Gov't Mule
Encyclopedia
Gov't Mule is a Southern rock
jam band
formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band
side project by Warren Haynes
and Allen Woody
.
The band 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.
and Allen Woody joined on bass guitar. The two shared a love for 1960s power trio
s like Cream
, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, the James Gang
and Mountain
. Haynes, Woody, and drummer Matt Abts
, who played with Haynes in the Dickey Betts
Band, came together as Gov't Mule during Allman Brothers breaks. They released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995. Live from Roseland Ballroom
was released in 1996, consisting of their 1995 New Year's Eve
set opening for Blues Traveler
.
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
).
, to critical praise, and although the band had already experienced previous successes, they anticipated a greater commercial success with this album. Unfortunately, Allen Woody was found dead in New York City
in August of that year. On September 21, 2000 a benefit concert was organized called "One for Woody", with the proceeds going to Woody's daughter, Savannah Woody, intended for her education. The Allman Brothers, The Black Crowes, Phil Lesh and Friends
, Jimmy Herring
, Edwin McCain
and several more of Woody's friends also performed at the concert. Haynes and Abts continued to do limited touring in the Fall of 2000 supporting Ben Harper
& The Innocent Criminals as an homage to Woody. Their subsequent "Smile at Half Mast Tour" that followed was named in reference to a poem Haynes wrote for Woody's funeral.
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.
, was released in September 2004, and additional material from those sessions was released in 2005 as Mo' Voodoo. The new lineup's second full release, High & Mighty
, was released on August 22, 2006, and it was followed in 2007 by a dub/reggae album called Mighty High - including versions of covers and original songs with special guest appearances by Michael Franti
, Toots Hibbert
, and Willi Williams
.
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 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.
, was on schedule for release on October 27, 2009.
On the same date, the first track of the new album, called "Broke Down On The Brazos" (featuring Billy Gibbons
of ZZ Top
), was made available for listening on the website.
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.
, and DJ Logic.
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
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
jam band
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
side project by Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
and Allen Woody
Allen Woody
Douglas Allen Woody was bass guitarist best known for his tenure in the rock groups The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Artimus Pyle Band, The Peter Criss Band, Blue Floyd, and Montage.-Biography:...
.
The band 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.
1990s
When The Allman Brothers Band reformed in 1989 in response to the popularity of their Dreams box set, Warren Haynes was added on lead guitarLead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
and Allen Woody joined on bass guitar. The two shared a love for 1960s power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
s like Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, the James Gang
James Gang
The James Gang was a rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966. Though the band was not a huge commercial success, except in the Northeast Ohio area, the fame garnered by guitarist Joe Walsh has since made the group more notable.- History :...
and Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
. Haynes, Woody, and drummer Matt Abts
Matt Abts
Matt Abts is a Grammy Award-nominated American drummer best known as a member of the band Gov't Mule.-Biography:Abts started playing music while attending high school in Panama before relocating to Virginia where he spent the next eight years playing music regionally in vast number of local bands...
, who played with Haynes in the Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
Band, came together as Gov't Mule during Allman Brothers breaks. They released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995. Live from Roseland Ballroom
Live from Roseland Ballroom
Live at Roseland Ballroom is the first live album by the jam band Gov't Mule. It was taken from their performance on New Year's Eve, 1995, opening for Blues Traveler. It was recorded at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan....
was released in 1996, consisting of their 1995 New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
set opening for Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
.
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
Dose (album)
Dose is the second studio album released by Gov't Mule. It is a much darker record than Gov't Mule's self titled debut album. The songs "Thelonius Beck" and "Birth of the Mule" were tributes to jazz musicians Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis, respectively....
, their second studio effort, was released in early 1998. They were joined by members of the Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, Parliament
Parliament (band)
Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
/Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
and The Derek Trucks Band
The Derek Trucks Band
The Derek Trucks Band has been called a "group of musicians that share a passion for improvisation and musical exploration" by a reviewer at Allmusic....
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
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
, Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, and Mongo Santamaría
Mongo Santamaría
Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All...
(via John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
).
2000-2003
In February 2000, the band released Life Before InsanityLife Before Insanity
Life Before Insanity is the third studio album by Gov't Mule, released in 2000. It is the last album recorded with founding member Allen Woody, who died shortly after its release.-Track listing:All songs by Warren Haynes unless otherwise noted....
, to critical praise, and although the band had already experienced previous successes, they anticipated a greater commercial success with this album. Unfortunately, Allen Woody was found dead in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in August of that year. On September 21, 2000 a benefit concert was organized called "One for Woody", with the proceeds going to Woody's daughter, Savannah Woody, intended for her education. The Allman Brothers, The Black Crowes, Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including groups featuring members of Phish, Little Feat, and the Zen...
