Warren Haynes and Gov’t Mule are back in Asheville, North Carolina this weekend for the 30th edition of the prolific guitarist’s annual star-studded Christmas Jam. This year’s weekend event got moving with a pre-jam concert at the Orange Peel on Thursday night, which included notable appearances from Jimmy Vivino to Marco Benevento. Friday evening saw Haynes and other scheduled performers including Grace Potter, Jamey Johnson, Benevento, and Mike Gordon all move over to the larger U.S. Cellular Center to begin the main event. It was there on Friday where Gov’t Mule once again transformed into their Pink Floyd-themed Dark Side of the Mule, which sw Warren and his bandmates spend the entire set covering the famous psychedelic rock pioneers.
The show began with “Pigs On The Wing Pt. I” from Pink Floyd’s 1977 Animals LP, which included a wonderfully hazy ending solo from Haynes. From there, they transitioned into a pair of tunes from 1975’s Wish You Were Here with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part I” and “Have A Cigar”. Next, they moved into the sound effects-driven “Speak To Me” from their psychedelic masterpiece The Dark Side of the Moon, which of course went right into the album’s dreamy “Breathe (In The Air)”, “On The Run”, “Time”, “The Great Gig in the Sky”, and “Money”. From there, the band moved into climactic Dark Side ballad “Us And Them”, which saw them welcome My Morning Jacket‘s Jim James to the stage to help out on vocal duties.
Dark Side of the Mule with Jim James – “Us And Them” – 12/7/2018
[Video: Gregory Marcus]
The night continued with “Any Colour You Like” before the band took a break from Dark Side and transitioned into an eerily fun rendition of “Welcome To The Machine”. The latter half of the set also included “One Of These Days” and “Fearless” as well as part one of “Echoes” from 1971’s Meddle, before closing out with “Comfortably Numb”. The band would finally return to the stage for a one-song encore of “Wish You Were Here”. You can stream a full audience recording of Friday night’s Dark Side of the Mule set below.
Dark Side of the Mule – Christmas Jam – 12/7/2018 – Full Audio
[Audio: Z-man]
Night two of Christmas Jam will take place on Saturday night with sets from Gov’t Mule, Jim James, Dave Grohl and “Friends” performing PLAY, Eric Church, and Joe Bonamassa. Remaining tickets for Saturday’s festivities can be purchased here.
Setlist: Dark Side of the Mule | U.S. Cellular Center | Asheville, NC | 12/7/2018
Set: Pigs On The Wing Part I* > Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part I, Have A Cigar > Speak To Me > Breathe (In The Air) > On The Run, Time, Great Gig In The Sky, Money, Us And Them**, Any Colour You Like > Welcome To The Machine, One Of These Days > Fearless > Echoes (Part I) > Comfortably Numb
Encore: Wish You Were Here
* Warren Solo
** W/Jim James On Vocals
[H/T JamBuzz]
The post Gov’t Mule Welcomes Jim James For “Us And Them” At Christmas Jam ‘Dark Side Of The Mule’ Set [Video/Full Audio] appeared first on L4LM.
