Gov't Mule • Mule Tracks '05

Gov't Mule
Cotillion Ballroom
02.10.05
Wichita, KS

Heavy tunes for the start of the tour. Definitely packed a wallop. True to MULE form the band took the stage and played a great show in a city they have never visited…..and left the crowd asking for more.

The music was so heavy and dark at times that when they broke into Mountain Jam the sheer beauty of the melody was almost overwhelming. Like a great weight had been lifted or a door propped open to let in a cool breeze. The band dropped right back into the tenderest portion of Game Face and collectively showed theirs with a great closing of the first set.

Second set had some surprises of its own including a few of Wichita's finest young ladies hopping up on stage to give Warren a little help with Soulshine.

Song of the Night: In a solid heartfelt night like this they all were good but Perfect Shelter was this foursome at its best.

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Gov't Mule
Uptown Theatre
02.11.05
Kansas City, MO



Must be something in the water in Missouri. It just seems that the audiences are always so pumped for a show when Mule comes through. Last tour St. Louis was a standout show, and so was this. When the crowd is pumped songs like Don't Step On The Grass, Sam and Lively Up Yourself take on a whole new meaning. The theater is tight and hot with lots of gilding and detail work. A hybrid of new construction and old school theater. Both sets gained momentum as they went along and ended big.

Song of the night: No doubt about it....Ain't No Sunshine > Soulshine

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If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left.

Gov't Mule
Fillmore Auditorium
02.12.05
Denver, CO

Mile High is right! What a show. Maybe it was seeing a little of their past in up and coming Rose Hill Drive (go see these guys!) or maybe it was the lack of oxygen, but whatever the case....watch out. This was one of those shows that knocked you back from note one all the way to the end. Andy Hess was noticeably in the groove and right in the moment, as were all the guys really.

The Fillmore is just one of those places that bring out the best in people; band and fans alike. Really high energy on both parts. Goin Out West, Tommorrow Never Knows, Little Toy Brain, Soulshine to pop open the second set, LTGTR....all highlights.

My song of the night: Los Burros De Espana Jam. For my money Mule can explore themes like this all day and night and I will never get tired of it. always familiar yet always different and new. How The Hell Is This Possible Song of the Night: Sco-Mule.

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If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left.

Gov't Mule
Fox Theatre
02.13.05
Boulder, CO

I have tried very, very hard to be objective in my reviews. To keep an even hand and not rave about every show as if it were the greatest thing ever. THIS IS WHERE THAT PAYS OFF. "02-13-05 FOX THEATRE BOULDER CO" are words every Mule fan will hold near and dear. I have no fear or guilt saying this was one of the single greatest Gov't Mule shows I have ever seen. This show was the kind of show that people will look around once, draw you in closer, and lower their voice when they talk about it. I'm talking hushed tones here. Very few times you witness shows that you know will be placed immediately on the MULE REQUIRED LISTENING LIST. This is one of those shows.

First set Warren starts solo acoustic, then as the rest of the band filters on they play the whole set acoustic. People used to getting their asses kicked by MULE's power attack were overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the playing. They should have realized it was all just a set up. Second set brought the blows to the body....one after another the band just kept coming harder and harder pounding away at the audience, softening them up for the final haymaker double encore with John Ginty sitting in on B3. Happy Valentines Day.

Song of the Night: You're Kidding Right?

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Gov't Mule
Cain's Ballroom
02.16.05
Tulsa, OK

Cain's Ballroom. Home to 80 years of music history. You can basically smell the saddle soap and floor polish as you walk onto the dance floor.

The show was a double bill with Particle and Charlie Hitchcock sat in twice on guitar to make a little history during a smoking Sco-Mule and a stand out Out of the Rain. Highlights from the rest of the show were Don't Step On The Grass and Monkey Hill.

Song of the night: Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday

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Gov't Mule
The Blue Note
02.17.05
Columbia, MO

Ok, that's it. I'm definitely moving to Missouri. Must be some sort of eddy in the magnetic force around that place because once again MULE steps up to the plate and delivers a stand out show.

As if the regular setlist wasn't enough they break out Hunger Strike>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hunger Strike. Which could easily become a staple should they choose to.

