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- Published: 29 Mar 2007
- Uploaded: 01 Sep 2011
- Author: Smorli
Name | Gov't Mule |
---|---|
Landscape | Yes |
Background | group_or_band |
Genre | Southern rock, blues-rock, hard rock |
Years active | 1994–present |
Label | Relativity, Foundation, Capricorn, ATO, Evil Teen |
Associated acts | The Allman Brothers Band, Blue Floyd |
Url | www.mule.net |
Current members | Warren HaynesMatt AbtsDanny LouisJorgen Carlsson |
Past members | Allen WoodyAndy Hess |
Gov't Mule (pronounced Government Mule) is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody. They released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995. Gov't Mule has become a staple act at music festivals across North America, with both its members and frequent guests boasting members from other notable bands, adding various funk and blues rock elements to the band's sound.
When The Allman Brothers Band were not forthcoming with any new material, Haynes and Woody left to concentrate full-time on Gov't Mule in 1997. Dose, their second studio effort, was released in early 1998. They were joined by members of the Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, Parliament/Funkadelic and The Derek Trucks Band for their 1998 New Year's Eve concert, released both in a two and four CD version as Live... With a Little Help from Our Friends. The performances exposed some of the bands' influences, covering Neil Young, Free, Traffic, Jimi Hendrix, Little Feat, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, and Mongo Santamaría (via John Coltrane).
At the "One for Woody" performance and subsequently at other shows, Haynes began appearing with The Allman Brothers Band again. With Dickey Betts' departure from the Allmans, Haynes came back full time to the band at the beginning of 2001 and has continued splitting his time between the Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule and for a period Phil Lesh and Friends and other re-formed Grateful Dead bands.
The next year, Haynes and Abts began to record a tribute album. using some of Woody's favorite bass players. These sessions resulted in two CDs The Deep End, Volume 1 (2001) and The Deep End, Volume 2 (2002). A documentary of the recording sessions was also made by Phish bassist Mike Gordon called Rising Low. Bass contributions to the CDs came from Jack Bruce, formerly of the "supergroup" Cream, John Entwistle of The Who, Mike Watt of Minutemen, Les Claypool of Primus, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Chris Squire of Yes among others.
Haynes and Abts used a revolving door of keyboardists and bassists to fulfill touring engagements in support of the Deep End recordings. Keyboardists included Chuck Leavell, Rob Barraco, Page McConnell and Danny Louis. Bassists included, among others, Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, Oteil Burbridge who had filled Woody's former place in The Allman Brothers, Les Claypool of Primus, Victor Wooten of the Flecktones, George Porter, Jr. of The Meters, Jason Newsted formerly of Metallica, Greg Rzab formerly of The Black Crowes and the Buddy Guy Band, and Andy Hess, also formerly of The Black Crowes. Louis and Hess were eventually named as permanent members of Gov't Mule.
Gov't Mule continues to tour extensively and has become a staple act at many music festivals including Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Mountain Jam, Vegoose, All Good, and their annual New Orleans Jazzfest night show (where they filmed and recorded the last show of the Deepest End tours, with 17 guest musicians in a six-hour show).
Every year since 1989, Warren Haynes hosts the Annual Christmas Jam in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. The concert usually takes place the weekend before Christmas at the Asheville Civic Center, as a fundraiser for Habitat For Humanity. Many artists who play at the Christmas Jam also perform separate gigs in various Asheville clubs, usually the day before the Jam proper. The Pre-Jam, as it is called, features many of the same artists, in a smaller club. The 19th edition of the Jam took place on December 15, 2007 with performances by Kevn Kinney, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Shelly Colvin, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jackson Browne, G. Love, Bruce Hornsby and Peter Frampton among others. Gov't Mule headlined.
On June 28, 2008, Gov't Mule performed as a power trio for the first time since 2000, this time with its regular bassist Andy Hess. The band titled their set "Old School Mule" and ran through some of their older songs such as "Wandering Child" and "Thorazine Shuffle."
On September 15, 2008, Haynes' wife, Stefani Scamardo announced on her [[Sirius Satellite Radio| Sirius radio]] show that Andy Hess would be leaving the band and a new bassist would be in place for the fall tour. Hess was subsequently replaced by Jorgen Carlsson, who had been rehearsing with the band for six months.
On October 31, 2009, Gov't Mule gave a special Halloween concert at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia. From the Gov't Mule web site: "Following in the tradition of 2007's "Holy Haunted House" and last year's Pink Floyd spectacular, the band, once again, has something very special planned for the occasion." This third in their series of Halloween shows featured a first set, which lasted over two hours, and was composed entirely of Rolling Stones covers. The previous sold-out shows had featured covers of Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy and an assortment of Pink Floyd compositions.
Gov't Mule also played at the Hangout Music festival on Saturday, May 15, 2010 and at the Azkena Rock Festival (Gasteiz/Vitoria), June 24, 2010. Gov't Mule also opened up for the Dave Matthews Band on Friday, July 30, 2010 at Cruzan Amphitheater West Palm Beach Fl.
In October 2010, Gov’t Mule celebrated Halloween at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA. Warren Haynes and company used the first set to cover The Who’s Who’s Next in its entirety. Setlist:
Set I: Baba O’Riley*, Bargain*, Love Ain’t For Keeping*, My Wife*, The Song Is Over*, Getting in Tune*, Going Mobile*,Behind Blue Eyes*, Won’t Get Fooled Again* Set II: Steppin’ Lightly, Broke Down On The Brazos, No Need To Suffer, Painted Silver Light, Trane > Eternity’s Breath > St. Stephen Jam > When Doves Cry > Beautifully Broken > When Doves Cry > Beautifully Broken > Trane > Noisy Jam > Drums > Any Open Window, Railroad Boy > Thorazine Shuffle Encore: Going Out West
Category:1990s music groups Category:The Allman Brothers Band Category:American rock music groups Category:ATO Records artists Category:Jam bands Category:Southern rock musical groups Category:Musical trios Category:Musicians work group articles needing attention
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