Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Non-PF/Dead Show Reviews Archive 2004: Gov't Mule 11/13//04 4th & B - San Diego, CA.

Not fluent in Mule here but I tell ya...Really good show..Really good..

Only my third Mule show..Oct 02 Fillmore San Fran, April this year at 4th and B and this show..

Set 1 had everything..hugh range..solid..even some off the wall jammin mid set..

Set 2 kept it going no let down at all..

I'll let the other Zoners talk in specifics..

But this show was the best show I have ever seen at 4th and B..and I have seen a lot of shows there...

Nice to meet for first time Ibewbro-Joe from Ventura and his lady friend..and to have seen again numerous locals and Zoners Less Than, Dewit and Fred..who I greatly appreciate knowing..

Gunner was a no show...

Timmyhoover Lord Henry and Furious E and friends hanging in line for an hour plus..paid off they got on the rail dead center..Me hanging in the back and on riser behind soundboard..damn good sound and unobstructed views..

Did I say really good show..??..

One of the best shows I've ever seen.

11/13 Year of the Mule 4th& B, San Diego, CA
set 1:
Slackjaw Jezebel
Blind Man in the Dark
About to Rage
Drum Intro>
Rockin Horse>
Trane>Third Stone>Eternity's Breath jam
32-20>drum jam>32-20
Is It My Body (alice cooper?)
Thorazine Shuffle

set 2:
Breakdown (Tom Petty)
Perfect Shelter
Pride and Joy (SRV) !!!!!
John the Revelator>
Drums>
Bass and Keys>
*Jam>
*Red Clay
Time to Confess
Lola Leave Your Motherfuckin Light On

E: Simple Man
dedicated to a US solider who fell in combat yesterday in Iraq.

*w/ Drew ?? on Jazz Guitar

what a show, what a fantastic show, reviews and pics tomarrow. I had the time of my life, and I never felt this way before.

Gunner I wish you woulda been there man..I bet you'd a put this Mule show tonight a close second to DNB / Rowans show ya saw here..

I have it ranked a bit higher if ya can believe that..

And I am a long time Nelson Band fan..

Oh yeah..there was a sit in..One song..Guitar player that lives here in SD countuy..forget his name..sorry bout that..Friend of mine I was hanging with when he came out knew him thru his work with Steely Dan and local guitar wizard.Zappa band guy..Mike Keneally

Did I say really good Mule show..??..

Mike Keneally sat in!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh SHit! Zappa Wizard fo sho! didnt make it. t0 long of a drive to do by myself.

No Gunner..a dude that plays with Mike did..

Still as I sit here thinkin Zappa...Mule is sorta like a mini 4 man Mothers Of in a way..Powerful show toinght..

4 Man Mother..Ha..

wonderfull night of music and good folks.

could'nt have asked for a better show.

John the Revelator f'ing rocked

Thank you Warren, G-Dad, Lord Henry, and furious E for a perfect night

simply said, these guys are on fire. that setlist looks amazing...wow!
glad i have 2 more mule shows next weekend, the 2 fillmores only whetted my apetite.

btw, it was cool to run into you at the fillmore Lord H

This show provides enough support for my theory that Mule plays better shows in San Diego than anyone.

I'm not sure why, but if only one musician gives this city full respect I'm glad it's Warren Haynes

C,mon,
Bobby's been playing San Diego regularly.

Dyer..all due respect and gratitude to Bobby..I only missed one (my Mom passed away 2 days before show in 1997) of 11 Ratdog shows played at 4th and B the first of which according to Setlist.com was 12/10/95..He has nopt played anyhere else in this town other than 4th and B since then..

He will always and rightfully so have a loyal following here..it's logical to play shows here sell outs or close to and part of the LA Vegas Pheonix quadrant..

But other bands like say MULE..last show April 04 was not 1/2 sold if that..That in lite of fact that they were giving away free tickets at Tower Records if ya bought Deeper End DVD..

