Gov’t Mule brought their southern, power-rock trio to the Newport Wednesday night for a show that boasted the 6-year-old band’s versatility as a major rock force of the new millineium.
Mule, as they are fondly called by fans, opened the night with a few bluesy tunes off their new album, Life Before Insanity, including the gritty radio release, “Bad Little Doggy” and a soulful version of their new song, “Heavy” in which Ben Harper sings guest vocals on the new CD.
Sorry, you Harper fans. No guest appearance by Harper at the Mule show.
But lead guitarist and vocalist Warren Haynes doesn’t need the assistance of Mr. Harper to bring off a performance. He knows exactly how to play that, “music for your ass,” as he often chants between songs.
The ex-Allman Brothers guitarist who filled Duane Allman’s shoes for many years has that deep, raspy voice that southern rock legends are made of. Combine this with a slide guitar that at times resembles a resurrection of Duane himself and you have a lead guitar that can blow the doors off of any venue.
Carlos Santana has got nothing on this guy.
With their streaming “hippie freak flag” hair, Haynes and former Allman Brothers bass player Allen Woody fed off each other with guitar arrangements that sounded as good live as they do on the album.
Woody played bass as if some divine deliverence had possessed his fingers. His effortless plucking made it look like anyone in the audience could step up on stage and take his spot.
But if Mule fans love the large repitoire of power blues songs the band has written during its short life than they must have had butterflies in their stomachs when the Mule busted out a pounding version of “Woman” by Van Morrison. Even Morrison would be proud to hear the way drummer Matt Abts drove his song home with percision banging to keep up with Haynes’ racing guitar progressions.
And if that wasn’t enough, a Mule encore incorporated the age old blues tune, “She Caught the Caddy,” with members of the Mississippi All-Stars sitting in on back-up rhythm guitar and wash board.
Add on a twangy rendition of the Allman Brothers’ “Soul Shine” and the Mule had the makings of a classic Newport show to be filed away in those lost archives of great live rock performances. Let’s hope some parasite had a DAT recorder under his shirt at the show.
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