, Jimmy Herring
Jimmy Herring
Jimmy Herring is an American guitarist who is currently the lead guitarist in the band Widespread Panic. Herring is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit and Jazz is Dead...
, Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain
Edwin McCain is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:While his albums are released under his name, he does have a permanent band, referred to as the Edwin McCain Band...
and several more of Woody's friends also performed at the concert. Haynes and Abts continued to do limited touring in the Fall of 2000 supporting Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
& The Innocent Criminals as an homage to Woody. Their subsequent "Smile at Half Mast Tour" that followed was named in reference to a poem Haynes wrote for Woody's funeral.
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
Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including groups featuring members of Phish, Little Feat, and the Zen...
and other re-formed Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
bands.
The next year, Haynes and Abts began to record a tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
. using some of Woody's favorite bass players. These sessions resulted in two CDs The Deep End, Volume 1
The Deep End, Volume 1
After the death of founding member and bassist Allen Woody, Gov't Mule considered breaking up. Instead, remaining members Warren Haynes and Matt Abts recorded several songs with bass players admired by Woody. The Deep End, Volume 1, issued in 2001, was the first CD of material released from these...
(2001) and The Deep End, Volume 2
The Deep End, Volume 2
After the death of founding member and bassist Allen Woody, Gov't Mule began recording tracks using bass players that Woody had admired. Originally, there was to be one disc, but so many wanted to be part of the sessions that over 160 minutes of music was recorded. At this point, the remaining...
(2002). A documentary of the recording sessions was also made by Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
bassist Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
called Rising Low
Rising Low
Rising Low is Mike Gordon's second feature film - a documentary based on the life and death of Gov't Mule bassist Allen Woody and the making of a double-disc tribute album featuring a host of legendary bass players...
. Bass contributions to the CDs came from Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
, formerly of the "supergroup" Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
, John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
of Minutemen
Minutemen (band)
Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...
, Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
of Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
, Flea
Flea (musician)
Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...
of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, and Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
of Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
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
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
, Rob Barraco
Rob Barraco
Rob Barraco is a keyboardist who has played with Phil Lesh and Friends, The Dead, Dark Star Orchestra, Chris Robinson & New Earth Mud, the Zen Tricksters, Red Flannel Hash, and The Dragonflys. He was the permanent keyboardist for Phil Lesh and Friends from 2000 to 2003 and has been in the band's...
, Page McConnell
Page McConnell
Page Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
and Danny Louis. Bassists included, among others, Dave Schools
Dave Schools
Dave Schools aka "Dave Smalls", is the bassist for the band Widespread Panic , and hails from Richmond, Virginia. In addition to playing with Panic, he has had numerous side projects with Jerry Joseph, The Stockholm Syndrome, J Mascis and the Fog, Slang, and Acetate...
of Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, Oteil Burbridge
Oteil Burbridge
Oteil Burbridge, in Washington, D.C.), is a Grammy Award-nominated American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the current resurgence of the Allman Brothers Band...
who had filled Woody's former place in The Allman Brothers, Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
of Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
, Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten
Victor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
of the Flecktones, George Porter, Jr.
George Porter, Jr.
George Porter, Jr. is a musician best known as the bassist and singer of The Meters. Along with Art Neville, Porter formed the group in the mid 60's and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk. The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reformed in 1989...
of The Meters
The Meters
The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
, Jason Newsted
Jason Newsted
Jason Curtis Newsted is an American bassist known for his work with Metallica, Voivod and Flotsam and Jetsam. Joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001, making him the band's longest-serving bassist...
formerly of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Greg Rzab formerly of The Black Crowes and the Buddy Guy Band
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, and Andy Hess
Andy Hess
Andy Hess is an American bassist and former member of Gov't Mule, having joined the band in 2003. Previously, he was The Black Crowes' bassist from February 2001 until their hiatus early the following year...
, also formerly of The Black Crowes. Louis and Hess were eventually named as permanent members of Gov't Mule.
2004-2008
The first CD with Louis and Hess, Deja VoodooDeja Voodoo (album)
Déjà Voodoo is an album by the southern rock jam band Gov't Mule. It was the first Gov't Mule album to feature Andy Hess and Danny Louis as permanent members, and it was also the first album that Gov't Mule did not play live before its release...
, was released in September 2004, and additional material from those sessions was released in 2005 as Mo' Voodoo. The new lineup's second full release, High & Mighty
High & Mighty
High & Mighty is an album released by Gov't Mule on August 22, 2006.-Track listing:All songs written by Warren Haynes.#"Mr. High & Mighty" – 5:33#"Brand New Angel" – 6:53#"So Weak, So Strong" – 5:08#"Streamline Woman" – 4:06...
