotta say it just felt dead. Not Dead as in the original GD band, just dead without much energy. Bobby’s main guitar issue these days is his tone, and I’ve been saying that for years and years now. The man does NOT need to be allowed to play single coil guitars these days. He needs to be on warm, humbucker semi-hollows like he played during his peak years in the 70s for his playing style to remotely work. As it is now (and has been throughout Dead and co), it takes more away from the music than it adds. I know Mayer, chimenti, and Oteil are all absolute monster players and certainly know how to treat Dead music right, but man, the arrangements just kill it for me. When I listen to a D&C show I typically put the speed on 1.05x or 1.1x speed to get things sounding right and that typically helps. I can’t say I’m too well-versed in the very best that D&C has to offer like I am with the original band, but I will definitely check out the dates you mentioned. To me, Billy just sounds better here than any time I can recall with Dead and co, and he undoubtedly seems to be enjoying himself more here, too. That’s really my main point here.

[@STSGuitar16]

@@DMB414034 hey man, Billy murdered by himself on a four piece kit like that back in the 70s. That’s what his sound here really reminds me of. I get wanting to have a really big kit with a ton of tonal percussion options in a jam band that plays 3.5 hours every night of a tour in order to keep things more interesting, but based on this, I could argue that Billy just sounds better stripped back with less options like he is here. Maybe being limited allowed him to access that same part of his brain that he accessed back in the 70s when he played a similar setup. Who knows. I just personally prefer his sound here.

[@sweetdaddyjangles7194]

@@stevilkenevil9960 That whole show was probably my favorite D&C I've seen. The overturning of Roe created a heavy energy and the setlist reflected it.

[@JRastafari007]

Been watching you on IG since 2017 or so and boy, am I proud of you. Keep going, my man!

[@sd3willis]

This is my first exposure to DD & CC and wow, just WOW! Couldn't agree more with all the comments preceding mine. And Billy was having as much fun as a pig in shit! What a performance from the entire band. Soooo looking forward to seeing Daniel live at Hot August Blues in Baltimore with Oteil & Friends, and Little Feat!!

[@CorneiliusLibowitz]

Yeah, he and the band are one of the many underrated bands these days... The keyboardist is pretty damn good in his own right, both on keys, and tele...

[@karlwinsl0w]

Love it! Saw these guys at the Riverside a few months ago.... So good. Love you Billy!!

[@iiz67]

Man. New fan.

[@TheHuester44]

I saw Dead & Company in Phoenix on the 23rd . They referenced Dark Star in the first and second set . This is a much better example of the song .

[@whitlong4486]

I’m proud of this kid like I birthed him! Good to see Bill’s up and atem on the kit! Looking good guys, sounding better!

[@shayneworkman9242]

This kid is the next trey. cosmic country is killing it!

[@dougpotosky4102]

Hey Guys! You got some real magic going on. No way with Bill playing I would expect anything else. I was just talking about this with someone just today!

[@peterbetts858]

Bill just likes to play .

[@EverythingBluegrass]

So much Jerry in Daniel.. love this band.

[@chynnadawl9022]

Freaking amazing, Daniel! Gawd, I hate I missed ya'll in Southern Pines! So thrilled to witness your steady ascent! Bill K looks right at home!!!!

[@OspreyVision]

This is hot! 🔥 Smoking 🚬 Great to see Billy always rocking out with the next generation. Never heard of this guy or this band, but love ❤️ the music. New subscriber! Thanks to the KZbin algorithm 🙏

[@trjb1767]

Amen to the algorithm. Seriously. It has turned me on to so much cool music and new interests

[@KelsterVonShredster]

that was awesome......the entire band was killing it

[@dey4588]

Incredible journey. The show goes on. Masterful sound. So Grateful for you and this gift. ❤

[@chriscavanaugh1001]

This is trippy and an absolute blast to watch. Legends, even the young ones...

[@carlossalsaverde7042]

The discernment of supreme beauty is the discovery and integration of reality: The discernment of the divine goodness in the eternal truth, that is ultimate beauty. Even the charm of human art consists in the harmony of its unity.

[@bluecollar825]

I wouldn't expect anything less from you green salsa

[@runntum]

Beautiful!

