Gov’t Mule concluded a tour-opening run in Colorado on Sunday with the second of two nights at the Belly Up in Aspen. Warren Haynes led the group through jams on two Yes songs as part of the evening’s second set.
Mule went the familiar opening of “Railroad Boy” and then inserted “Mountain Jam” within “Game Face.” The first “Sarah, Surrender” since November paved the way for classics “Devil Likes It Slow” and “Larger Than Life.” Last night’s “Larger Than Life” contained a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “If 6 Way 9.” The pairing of “Million Miles From Yesterday” and “Revolution Come, Revolution Go” brought the frame to a close.
The quartet had two 2019 debuts in store to kick off the second set. Up first was Mule’s first version of the traditional “John The Revelator” since April 2018 and the return of Billy Cobham’s “Stratus” after five months on the shelf. Another bust out, Deja Voodoo track “My Separate Reality,” was dusted off after a year-and-a-half and led into the “No Need To Suffer” featuring the Yes tribute. Haynes & Co. transitioned from “No Need To Suffer” into a jam on Yes’ Relayer classic “The Gates Of Delirium” and then the legendary prog-rock band’s The Yes Album gem “Starship Trooper” before settling back in on “The Gates Of Delirium” and eventually ending “No Need To Suffer.” While Gov’t Mule played “Starship Trooper” once in 1999 and another time in 2000, the band has never performed all of “The Gates Of Delirium” as per Setlist.FM.
Sunday’s second continued with “Pressure Under Fire” from 2017’s Revolution Come…Revolution Go and the eponymous live staple “Mule.” Then, Gov’t Mule jammed Humble Pie’s “30 Days In The Hole” into “I Don’t Need No Doctor” and back again. While Ray Charles famously recorded the Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Jo Armstead-penned “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” Humble Pie found success with their version of the tune as well. Mule said farewell with their first cover of Dave Mason’s “Sad And Deep As You” since January 13, 2018. The tour now moves to the Midwest.
Setlist (via Mule.net)
Set One: Railroad Boy > Game Face > Mountain Jam > Game Face, Sarah Surrender, Devil Likes It Slow, Larger Than Life > If 6 Was 9 > Larger Than Life, Million Miles From Yesterday, Revolution Come Revolution Go
Set Two: John The Revelator > Stratus, My Separate Reality, No Need To Suffer > The Gates Of Delirium Jam > Starship Trooper Jam > The Gates Of Delirium Jam > No Need To Suffer, Pressure Under Fire, Mule, 30 Days In The Hole > I Don’t Need Do Doctor > 30 Days In The Hole
Encore: Sad & Deep As You