, was released on August 22, 2006, and it was followed in 2007 by a dub/reggae album called Mighty High - including versions of covers and original songs with special guest appearances by Michael Franti
Michael Franti
Michael Franti is an American poet, musician, and composer. He is the creator and lead vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock...
, Toots Hibbert
Toots Hibbert
Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert is a ska and roots reggae singer and leader of the reggae band Toots & the Maytals.-Biography:...
, and Willi Williams
Willi Williams
Willi Williams is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and producer. He is known as the "Armagideon Man" after his hit, "Armagideon Time", first recorded in 1978 at Studio One in Kingston. The song was covered by The Clash as the flipside of their "London Calling" single.-Biography:Williams was born...
.
Gov't Mule continues to tour extensively and has become a staple act at many music festivals including Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Mountain Jam
Mountain Jam (festival)
Mountain Jam is a three-day music festival in upstate New York, held at the world class Hunter Mountain ski resort the weekend after Memorial Day. In its short history, Mountain Jam has become one of the top music festivals in the U.S. and the premier festival in the Northeast. Rolling Stone...
, Vegoose
Vegoose
Vegoose was an annual Halloween music and arts festival that took place in 2005, 2006, and 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike the Bonnaroo Music Festival — put on by the same organizers, Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment — Vegoose does not offer on-site camping...
, All Good
All Good Music Festival
The All Good Music Festival and Camp Out is a weekend-long event held annually in July. Since its inception in 1997, it has been held at venues along the Mid-Atlantic, including Masontown, West Virginia and locations in Maryland and Virginia...
, and their annual New Orleans Jazzfest
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana...
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
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The concert usually takes place the weekend before Christmas at the Asheville Civic Center
Asheville Civic Center
The Asheville Civic Center is a 7,654-seat multi-purpose arena, in Asheville, North Carolina.It was home to the Asheville Altitude basketball team in the NBDL, before the franchise moved to Tulsa in 2005 and the United Hockey League's Asheville Smoke and also the SPHL's Asheville Aces.The venue...
, 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
Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Greenhill, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals.-Background:Almost all of Isbell's family, except his parents, were musicians, and his father was an avid music listener...
, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, G. Love
G. Love
Garrett Dutton , better known as G. Love, is the frontman for the band G. Love & Special Sauce.-Biography:Dutton, the son of a banking lawyer, was born in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, and began playing guitar at age eight. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the ninth...
, Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
and Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
among others. Gov't Mule headlined.
On June 28, 2008, Gov't Mule performed as a power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
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 radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
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.
2009
On August 17, 2009, it was announced on the band's official website that Gov't Mule's eighth studio album, entitled By a ThreadBy a Thread
By a Thread is the ninth full length studio album by Gov't Mule. It has been released on October 27, 2009, on Evil Teen Records. It is the first album to feature bassist Jorgen Carlsson, who joined the band in 2008, replacing Andy Hess....
, was on schedule for release on October 27, 2009.
On the same date, the first track of the new album, called "Broke Down On The Brazos" (featuring Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons
William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
of ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
), was made available for listening on the website.
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
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
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
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
covers. The previous sold-out shows had featured covers of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's Houses of the Holy
Houses of the Holy
Houses of the Holy is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released by Atlantic Records on 28 March 1973. The album title is a dedication by the band to their fans who appeared at venues they dubbed "Houses of the Holy". It was the second Led Zeppelin album to not...
and an assortment of Pink Floyd compositions.
2010
Gov't Mule played at the "Island Exodus" in Negril, Jamaica in January 2010, at the inclusive resort The Grand Lido Negril. The First Island Exodus consisted of three Gov't Mule shows and a Warren Haynes solo show. Also appearing at this event were Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Ron HollowayRon Holloway
Ronald Edward "Ron" Holloway is an American tenor saxophonist. He is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz where veteran jazz critic Ira Gitler described Holloway as a "bear-down-hard-bopper who can blow authentic R&B and croon a ballad with warm, blue feeling." Holloway is the recipient...
, and DJ Logic.
