• Registered: 2006-05-22
  • Posts: 109

Topic: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

Gov’t Mule came back to Houston last night, making their 2nd visit to the House of Blues.  They laid down 2 exceptional sets of 4-piece jamage, with a nice variety of Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Blues, and even a little Jazz.  Warren Haynes is an amazing performer – an awesome guitarist and singer and a commanding stage presence.  He leaves plenty of room, however, for his band to stretch out and show their talents.  Matt Abts (drums), Jurgen Carlsson (bass), and Danny Louis (keys, guitar, trumpet) were all exceptional.  The sound was quite amazing – every part was clean and clear, with just the right volume level – very loud, but without causing permanent hearing loss (I think).  Warren’s guitars (all 6 or 7) were massive and searing and the bass drum and bass guitar rumbled up thru my very comfortable balcony seat.  The Mule featured several songs from their latest CD “By a Thread”, with Steppin’ Lightly being my favorite - this was the 1st time I’ve seen the band play a song with 2 guitars and it worked very well with Danny’s cool rhythm riffs and Warren’s ripping leads.  I thought Billy Gibbons might show up, since he is featured on the new song Brokedown on the Brazos, but he must have been busy tending to his beard. As always, I enjoyed the heavier songs the most – Streamline Woman, Bad Little Doggie, and a reworking of Zeppelin’s How Many More Times were highlights for me.  But, some of the softer songs like Railroad Boy (on 12-string), Gordon James, and Into the Mystic were just as enjoyable.  Actually, it was all very good.  I’m always interested to see which songs they chose from their extensive play list, since it changes for each show and city.  Here were last night’s selections:

Set 1:
Streamline Woman
Steppin' Lightly
Brokedown On The Brazos
Rocking Horse
Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home
Kind Of Bird
Gordon James
I'm A Ram

Set 2:
Lay Your Burden Down
Smokestack Lightning
Bad Little Doggie
How Many More Years
Brighter Days
Drums
Railroad Boy
Mule

Encore:
Into The Mystic
Soulshine

Overall, a very enjoyable 3 hours - watching and listening to one of my favorite bands.

.....
KV

  • From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

spongeworthiest wrote:

Gov’t Mule came back to Houston last night, making their 2nd visit to the House of Blues.  They laid down 2 exceptional sets of 4-piece jamage, with a nice variety of Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Blues, and even a little Jazz.

Dear Mr spongeworthiest, not only do you have the best name on the forum but you have impeccable taste.

So glad Mule did their finest stuff for you. "4 piece jamage" - wish I'd thought of that. I've only seen them once, in Amsterdam, but what a gig  cool

  • Registered: 2006-05-22
  • Posts: 109

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

thanks for the kind words Mr. currymandavid....my next "tasty" show is Joe Bonamassa on Mar 25

  • From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

spongeworthiest wrote:

my next "tasty" show is Joe Bonamassa on Mar 25

Ah you're lucky - I have to wait until 28th May for my next Joe show.

I've been thinking about going to see Gov't Mule at the Azkena Rock Festival in Spain on 24th June but there are quite large gaps in Mule's schedule either side of the festival so I'm hanging on in the hope they'll do a short European tour (including London).

David

5 Reply by eva (edited by eva 2010-02-22 22:07:01)

  • eva
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  • Registered: 2007-03-15
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Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

Aaah, the Mule ... what a setlist! Even the first three alone would make for a perfect evening.
And then encore with 'Into the Mystic' AND 'Soulshine'?? You lucky YOUCANTSAYTHATHERE!  wink

You´ve just got to love this band (go see a doctor if you don´t IMO) - and what you said about Warren leaving space for the other people on the stage playing instruments (aka "the band") is one thing that makes them the fatabulous "4-piece jamage"-band that they are... no big ego show there, just music like it needs to be played.  wink

I´m hoping and waiting along with David for some more European shows. (Btw, David - I guess Warren will be with the ABB at Crossroads June 26th?)

Thanks for the review!

Eva

Edited to add: hahaha, I just realized that the forum doesn´t accept what I was calling you in line 2 ... too funny. Wasn´t THAT bad!  big_smile

  • From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

eva wrote:

I´m hoping and waiting along with David for some more European shows. (Btw, David - I guess Warren will be with the ABB at Crossroads June 26th?)

Well spotted Eva - you're right. I just checked Warren's solo dates and they confirm he'll be with the Allmans on the 26th. And you'll be there to see them I think smile

I'll keep checking the Mule site in case a show or two are scheduled before Azkena.

