This past Thursday, Aug. 28 saw Gov’t Mule returning to Columbus, Ohio’s Kemba Live! for an incredible night of eclectic jams.
The night kicked off with an opening set from Asbury Park, New Jersey up-and-comers Dogs In A Pile. The crowd was thin at first, but as the evening grew and the band progressed, the venue began to fill.
The band seemed to have a pretty solid cult following; some onlookers unaware, but those who were, absolutely beamed with joy. As a long time follower of the Dogs, it was great to finally watch a set unravel.
They had fantastic energy, the keys and the bass being a highlight for me. They even pulled out a gnarly rendition of The Who classic “Pinball Wizard,” and ended the evening with by far their most energetic and explosive jam of the entire set, “Chop Shop.”
When the sun began to set, we saw Warren Haynes and the rest of Gov’t Mule take to the stage under the glow of lights and pools of smoke; tearing off immediately into traditional folk song “Railroad Boy.”
As the evening moved onward, we received a staggering 17-song set with zero breaks, aside from the moments before the encore.
The band was beyond tight, each member evenly showcased throughout the entirety of the set. Even when drifting off into space, the band remained on par and in perfect synch with one another.
The energy of the crowd alone was phenomenal, paired with the incredible light show and the outdoor atmosphere that Kemba Live! provides—the entire lawn shifting, grooving and getting lost in the evening.
Bluesy, jazzy, jammy, spacious. Even a touch of reggae came about as the set progressed. With Warren’s searing hot guitar tones, his moving vocals.
The bass booming and thumping, exploring every inch of the fretboard. The organ ablaze, and drums pounding; Gov’t Mule melted the face off of every onlooker with their extensive one-set show.
We got some of the band’s best original material as well as covers from Al Green and Howlin’ Wolf, all the way to Tower Of Power and The Beatles with “She Said She Said,” leading directly into “Tomorrow Never Knows;” both of which included some beautiful tease work of other familiar and famous Beatles’ tunes.
The night rounded out with a two-track encore; an incredible jam of Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen,” melting directly and seamlessly into the Timmy Shaw track “Gonna Send You Back To Georgia.”
All in all what you get with Gov’t Mule is always bound to be a surprise, but regardless of what unravels, you are absolutely bound to witness mastery.
As a long time follower of the jam band scene from my late teens to mid-twenties, I can confidently say that Gov’t Mule are undoubtedly one of the very best to ever do it.
Sprint, don’t walk, to get yourself a ticket to The Back In The Saddle Tour in a city near you, and prepare for a night spent in absolute awe.
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