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
Discography
Following is a listing of Gov't Mule's major releases. Note that nearly every concert that Gov't Mule plays is recorded and made available for on-line purchase in both high and low resolution .mp3 format, and in a lossless .flac format.| Year | Album details | Chart peak positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
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| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Ind. Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
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| 1995 | Gov't Mule
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| 1996 | Live from Roseland Ballroom Live from Roseland Ballroom Live at Roseland Ballroom is the first live album by the jam band Gov't Mule. It was taken from their performance on New Year's Eve, 1995, opening for Blues Traveler. It was recorded at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan.... |
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| 1998 | Dose Dose (album) Dose is the second studio album released by Gov't Mule. It is a much darker record than Gov't Mule's self titled debut album. The songs "Thelonius Beck" and "Birth of the Mule" were tributes to jazz musicians Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis, respectively.... |
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| 1999 | Live... With a Little Help from Our Friends
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| 2000 | Life Before Insanity Life Before Insanity Life Before Insanity is the third studio album by Gov't Mule, released in 2000. It is the last album recorded with founding member Allen Woody, who died shortly after its release.-Track listing:All songs by Warren Haynes unless otherwise noted.... |
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| 2001 | The Deep End, Volume 1 The Deep End, Volume 1 After the death of founding member and bassist Allen Woody, Gov't Mule considered breaking up. Instead, remaining members Warren Haynes and Matt Abts recorded several songs with bass players admired by Woody. The Deep End, Volume 1, issued in 2001, was the first CD of material released from these... ATO Records According to Our Records was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews , Coran Capshaw, Chris Tetzeli, and Michael McDonald as a division of RCA Records... |
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| 2002 | The Deep End, Volume 2 The Deep End, Volume 2 After the death of founding member and bassist Allen Woody, Gov't Mule began recording tracks using bass players that Woody had admired. Originally, there was to be one disc, but so many wanted to be part of the sessions that over 160 minutes of music was recorded. At this point, the remaining... |
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| 2003 | The Deepest End, Live in Concert The Deepest End, Live In Concert The Deepest End, Live in Concert is a two disc live album and video by Gov't Mule, released on October 7, 2003. It was recorded in New Orleans on May 3, 2003.... |
153 | — | — | US Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : Gold |
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| 2004 | Deja Voodoo Deja Voodoo (album) Déjà Voodoo is an album by the southern rock jam band Gov't Mule. It was the first Gov't Mule album to feature Andy Hess and Danny Louis as permanent members, and it was also the first album that Gov't Mule did not play live before its release... |
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| 2005 | Mo' Voodoo Mo' Voodoo Mo' Voodoo is an EP by Gov't Mule. In May 2005, Gov't Mule released this five song EP of additional material recorded during breaks of their last tour... (EP) |
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| 2006 | High & Mighty High & Mighty High & Mighty is an album released by Gov't Mule on August 22, 2006.-Track listing:All songs written by Warren Haynes.#"Mr. High & Mighty" – 5:33#"Brand New Angel" – 6:53#"So Weak, So Strong" – 5:08#"Streamline Woman" – 4:06... RED Distribution RED - An Artist Development Company is a Sony Music Entertainment-owned sales and marketing division that handles releases for over sixty independent record labels.... |
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| 2007 | Mighty High Mighty High Mighty High is an album released by Gov't Mule on October 16, 2007. Mighty High features reggae and dub versions of classic Mule covers and originals with special guest appearances by reggae legends Michael Franti, Toots Hibbert, and Willi Williams... |
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| 2009 | By a Thread By a Thread By a Thread is the ninth full length studio album by Gov't Mule. It has been released on October 27, 2009, on Evil Teen Records. It is the first album to feature bassist Jorgen Carlsson, who joined the band in 2008, replacing Andy Hess.... LP record The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry... |
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| 2010 | Mulennium Mulennium Mulennium is a live release by the band Gov't Mule. The release includes all three sets from the band's December 31, 1999/January 1, 2000 New Year's Eve show at the Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The band had headlined the same venue exactly one year before, which resulted in their second... |
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| "—" denotes albums that were released but did not chart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Members
- Matt AbtsMatt AbtsMatt Abts is a Grammy Award-nominated American drummer best known as a member of the band Gov't Mule.-Biography:Abts started playing music while attending high school in Panama before relocating to Virginia where he spent the next eight years playing music regionally in vast number of local bands...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, vocals (1994–present) - Warren HaynesWarren HaynesWarren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals (1994–present) - Jorgen Carlsson - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2008–present) - Danny Louis - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, guitar, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, vocals (2002–present) - Allen WoodyAllen WoodyDouglas Allen Woody was bass guitarist best known for his tenure in the rock groups The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Artimus Pyle Band, The Peter Criss Band, Blue Floyd, and Montage.-Biography:...
- bass, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, vocals (1994–2000) - Andy HessAndy HessAndy Hess is an American bassist and former member of Gov't Mule, having joined the band in 2003. Previously, he was The Black Crowes' bassist from February 2001 until their hiatus early the following year...
- bass (2003–2008)
External links
- Official Gov't Mule site
- Official Warren Haynes site
- Official Concert Recordings
- MULEbase, Gov't Mule setlist database
- Mule Skinner Blues, Warren Haynes, The Gibson Interview
- Warren Haynes micro-site with excellent video interview segments
- Interview with Warren Haynes on Trilogy Rock (Spain)
- Live Footage of Gov't Mule from 2008-2010 @ iclips.net