By Stuart Lynch
“Where’s my Mule!, Where’s my MULE!” belted out Warren Haynes as his band Gov’t Mule rocked out another set for the crowd in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the downtown amphitheater as the featured band of the “Big Bang” WWWV radio-sponsored festival.
It was a live free show that was seen and heard by kids up to hippie-adults, with their tie-dyed Dead shirts shimmering and dance-grooving bodies flowing. The hills surrounding the tent had kids tumbling over and over and playing, laughing. Little girls were holding hands in a circle and having a smile, as the Mule blasted through their Dose material such as “Thelonious Beck,” “Thorazine Shuffle” and “Blind Man in the Dark.”
Allen Woody (bass), Warren Haynes (guitar and vocals) and Matt Abts (drums) are three incredible musicians, blending style, power, heart, soul and guts into a balls-out rock show. My girlfriend Sunny remarked, “They sure know how to make people crazy!” There was never more proof then when they encored with the “Young Man Blues” medley. The energy was growing and reaching, pulling you in and making your body dance. You had to be rockin’ and having a good-ole time — what music is all about — to take you away from your troubles, sing your blues out and make you heal up inside.
For me, it all started in Pittsburgh when I attended a show at Rosebud’s on the Strip, 5/13/98. I had heard some tapes from California, knowing that Warren Haynes and Allen Woody had played in the Allman Brothers Band for 8 years. I knew what to expect — hard southern blues rock with a twist of jazz, tight melodies, slide guitar. Since I play guitar it takes a lot to really impress me. Well, let me tell you brothers and sisters, the Mule rocks like nobody! They blew the roof off the @%$^&*! Pittsburgh always appreciates good guitar players, and they were whooping and a hollering!
Warren Haynes is as good as anyone with an ax; just really great leads, chords, melodies, and chops pouring out of his Les Paul (what else?) guitar, Soldano amp head. To me, Warren is a cross between the great Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman and SRV, with Jeff Beck thrown in. He can really play any style, as evidenced by the extended acoustic version of “Afro Blue,” the eclectic melodic jazz fusion “Thelonius Beck,” the electric version of “Cortez the Killer” (where he played some Neil Young leads that sounded like a bumblebee that swallowed a birdbath), the introspective version of “Raven Black Night” with a beautiful soulful arrangement. Plus, Warren can sing. Wow, can he sing! Talk about soul-searching, hell-raising, and that perfect touch.
Allen Woody is a phenomenal bass player, sort of like Stanley Clarke meets John Entwistle. He can rip bass lines while holding the bottom down, as Warren and Matt trade licks.
Matt Abts is a Frankenstein mix of Bill Bruford and John Bonham. He soloed as the gathering whistled, cheered, freaked out. I don’t think he’ll be a secret for very much longer, since the advertising usually lists the ABB as a reference for Warren and Allen.
People should take notice of this band because it’s an important one. Now I can see why every show is taped, traded (the band is so cool to let this happen), thought about, dreamed about by the Mule fans. I feel very honored to write about the Mule. I haven’t felt this way about a band in a long time. In the past if I’ve seen a band once, I’ve seen them a million times. (except for some notable exceptions — Neil!) I could see the Mule many many more times and never get tired. They inspire me, cheer me up, and make me want to continue my own music.
The whole band has impressive control over their dynamics, bringing the moods in at just the right time. The Pittsburgh show was 2½ hours and could have gone on and on. The encore was a raging slide guitar trade off with Derek Trucks, who opened for the Mule. Afterwards, I didn’t want them to board their big 3-story purple tour bus, complete with built-in groupies on each level (or so I dream).
A Second, Acoustic Mule Show
A second all-acoustic show at the Outback Lodge in Charlottesville was sold-out. We were packed in like machine sardines, mikes aloft near the soundboard like tulip bulbs. I had my small recorder on my shoulder, ready to tape. The Mule finally came on after midnight, with much hooting and a hollering. It was a relief because I had been standing in one spot since 10:30, and was feeling like a flamingo in a frathouse. Smoky, sweating bullets, crowded. It was well worth the 400 miles I drove to get here, the bleary red eyes and lucid sober state I endured. The stage was about 20 feet wide, at best. On stage there was Warren Haynes and a rack of acoustic guitars, Matt Abts in the middle with a set of congas, playing his cymbals with his bare hands, Allen Woody with bass, mandolin, starting out with an unknown instrument that had a crescent shaped box, eastern sound.
“Raven Black Night” was the first song, played so thoughtfully, emotionally and cool. Allen Woody was playing these hindu-type scale leads that were neat. I loved the chord changes and melody, a truly unique song. I keep thinking that wow, I finally care about a band. They are creating art, not just sounding off. It’s a tightness the band shares and comes shining through. Songs like “I Shall Return” just echo in my own heart, giving me hope that I could come back from the obstacles I face in life. It really hits you in the home of your soul.
“I Put A Spell On You” was giving me goosebumps, how much I wanted to just join in and jam. But really, all I wanted to do was listen, soak up the moment and I wasn’t worrying about life. Warren Haynes belts out the lyrics with how a man should sing. I really enjoyed “It Hurts me Too” and felt the crushing blues surround me, but yet in a healing way.
Tim Reynolds joined the band at the end, for a rousing jamming version of “Afro Blue” that went on for at least 20 minutes. What a jam, how free and flowing and spiritual it was. I feel lucky for having seen a 2½ hour acoustic show that I hope someone with a good quality recorder captured. I have my version, which at least is something to keep forever…
Rock on Mule! You got fans a-waiting!