With She's Just Nineteen, Mother Earth and Rocking Horse all throwing their weight around in the show who would think that the stand out of the show would be Mr. Man? If you are a doubter of this song then this show is for you. Oh and the Blind Man In The Dark.....hey like the man says...with the power of soul anything is possible.

Song of the Night: Mr. Man

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Gov't Mule
New Daisy Theatre
02.18.05
Memphis, TN

Just across the street from the original Daisy Theater is the New Daisy, a great venue for a rock show. Mule was louder than loud, and the crowd loved it!

Time To Confess and Fallen Down were favorites as well as Don't Step On The Grass, Sam and I'm A Ram. The second set really took off with Dreams To Remember.

Song of the Night: Simple Man

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Gov’t Mule
Millennium Center
02.19.05
Winston - Salem, NC

How do you describe catching a tiger by the tail? How do you describe seeing a band grow right before your eyes?

If you aren't on the Mule Train yet, now is the time to consider it. Who would have thought that after such great shows on this tour they could deliver yet another barn burner? If you were still standing after the Sco-Mule then your knees definitely went weak by Warren's heart wrenching rendition of Ray Charles' Jealous Kind. So tender you could cut it with a fork, drawing us all in only to pin our ears back with an outstanding Rocking Horse.

Second set highlights.... ABOUT TO RAGE and BREAKDOWN. That's it. Don't worry about the rest because it stacks up just fine, but those two will be the ones you have to pick your jaw off the floor for.

Songs of the night: The powerful punches in Gangster of Love and the delicate delivery of Wish You Were Here.

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If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left.

Gov’t Mule
Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center
02.20.05
Charlottesville, VA

You know that feeling when you are rocking out to the MULE... everything is dialed in just right, you got a good friend by your side to share it with, and the room is nice and comfortable.

You know what I mean; when the band is just hitting that plateau in the music where they could level off and instead they bump it up one more notch just for fun...You know when you turn to your buddy and say "Man this just really sounds GREAT!"

Well, that was tonight.

Ron Holloway. Sax. Sco-Mule>Drums>Devil Likes It Slow. You do the math and then get back to me.

Song of the night: Soulshine (yes that's right SOULSHINE!) Oh yeah...Dirty Work was in there too!

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If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left.

Gov’t Mule
Piere’s
02.22.05
Fort Wayne, IN

The long awaited return to Fort Wayne didn't leave anyone disappointed. With a tight and flowing first set the band let everyone know they meant business. With the meat of the set taking the form of Rocking Horse>Time To Confess>Driving Rain you would think they would have been rocked out, but Temporary Saint>Mule brought the house down as the house lights came up for halftime.

Second set highlights were the surprise appearance of Take Me To The River and the driving finish of Blind Man In The Dark. The band left the stage and returned with a compelling version of Mr. Man, and added a second encore that sent everyone home singing Soulshine.

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If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left.

Gov’t Mule
Bogart’s
02.23.05
Cincinnati, OH

If you ever wonder if the audience affects the band look no further then this night in Cincinnati. If the crowd was hungry when the band stepped on stage, a stand out Fallen Down>Other One Jam and Is It My Body left them ravenous when they stepped off for set break.

The band didn't dissapoint. After being called back to the stage by the chants and cheers of the crowd, they delivered big. Highlights of the second set were a breakout of Hideaway during Trane and If I Had Possession over Judgement Day.

Song of the Night: For me....Give me a Silent Scream>Drums>Silent Scream any night.

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If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left.

Gov’t Mule
Metropolitan Theater
02.24.05
Morgantown, WV

The Metropolitan Theater is making a comeback. After sitting vacant for quite some time a local effort to restore it has led to its recent reopening. In fact this show was one of the first few rock shows since its return to operation.

The show started off with a punch and didn't let up much at all. A Patchwork Quilt that deserves to be remembered and an extended Thorazine Shuffle left everyone dancing.

Second set showcased Kings Highway and the Zappa classic Trouble Everyday. With a little tease of Higher Ground, How Many More Years got a brand new twist.

Song of the Night: Warren's Pick ---->"How Many More Years...well Wine and Blood and Soulshine were pretty good too!"

What's the difference between FLAC and MP3? Click here to check it out. We recommend reading up on the file formats before making your purchase.

If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left.