Gov't Mule

The ‘Mule’ played three sets at the Roxy in Atlanta Georgia on Millennium eve and rumours have been around ever since about this being one of those shows that people will claim to have been at – I can only say that I wish I had been.

The album features the original line up of Gov’t Mule – Warren Haynes, Matt Abts on drums and the late and very lamented Allen Woody on bass – and from the opening introduction leading into ‘Bad Little Doggie’, one of the best Blues riffs you could imagine, this sounds and feels like a one-off and very special set. Haynes guitar is in brilliant shape, Woody’s bass is thundering and dense and Matt Abts drums crackle and sizzle like a chicken in the frier. Haynes vocals have always been the fourth instrument in the band and here he is throaty and full of emotion in that Southern drawl that works so well with the style of music.

Three piece bands have always been so much more capable of developing the music than four or five piece – it seems that the intimate interaction when there are only three musicians allows for a much greater understanding of what each other is about and hence the ability to extend into a ‘Jam’ is increased. Of course, you have to have an above average talent to start with and this is where so many bands fall down and simply begin ‘noodling’ – not so Gov’t Mule; all three are consummate players and the jams are like a Blues Be-bop. The other great thing about these guys is that they know when to stop extending so they never just peter out when they have run out of ideas – the song remains the thing: just check out ‘Blind Man In The Dark’ for a perfect example.

The first disc is just the band and they lay down some classic ‘Mule’ before finishing the set with ‘21st Century Schizoid Man’, The Who’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and a blistering ‘Dazed And Confused’ but the second set where they are joined by Little Milton is even better – ‘My Dog & Me’ is awesome and ‘Lump On Your Stump’ burns with all sorts of sass and blather.
The third set features Audley Freed from the Black Crowes and between them they see in the 21st century with some breathtaking covers – the CD opens with ‘Helter Skelter’ and the highlight for me is ’30 Days \In The Hole’ with great guitar work. The three number encore that closed the show – at around 3:00 a.m. – has all sorts of their local friends on stage for ‘I Shall Be Released’ and ‘Simple Man’.

A legendary show, finally on CD and oh brother, I wish I’d been there!