  • From: Nürnberg-Germany
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 220

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

i never read a bad review about a mule concert............................the munich concert is still in my car and i cant stop listen to it. warren makes me "fly high" even in my car. oooooooooooooooh what a band..................waiting like eva and david that they come back to europe.
Thomas

  • From: Nürnberg-Germany
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 220

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

i just found out that they play a festival in spain on 24.06...............................so there is hope for some more dates in europe i hope......................allready good news that they come over.
Thomas

  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

Great review, Spongeworthiest. Thanks.  smile

David, Eva & Ophrys, please add my name to the list of Mule hungry Europeans. As David knows I've gone Mule mad since seeing them last year and I think I have every CD and DVD they've produced - originals of course.  big_smile

I'll make some enquiries about UK shows.  wink

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56

10 Reply by eva

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Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

currymandavid wrote:
eva wrote:

I´m hoping and waiting along with David for some more European shows. (Btw, David - I guess Warren will be with the ABB at Crossroads June 26th?)

Well spotted Eva - you're right. I just checked Warren's solo dates and they confirm he'll be with the Allmans on the 26th. And you'll be there to see them I think smile

I'll keep checking the Mule site in case a show or two are scheduled before Azkena.

Yeah, that´s right - I´ll see Warren at the Crossroads.  smile

But still ... more Mule dates over here please! It´s been way too long since November ...

Eva

That´s a LOT of CDs and DVDs you bought Phil ....  lol

  • From: near Nürnberg Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-19
  • Posts: 1,204

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

Wooders wrote:

David, Eva & Ophrys, please add my name to the list of Mule hungry Europeans.
Phil

Please include me in the fan club. Hope to see them at Crossroads, but wouldn´t mind at all to see them a second time in Europe this year.
Günter

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Guenter's Website

  • From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

hey Euro Mule fans, this just came in the Mule newsletter :

"MULE TO RETURN TO PARIS, FRANCE ON 6.23

Gov't Mule will be returning to Paris, France for the first time since 2005. The show will be June 23rd at Le Bataclan. This is in addition to the previously announced appearances at the Gdynia Blues Festival in Poland on 6.20 and the Azkena Rock Festival in Spain on 6.24. More European Dates will be announced shortly. "

I could get very excited by the More European Dates will be announced shortly bit  smile

  • From: Nürnberg-Germany
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 220

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

very goooooooooooooood news......................waiting for some german dates....................paris alllways worth a visit,too
thanx dave

  • From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

The Gov't Mule European tour in June has just had another date added. This time it's in Belgium. The tour is currently showing as:

Sun 6.20     Gdynia Blues Festival     Gdynia, Poland
Tue 6.22     Le Kursaal     Limbourg, Belgium
Wed 6.23     Le Bataclan     Paris, France
Thu 6.24     Azkena Rock Festival     Vittoria, Spain

I'm still hanging on for a possible London date but that may be optimistic.

15 Reply by eva

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Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

I honestly don´t believe that these guys dare to come to EUROPE when I´m in AMERICA. That´s just wrong.  wink

Eva

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 1,929

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

eva wrote:

I honestly don´t believe that these guys dare to come to EUROPE when I´m in AMERICA. That´s just wrong.  wink

Eva

Warren has to be back for Crossroads.  Very evil of them though - I think you should contact their management and ask them to coordinate future tours with your travel schedule.  lol

Sandy

"There's a lot of people that are in so much of a hurry to be, I guess, to be famous or that they don't want to take the time to learn to play and do all that.They'd rather just knock it down off a computer and maybe get on a game show and get famous..That's fine if that's what you want to do.
"We're more old school than that. We like creating the sounds."  - Tom Petty
  • From: Nürnberg-Germany
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 220

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

i allready wrote to the hirsch and told them to look for gov´t mule coming to nürnberg.  i wrote them that dickey betts was here, derek trucks was here last year.....................so its time for warren haynes.
a few years back i did that when i found out that dickey betts and great southers tour europe and i have got a positiv answer...................how great it would be to have govt mule in nürnberg............................
Thomas................still hoping

  • From: near Nürnberg Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-19
  • Posts: 1,204

Re: Gov't Mule - Houston - Feb 20

Ophrys wrote:

i allready wrote to the hirsch and told them to look for gov´t mule coming to nürnberg.  i wrote them that dickey betts was here, derek trucks was here last year.....................so its time for warren haynes.
a few years back i did that when i found out that dickey betts and great southers tour europe and i have got a positiv answer...................how great it would be to have govt mule in nürnberg............................
Thomas................still hoping

Hirsch would be too small, but they could organise an Open Air.
Günter

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Guenter's Website