To those who get a glimpse of Hollywood and some of its residents through reality shows and supermarket tabloids, the place must seem like a bottomless pit of shallowness. While there is plenty to validate such thoughts, it’s a big town that also caters to those looking for something with substance. Many of these types could be found at the Music Box on November 5th, where Gov’t Mule brought their annual west coast run to a spectacular close.
There would be no opener for this show, just two tremendous sets of Mule. The band explored various moods and sounds, and was always heavy on heaviness. The band’s loose playing created the space for courageous improvisation, which led to plenty of over-the-top jams that showcased each respective musician’s talents. Unlike the Beverly Hills surgeons who create silicone Playmates a few miles away, Dr. Warren and company were producing something real.
The amps were cranked way up for this show. The band kicked off the evening with the trashy funk metal of “Steppin Lightly,” followed by “Broke Down on the Brazos,” a pummeling juggernaut off of the band’s 2009 release, “By a Thread.” That fist clenching rock energy was an essential ingredient of the band’s music throughout the night, whether they tackled a ballad or the blues. They would even merge their hammer-and-nails sound with reggae, as heard during “I’m a Ram” and their instrumental cover of Bob Marley’s “Lively Up Yourself.”
On this night, axe man Warren Haynes was at his best, earning all of the praise that his fans and fellow musicians have given him over the years. Every chord was vibrant, every note had soul. The Godzilla-stomp awesomeness of his riffs echoed the spirit of two of his obvious influences, Leslie West and Tony Iommi. The snarl and scream of his sexy solos set the room ablaze like an October wildfire.
But without his band of brothers, there would be no killer waves for Warren to fret board surf. Bassist Jorgen Carlsson and drummer Matt Abts laid down nitty gritty musical foundations full of rock and roll fire. Keyboardist Danny Louis layered the music with beautiful melodies from behind his captain’s chair. He even picked up a guitar for a couple of songs. Collectively, the quartet’s chemistry was incredible. Old warhorses like “Gameface” and “Blind Man in the Dark” sounded much more fluid than they did years ago. The improvisational jams sandwiched between songs were thrilling voyages into the unknown.
As with other Gov’t Mule shows, the band made room for special guests. For their encore, old friends Peter Thorn and Jeff Young joined the band to partake in a double dose of slow blues. A slick cover of Robert Johnson’s “Come On Into My Kitchen” featured Haynes and Thorn intertwining and complimenting each other’s tasteful notes, eventually giving way to the sly sludge of the Rolling Stones’ “Ventilator Blues.” With the addition of Young, who took over on keyboards so Danny Louis could play some raunchy trumpet, the band and their guests brought the show to a thunderous close.
Like fellow road dogs such as the Dave Matthews Band and the Black Crowes, the Gov’t Mule camp announced earlier this year that they were going to take a break, in their case a time-out from a hefty touring schedule in 2011. They will play a few special events, including their Island Exodus event, (which goes down from January 27-31 in Negril, Jamaica) but there doesn’t seem to be any hint of another west coast swing in the cards. However, just because the Mule is taking a break from the road, doesn’t mean Warren Haynes will be. On December 11th, at the annual “Christmas Jam” that he hosts in his hometown of Asheville, he will introduce the Warren Haynes band, the new ensemble that he will be taking on the road in 2011. No dates have been announced, but keep those fingers crossed and stay tuned.
Setlist
Set 1: Steppin’ Lightly, Broke Down on the Brazos, Gameface (w/ Mountain Jam tease), Wishing Well, Kind of Bird, Monkey Hill (w/ She’s So Heavy tease), Beautifully Broken, I’m a Ram
Set 2: Railroad Boy, Forevermore, Lively Up Yourself, King’s Highway, KH Jam, Drums, Lay Your Burdon Down, Smokestack Lightning, Lay Your Burdon Down (reprise), Blind Man in the Dark, Any Open Window
Encore: Come On Into My Kitchen*, Ventilator Blues*
* w/ Peter Thorn & Jeff Young
