Saw Gov't Mule last night

Denis · February 09, 2014, 07:53:19 AM

First time I'd ever seen them. They struck me as a cross between Allman Brothers and Mastodon (light). The current bassist, Jorgen Carlson, started out with what looked like a new G-3 or Grabber II (couldn't tell because he performed with his back to us for most of the show), but that bass had some sort of technical problem so it was swapped out with a ferocious sounding Thunderbird.

After a couple of songs the T-bird was switched out for what looked like a Jack Cassidy, which he used for most of the rest of the evening. Scattered in later part of the evening was a P-bass and an 8 string bass I couldn't get a good look at.

They sounded great!

Stjofön Big · February 09, 2014, 10:26:40 AM

Denis; I envy you!

Grog · February 09, 2014, 12:42:11 PM

They're great! I saw them twice shortly after Woody passed away.............

Highlander · February 09, 2014, 02:27:41 PM

Jackie and I saw "them" with the Bro's but never seen the Mule... certainly enjoy their music and Warren's an excellent player, as was Woody...

Basvarken · February 09, 2014, 02:34:39 PM

I saw them twice in one year. I really liked both shows. Completely different set lists.
Matt Abts is awesome. The way he keeps it all together on the Deepest End DVD is incredible.

I have to admit Warren Haynes voice gets on my nerves after a while. Especially on their albums, I avoid listening more than three songs in a row. From their last album I like the bonus CD best. It has the same songs as the official album, but sung by guest singers. Guess they have the same issue with Warren's voice themselves?

4stringer77 · February 09, 2014, 06:05:08 PM

Same deal with Bonamassa. Wish they focused on the guitar and left the singing to some Paul Rodgers type. Jorgen would be the band's second bassist since Woody's passing right?

Psycho Bass Guy · February 09, 2014, 06:49:58 PM

Warren Haynes' problem is that he CAN sing and sing well, but he's so focused on his guitar playing, he can't recognize the same performance/production in his singing. His solo work from the late 80's is light years better in singing, but very dated in every other respect. Few people recognize that Jimi Hendrix's soothing, smooth baritone was the perfect melodic foil to his guitar histrionics and without HIS voice, Jimi would NOT be the icon he is today.

Denis · February 10, 2014, 06:38:29 AM

Since I'm not that familiar with Gov't Mule's catalog I didn't recognize anything so had no preconceptions about what I was going to hear. I was surprised by the two covers, "Love Me Do" and "Bang a Gong" near the end of the show. The Beatles cover really caught me off guard!
Great show though and I'd go again.

I think Jorgen is the band's second permanent bassist. He's good too.

uwe · February 10, 2014, 09:39:59 AM

That's a Grabber II he's playing. Sounded good too at the concert I saw. When he took out the Fender, he sounded crisper but not better.

Agree with Rob, Haynes' voice gets boring (and the bonus CD with the guest vocals is the better one). He should get a well-singing Missus like that other band colleague in his day job did (and that is one hot slide solo he does towards the end!):

Or like Rob has!

westen44 · February 10, 2014, 10:45:02 AM

Quote from: Psycho Bass Guy on February 09, 2014, 06:49:58 PM
Warren Haynes' problem is that he CAN sing and sing well, but he's so focused on his guitar playing, he can't recognize the same performance/production in his singing. His solo work from the late 80's is light years better in singing, but very dated in every other respect. Few people recognize that Jimi Hendrix's soothing, smooth baritone was the perfect melodic foil to his guitar histrionics and without HIS voice, Jimi would NOT be the icon he is today.

Noel Redding says something similar to what you're saying about Hendrix's voice in his "Are You Experienced?" autobiography.

Psycho Bass Guy · February 10, 2014, 02:06:04 PM

Jimi's voice by itself was gorgeous. He sang soulfully but with the altered texture of his guitar playing, the music he produced was VERY far removed from the cookie cutter soul and blues songs of the 60's, and I'm not slagging them either. Warren Haynes needs some of his hunger and fire back. He's just so focused on what he's doing with his hands and heart that he forgets his voice needs to be in the equation too. He certainly has the ability. I think if a producer from outside his comfort zone got ahold of him, it would fix that.

Here's his big radio hit from years ago and just listen to how much he's actually emoting in his singing and not just mentally 'stepping on the jam band-soul-trip voice pedal' like he does now. The bass line sounds like it could have been part of an 80's primetime tv show theme.