12.31.2007 Gov’t Mule at the Beacon Theater

I have to admit, I was in uncharted waters before heading to the Beacon Theater on New Years Eve, but figured I was in store for something special with a show entitled “The Winter of Love.” This was my first New Year’s Eve away from Widespread Panic since 1997 so initially I felt as if I was cheating on my girlfriend. Gov’t Mule did not disappoint as the performance was surely epic.

As I walked through the back door of the Beacon Theater, I entered the room directly behind the stage and could hear the muffled sounds coming from the stage. The MuleVan Engineering Chief, who I only know as “The Warden,” ran past me and told us that the band was in the midst of there opener, “A Brand New Angel.” I then hurried through backstage and out the side stage door. I could feel the electricity in the air as I entered the crowd. I found my seat, and was immediately smacked with the hard hitting “Mr. High and Mighty.” I could tell the band was feeling confident and the crowd was enthused. The first set went off without a hitch, and was highlighted by Warren Hayne’s solo “I’ll Be the One.”

The second set started off with a speech by Martin Luther King that was played along with slides and video. After the speech, a WCOS radio booth was placed on stage, and the guy sitting in the booth acted as the emcee. They opened with Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” followed by the Rolling Stones’, “2000 Light Years from Home.” After the Stone’s cover, the Mule started into Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love,” and followed it with the Beatle’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Here is where I start thinking to myself, “Wow, I am really seeing something special.” After a WCOS break they crank out Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” and “Spanish Castle Magic.” The covers continued as they ran through songs such as Vanilla Fudge’s “You Keep Me Hanging On,” and, one of my personal favorite’s, The Dead’s version of “Morning Dew.” The Dead cover was followed by The Doors’ “When the Music's Over” and “Light My Fire,” and James Brown’s “Cold Sweat.” Next, Steve Olsen came on stage to play saxophone along with the band as they covered Stevie Wonder’s “I Was Made To Love Her,” and William Bells’ “Born Under A Bad Sign” and “You Don't Miss Your Water.” The entire set was played along with video and still photography from the “Summer of Love” 1967.

The countdown to 2008 ensued after another WCOS break and the crowd hugged and kissed as balloons dropped from the ceiling and the clock struck midnight. “Happy New Year” rang throughout the Beacon and the second set concluded with covers of the Beatles’ ”Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “All You Need Is Love.” When I asked Steve Lopez, Widespread Panic’s Tour Manager and long time friend of the Mule, if he saw Mule’s performance on New Year’s Eve he said, “I did look at that set list...damn...Warren is the man...and to remember all those lyrics?” Steve’s right, the guys really performed in the second set.

The Mule started set three with “You Don’t Miss Your Water” followed by a final announcement from the WCOS radio. After WCOS signed off, the band continued the third set with “Expression,” the Temptation’s “I’m Losing You,” and “Mule.” All three songs featured Steve Olsen on the saxophone. Later in the set and in the style only which the Mule can play – they ripped the classic “Don’t Step on the Grass Sam.” The hard hitting tune featured the crew members with cue cards and the crowd singing along enthusiastically.

Gov’t Mule had certainly outdone themselves with the previous three sets but somehow had the soul in them to belt out the tear jerker “Sad and Deep as You.” The emotionally charged tune was a great end to an epic performance. I think Sirius satellite producer Robyn Gould said it best, “Warren blew my mind with never before played songs, one after another and nailed each one. Covering Dave Mason’s ‘Sad and Deep As you’ at the end of the night brought me to tears and rang in 2008 on a perfect note.”

Gov’t Mule is Warren Haynes on lead guitar and vocals, Andy Hess on bass, Danny Louis on keyboard, and Matt Abts on drums.

Written by Neal Davis