Gov't Mule • Mule Tracks '06

Gov't Mule
Wanee Festival
04.14.06
Live Oak, FL

It's good to be back! As Warren said from stage, "You guys throw a great party". And it was. After having spent so much time in the studio, the band enjoyed the freedom of live performance and the energy from the crowd fueled a memorable first night of the spring, Still Raging, tour.

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Gov't Mule
Millenium Center
04.18.06
Winston-Salem, NC

At the turn of the century, the Millenium Center held the local courthouse and jails. All the crew that ventured downstairs spoke of an eerie feeling and perhaps the spirits of the previous "residents" provided the inspiration for an extra-bluesy show. The jailhouse feel of the first set was highlighted by soulful renditions of “Bad Man Walking” and the aptly titled “Time To Confess”. Those in attendance also bore witness to the introduction of TWO BRAND NEW GOV’T MULE SONGS. The new tracks, “Child of The Earth” and an instrumental named “Three String George” (titled in tribute to George Porter Jr.) have been added to the Mule’s catalog during the recent recording sessions for the upcoming album “High & Mighty.” If these two tracks are any indication, the Mule Tracks are going to be filled with some brand new gems over the next few months.

The Second set took on a more rock'n'roll feel, with the crowd singing along in unified voice to 'Hammer and Nails'. 'Effigy>Drums>Effigy contained a mixture of mesmerizing Mule music, a bit of country hoedown and blister inducing drumming only to move on to 'The Letter' which had a groove so wide, you could drive a truck through it. There is nothing better than a well written song, sung and played to perfection. And that was our dessert, Sugaree as an encore.

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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
Innsbrook Pavilion
04.19.06
Glen Allen, VA

Innsbrook Pavilion was the perfect setting for a perfect Mule show. The band came out of the gate with a rockin' show opener, Bad Little Doggie and a hard-driving Lola, Leave Your Light On. A lengthy performance of Mountain Jam, book-ended by Game Face got the crowd fired up and ready for longtime friend Ron Holloway. Sco-Mule and All Along The Watchtower reaped the benefits of Holloway's horn as did all in attendance. The Second Set started quietly with Warren playing Wasted Time solo but quickly changed into a higher gear when the band rejoined him for Mule. Ron Holloway was back in the mix too, for Devil Likes It Slow, a long jazzy jam that led into Matt's assault on his drums. Ron Holloway added his brilliance on two other songs this evening, For My Lover and the second song encore, Soulshine, which shined even brighter with his saxophone.

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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
Disco Rodeo
04.20.06
Raleigh, NC

Happy 4.20! And what a happy one it was. Everybody was feeling good as the band took the stage for the show opener, and Mr. Man just made us all feel a bit better. The energy in the room was translated through the band into stellar renditions of Rocking Horse, Painted Silver Light and Wine and Blood. Soulshine, normally a show closer, ended the first set which was perhaps an indication of things to come. And what came was the Second Set. It opened with Don't Stand On The Grass, Sam. The band played brilliantly as Farmer walked the stage like a ring girl at a prize fight holding up signs. Lively Up Yourself was not only fitting for the day, but the manner in which it was played would make one think that Bob Marley had been born in the Mississippi Delta. After Matt built the crowd into a frenzy, the band returned to break out Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood for the first time ever, only to be joined by Dave Schools and JoJo Hermann of Widespread Panic for Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys and Marshall Tucker's Can't You See to end the set.

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Gov't Mule
Vanderbilt University
04.22.06
Nashville, TN

Although shorter in duration than a standard Gov't Mule show, this show was not short on talent. The last song played at the last show was Blind Man In The Dark. It was also the opener of tonight's show and truly displayed the Mule's unique talent for improvisation. Always a crowd pleaser, Banks Of The Deep End got the crowd singing along and Mule got 'em moving. After Time To Confess, long time friend Audley Freed sat in for Don't Let It Bring You Down as he and Warren sent guitar licks flying across the stage at each other. Thorazine Shuffle featured a great jam that primed the crowd for the always rockin’ set closer, 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
The Blue Note
04.23.06
Columbia, MO

Unbelievable! The Blue Note is a smaller, intimate theater perfectly suited for the Mule. Before the show even started, there was an electricity in the air that forewarned the show to come. Warren took the lead by starting John The Revelator A Cappella with the crowd doing more than their share of backing him up. The band then joined in and Danny displayed his trumpeting skills as well. Every song in the set was played with a fire that comes from those deep down places, but if there were highlights to be chosen, they would have to be the melodic Tastes Like Wine; the first Spanish Moon of the Year; and, Lola Leave Your Light On went far beyond any written or verbal description.

The Second Set featured a rockin’ Zappa tune, Trouble Every Day, and the still new Three String George. Matt's thundering drums was bookended in an equine manner; with Rocking Horse on the in, and the year's first Wild Horses on the out. All in all, the first encore song summed up the night: From A Whisper To A Scream.

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Gov't Mule
Stephens Auditorium
04.25.06
Ames, IA

We were greeted by cold rain and wind, but the weather, like everything else, improved rapidly and reached a state of perfection by doors. The Deja Voodoo backdrop was revealed as Mr.Man kicked off the first set, then Danny and his keys slid them into a great Perfect Shelter. At the end of Bad Man Walking, the "Four Mule" Backdrop came back bathed in vibrant color to signal the beginning of Trane. The first set also featured a new addition to the Mule's repertoire, A Million Miles From Yesterday.

