Gov’t Mule continued their New Year’s Run on Saturday with their first of two shows at their home away from home this time of the year New York City’s Beacon Theatre. For the second night in a row, the jamband stalwarts were joined by some of their longtime friends welcoming Oz Noy, Jimmy Vivino, Paul Ill and Danny Draher.
Warren Haynes & Co. looked to their 2013 release Shout! to get things going opening up the night with “World Boss.” The pairing of “Lola, Leave Your Light On” and “Mr. High & Mighty” followed. Mule would stick to selections from their catalog reeling off takes on “Mr. Man,” “Pressure Under Fire” and “Slackjaw Jezebel.” The four-piece welcomed their first guest of the evening out next as Draher emerged. The blues-guitarist, who last sat in with Mule nearly 12 years ago to the day at the Beacon, assisted on a take on Duke Ellington’s “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.” A teased-filled version of “Funny Little Tragedy” that saw the band work in nods to The Police’s “The Bed’s Too Big Without You” and “Message In a Bottle” and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “Runnin’ Down A Dream” brought the opening frame to an end.
The foursome reached back for “Larger Than Life” from their sophomore studio effort Dose to open up the second stanza. The blues-rock act would then work their way through selections from Revolution Come…Revolution Go, Life Before Insanity and Mighty High. Noy emerged towards the back half of the set teaming with Mule on a cover of Billy Cobham’s “Red Baron” from the jazz-fusion drummer’s 1973 album Spectrum. “Stone Cold Rage” and “Thorazine Shuffle” helped close things out. When Gov’t Mule returned for their encore they were joined by Vivino and Ill, who subbed for Jorgen Carlsson on bass, as the augmented ensemble dug in on Derek & The Dominos’ “Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad.” Watch fan-shot video captured by Sean Roche below:
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be with Danny Draher
Red Baron with Oz Noy
Thorazine Shuffle
Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad with Jimmy Vivino & Paul Ill
Setlist (via Gov’t Mule Facebook)
Set I: World Boss, Lola, Leave Your Light On > Mr. High & Mighty, Mr. Man with Mule tease, Pressure Under Fire,
Slackjaw Jezebel, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be*, Funny Little Tragedy
Set II: Larger Than Life, Thorns Of Life, No Need To Suffer, Unblow Your Horn, Red Baron**, Stone Cold Rage, Thorazine Shuffle with The Thorazine Shuffle Dancers
Encore: Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad^
* with Danny Draher, ** with Oz Noy, ^ with Jimmy Vivino & Paul Ill; without Jorgen Carlsson
