Warren Haynes-Less Gov’t Mule Kicks Off Island Exodus With Guests Galore In Jamaica

Gov’t Mule went sans Warren Haynes at their Island Exodus destination event at Jewel Paradise Cove in Runaway Bay, Jamaica on Sunday and Monday. A slew of guests joined Mule in the guitarist’s stead as he recovers from a serious bout with both COVID-19 and influenza.

The first show of Island Exodus 13 took place on Sunday, January 15 with Haynes’ Gov’t Mule bandmates — drummer Matt Abts, bassist Jorgen Carlsson and multi-instrumentalist Danny Louis — welcoming guitarist Jimmy Vivino, of Conan O’Brien band fame, to lead the way on “Hammer & Nails.” After “What Is Hip,” Jackie Greene helmed a song from Jamaica’s own Jimmy Cliff in “The Harder They Come” followed by Mule’s “Bad Little Doggie” and the Grateful Dead’s “Sugaree” with Vivino also fronting “If Heartaches Were Nickels.”

Anders Osborne then took over for “Simple Man,” “Don’t Do It” and “32/20 Blues.” Allman Betts Band’s Berry Oakley Jr. and Duane Betts — sons of Allman Brothers Band founding members — joined in for the first set closer, ABB’s “Dreams,” along with drummer Jeff Sipe and guitarist Johnny Stachela of Allman Betts Band.

Set two kicked off with Jimmy Vivino once again helping Mule on “One Of These Days” before Greene returned for “30 Days Down In The Hole.” Vivino helmed a number of rock, blues and R&B classics next including “Good Morning Little School Girl,” “Shotgun” and “Gimme Some Lovin.’” Jackie then delivered one of Warren’s signature songs, “Soulshine.”

Next, Osborne returned to preside over a 13-minute rendition of Neil Young’s “Cortez The Killer” which also featured the pedal steel stylings of Robert Randolph, who would front Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child” to follow. Randolph stuck around for a set closing sequence of “The March” and “Turn On Your Love Light.”

For the night one encore, Danny Louis would come out from behind the keys and join a three-guitar attack alongside Vivino and Greene with Dark Star Orchestra keyboardist Rob Barraco jumping into Louis’ seat. The collaborators would deliver Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World” to bring the night to a raucous close.

Last night’s Gov’t Mule & Friends concert commenced with a choice covers medley. Vivino fronted Mule, along with Greene on guitar and Jeff Sipe on a second drum kit, for Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side,” Derek & The Dominos’ “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad” and the Grateful Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower.” Vivino and Greene then shared vocal duties on The Beatles’ “I’ve Got A Feeling.” Next, Jackie stepped into the spotlight for the Mule classic “Beautifully Broken” which also featured saxophone from Ron Holloway. Vivino and Greene then once again teamed up to sing a pair of tunes from Jamaica’s own Robert Nesta Marley in “No Woman, No Cry” and “Bend Down Low.”

Next, Osborne returned to help Vivino sing Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm” and Neil Young’s “Down By The River,” the latter seeing a number of performers on the stage including John Ginty and Barraco on keys. Louis also teamed up with a backing vocal chorus consisting of Mini Carlsson and Machan Taylor. From there, John Scofield joined the fun fittingly on “Sco-Mule” with a slimmed-down Mule lineup that also included Holloway on sax. Scofield would stick around for “Black Widow Spider,” which also saw the return of Randolph and Vivino to help close out the first set.

The second set began with a tribute to one of Warren’s heroes, the late great Jeff Beck who recently passed away. Scofield led Mule through a pair of Beck’s Blow By Blow cuts “Cause We Ended As Lovers” and the Mule staple cover, “Freeway Jam.” Vivino then returned to sing a Jimmy Cliff tune, “Many Rivers To Cross.” Next, Jackie led a lineup that also featured guitarist Audley Freed through the Grateful Dead’s “Deal.”

Freed then took over lead duties on Neil Young’s “Vampire Blues” before Greene fronted Mule on the band’s “Revolution Come…Revolution Go,” which led into The Beatles’ “Revolution” to conclude the second set. Gov’t Mule would return with Freed, Randolph and Vivino in tow to cap off the second night of Island Exodus 2023 with another Jeff Beck nod in “Going Down.”

Gov’t Mule & Friends close out Island Exodus on Wednesday. Check out video from Gov’t Mule’s guest-filled destination event below:

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Setlists & Photos

https://www.facebook.com/govtmule/posts/pfbid02bUB8UNC4ci2Rxui4HpMAt27o1EmJvizVH9cjWCZGcJKzWJfWaHtQUbgS4KNZZEr7l

https://www.facebook.com/govtmule/posts/pfbid0gAseoefUBkJJAt4cyyMFULHo9e7xsM8gBMw46d7K5hLM3mZzw7vSZzMduHqHhMrrl

Source: JamBase.com