The Second Set began with a galloping Banks Of The Deep End followed by a fierce Drivin' Rain. An extra-jazzy Thelonius Beck wound it's way into Matt's palm slapping drum solo through a jam and into Temporary Saint. And extended Mule closed the set and the crowd stomped and cheered until the band came back to play the encore, Soulshine.

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Gov't Mule
The Michigan Theater
04.26.06
Ann Arbor, MI

The Michigan Theater played host to another stellar Gov't Mule show. Bad Little Doggie was the first offering in the set followed by a raucous Lola Leave Your Light On. Once again, Mountain Jam, bookended by Gameface, displayed the band's talent for virtuosity and musicianship. Another "sandwiched" song played for the first time ever was #2, an instrumental number worked up during the recent recording sessions for “High & Mighty”.

The second set also featured a first-timer. Out of I'm A Ram, the Beatles' Love Me Do (played reggae-style), made it's first appearance before going back into I'm A Ram. Between The Other One jam/tease, Blind Man On The Dark and an in general thundering second set, it's hard to pick out a highlight. However, standing above the rest was the first encore song New World Blues. The Mule was doing what they do best and they seemed to do it even better somehow.

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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
Town Ballroom
04.27.06
Buffalo, NY

Back in the 40's, 50's and 60's the Town Ballroom was the Queen City's most famous venue, hosting the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Henny Youngman. It is a different day and age, but the legendary performances continue as the Mule so aptly showed on Thursday. The crowd was so loud singing along to the show opener, Hammer And Nails, that they almost drowned out the PA. The energy continued to rise towards fever pitch when in the midst of I Think You Know What I Mean, they slid into When The Levee Breaks and then subtly slid back in to I Think You Know What I Mean. Also making their first appearance on the spring tour would be Red House and the foundation shaking That's What Love Will Make You Do.

As if the first set wasn't enough, the hits kept coming in round two. The Mule opened with When Doves Cry into Beautifully Broken back into When Doves Cry and again back into Beautifully Broken. All eyes were on Matt while he rhythmically attacked his drums bare-handed. Danny then started what turned into a jam before moving into Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and another tour first, Johnny Bratton. And our icing on the cake (jerk flavored) was the reggae-infused Soulshine as the encore. After this show, Buffalo may be famous for more than it's wings. Note: there is a slight buzz at the beginning of Mule on Disc 3.

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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
Calvin Theater
04.28.06
Northampton, MA

Once again, a show of firsts. After the show-opening Blind Man In The Dark, an extra funky Perfect Shelter and a rocking Bad Man Walking, Endless Parade made it's debut into the realm of Mule sets. A slow blues number featuring Warren's signature playing, it is sure to be a recurring and popular song. She Said, She Said moved through a long Jam into a version of Tomorrow Never Knows that would impress the Fab 4 themselves. Normally in the encore slot, Soulshine ended the first set leaving some speculation as to what the Mule would break out for set number two.

And what they did was another spring tour first, No Quarter. Three String George, a new instrumental, made another welcome appearance before Lively Up Yourself slid into Drums and the long Jam that followed. Not quite having their full of reggae yet, Time To Confess boogied along to an eager crowd before the set closer, Thorazine Shuffle. All speculation as to what the encore might be, could not sum up the Going Out West that The Mule left the stage with. After playing a brilliant show, the band ended the encore by singing the refrain A Cappella while walking around, then off the stage as the crowd chanted back louder and louder.

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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
University of Vermont
04.29.06
Burlington, VT

An afternoon show, one long set, a special guest... A great show. John The Revelator started the show off right while the crowd sang back to the band and Danny's trumpet rose above it all. Andy's Thorazine Shuffle groove came next and the crowd never stopped dancing through the whole set. Once again, the reggae infused Love Me Do made it's appearance in the middle of I'm A Ram before a two soulful renditions of Beautifully Broken and Patchwork Quilt. Vermont native and Mule friend Mike Gordon sat in with the boys for Banks Of The Deep End to much applause from all in attendance. After Andy returned to his bass-playing duties, they definitely kicked it into high gear for Bad Little Doggie and Livin' Lovin' Maid. After a scorching Mule, Soulshine ended the set. But, not to be outdone by last night's encore, Hunger Strike>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hunger Strike capped off a great day on the green at The University Of Vermont.

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If you don't see the tracklisting listed below here, click on the image on the above left. Note: there is a slight buzz on the left channel.

Gov't Mule
Stanley Theater
04.30.06
Utica, NY

The best adjective for the Stanley Theater would have to be "gilded". Built in 1929, it is truly one of the most beautiful venues in America. Built in the 1990's, Gov't Mule played a show that was not only gilded, but just as beautiful as the theater that enveloped both band and crowd. Mr. Man was the show opener and Lola Leave Your Light On got everybody hoppin'. Mountain Jam, played in the middle of Gameface, sounded as sweet and melodic as it ever has and then another spring tour debut, Presence Of The Lord, cinched this to be a truly memorable set.

The second set started with Warren playing his 12 string on Hide Your Love Away and then quickly changed direction for Rocking Horse. The middle of the set bore witness to a dark and powerful Effigy which gave way to Matt's thundering drumming before returning to Effigy. The set found it's end with a lively, upbeat reggae Soulshine. The encore just goes to show that with the Mule - just when you think it can't get any better - it does, and frequently. Tonight saw Rick Gerken sitting in on keys for two great blues numbers, Come On Into My Kitchen> Gonna Send You Back To Georgia.

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.