[@dylanherron3963]

Man, some of ya'll's faces and expressions up there were SUSPECT, my wandering friends xD

[@RonaldRector]

The future is looking bright for the greatful dead family

[@kevindffd2291]

Noah...ya got BILL as a guest. You're playin all over him!

[@djpause]

sick dark star jam. Well done

[@DaveFazzino]

In New England there is a place to play that has a good sound system. Infinity Music Hall in Hartford Connecticut. Holds around 800. Saw Dark Star Orchestra there and the performance was excellent.

[@MichaelDeFillippo8889]

straight fire

[@zachpowers2239]

Owned it for 🦊sakes I've watched this video so many times and love it more each time

[@RedPillTruth2023]

Channelling Danny Gaton

[@bigtipsandtricks]

This is good af!

[@kane6529]

Damn man this was phenomenal! It would be amazing if you guys make your way to Asheville, Nc I’ll be there 🤩

[@94757598494309438]

Salvage Station would be awesome, killer light show as well!

[@johnfunk7568]

Thank you Daniel!!!

[@joergie6008]

Nice , stoked for this

[@danielosullivan3110]

It's on Mon Cul yt channel now, with 2more great songs. They love each other,is amazing!

[@joergie6008]

@@danielosullivan3110 right on brother

[@hashburystumble8808]

Son of Hashbury brought me here 😊

[@rosebud1958]

Killin it!!!! Hey now my friend ❤💨🍄🎸💨💨💨💨💨♥️♥️♥️

[@rosebud1958]

@@hashburystumble8808son of a glad 💨♥️♥️♥️😘

[@trjb1767]

Keyboard player great

[@StarWarsTARDIS]

Been following you for a long time and wow it's so awesome to see you rising to jamband stardom!

[@robdunn3080]

Badassery from start to finish

[@bryan143]

Just awesome.🖖🏻

[@Strik9]

Awesome! ☆☆☆☆☆

[@94757598494309438]

An hour of Awesomeness Brother, Thanks so much for making it Happen! We Love Ya'll! and, so happy to get down w/ya at your set at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, and, to run upon ya on the street afterward!!

[@craigwood263]

Mind blown. Love the talent on the road today. Grateful. ❤

[@model_number_band]

Goosebumps, nice DD.

[@leocasey6498]

This is way gratefully enjoyable!! I wish panic let him do a new speedway or a morning dew!!

[@Squirrelconga]

Sounds wonderful!!! Liked n'Subscribed 🤜🤛

[@geldz]

Epic

[@tourhead]

Killer! Thanks!

[@RonaldRector]

Jerry incarnated this kid.

[@joncaruso8425]

Incredible 🤯

[@michaelhill8269]

Very nice Daniel. Keep up the great work!

[@marcelomacedo585]

Loved!!!

[@jeremiahharvey965]

Killer performance, what an epic memory for everyone involved. But where's the help for poor Billy and his cymbals though? 😂 My guy played the second half of Cumberland Blues with a fallen crash and ride! lol

[@Strik9]

Perfect camera position, you can see the keyboardist looking to know when ☆☆☆☆☆

[@billstahl9681]

Nice work! Epic work out!

[@seancampbell2223]

Sooooo cosmic!

[@t.sewell1513]

Impressive!

[@jmo1366]

Nicely done..

[@walkingtal4157]

F' ing Billy! Fantastic!!

[@moose2dude]

sickkkkkkkkk 💯

[@jordana99]

Awaiting…

[@wosop6667]

Straight fkn 🔥

[@erickellogg505]

❤❤❤❤

[@michaelmorrison492]

Unreal

[@theescapeengines]

This is so good it should be illegal...💨🌹💨

[@kellyhummingbird]

😍

[@bwilson4030]

Let’s f’n go! 🌀✨🔮

[@Greg-os7ye]

Cannot wait for Baltimore!!!

[@weston3208]

This is sick, come to dallas soon

[@adamkrauss303]

Magical! Love your playing Daniel, but I would have like to seen the camera move some more to your band mates and a wide shot now and then of the whole band in the groove would be nice. And I am speaking as a guitarist. 🎸😁

[@Petequinn741]

Sounds great

[@netdaddy]

the music does, the vocals are like nails on a chalkboard

[@DH-fu1sw]

Smmmooookkkkiinnnnnn

[@lingeringlead]

Breakout week ⚡️⚡️🔥🔥