Yet they still came back..

I think that is what Furious was talkin about..

Last night was close to full..capacity listed at 1500 and that would be sardine like..guessing 1000 plus there..(x 25 aint that shabby)..and MIRACLE (usually shows here clear out before it's over) The dance floor was packed all the way thru the encore..few if any left early..

>>>>Lola Leave Your Motherfuckin Light On...

So, I'm thinking it was a good Lola? (LOL)

Sound like the left coast got a serious run this weekend. Woo Hoo! December can't come soon enough!

i'm still blinded by that motherfuckin' light

Govt Mule is pullin' a wicked plow these days. The covers have been great surprises and full blown on fire tight sets are boding well for the future of Govt Mule.

I miss Woody but love this quartet.

It some good stuff they playin last nite..

hey anyone wonder why zippy isn't following the mule instaed of SCI???? Just wondering...

drew zingg was the guest guitarist.
He joined mule for "Red Clay"

Ok so here's my review....

Ahh what a day, what a day indeed! A day promising to be a day in the sun. The shine in the dark, the everlasting tour, everlasting energy was all felt in every fiber of my being as we settled down for the 4th show of the West Coast fall run. Gov't Mule came to San Francisco and gave them a little piece of their spirit, down to Los Angeles for greetings and warm hugs, to the perverbial island of San Diego, an anonymous desert by the ocean. As I recall, every Mule show that has been down here has been quite exceptional. Not that each show has suggested increased development, but instead, the engery given is up to par with landscapes of more legendary status. I like to think that San Diego's anonymousness to the music scene created a neutral ground setting the stage for practically anything to happen. Nothing was expected and all was delivered. Not quite known as the badland of LA, with serene district took away anxieties for the road weary and became a sort of experimental ground.

We got down to the 4th & B early to soak up the city and get ready for the final night of our mini California tour. I was surprised to see a good amount of people waiting in line with us..early on! Very impressive considering this is San Diego. It was great to meet resident Ventura zoner (((Joe Ibewbro))). Joe and his wife had been doing the same show tour was we were on. In fact there were quite a few of us who traveresed California on Mule tour. Take that eastcoasters! hehe. Out West we grow our Mule's strong!! I felt a kindred spirit with our brother Joe for his willness to tour with the Mule, our similar tastes in music, and the great love of the PLQ. (((here's to Wiltern bud!))) The line was very fun to hang in with veterans and first timers all excited to see the Mule. TimmyHoover, Capt Pena, Gdad all came early to vibe out with the rest of us.

On a side note, before the line waiting, I was hanging by my car which was parked right in back of the venue next to the tour buses blasting an old '95 Mule show. Blind Man in the Dark was raging and Brian Farmer came up totally entranced by the sounds coming out of my car. He just went up to the drivers seat and listened intensely to the Woody flooding out. You could see him have a moment just listening to the old school Mule. It was beautiful.

On to the show!
The poetic sounds of Willie Mason opened up with some solo guitar and beautiful lyrics. This cat is really cool, and I really recommend checking him out if you get a chance. He's gonna have an intense career ahead of him singing those dark sweet songs. I would say he's very much like a hybrid between early Leonard Cohen and Woody Guthrie.


Where's My Mule!?
well right here of course, once again back in San Diego. How lucky we are getting 2 mule dates in one year. The band came on around 10:00? No Deja Voodoo or Dose backdrop, just comin out on stage in the big house of the 4th & B guns with guns drawn. Warren said the other night that San Diego was gonna kick butt and surley he wasn't lyin. The energy from the crowd was most impressive, full of people dying to see the Mule and others dyin to party down. Ha, this is SD after all.

They opened up with Slackjaw Jezebel and tore right into it. I was kinda surprised they played this right off the bat since they did it at the Fillmore and LA. But hot damn, that don't bother me one bit. A great version full of energy it was. Blind Man in the Dark with a very cool into jam, Pygmye Twilight like but not full on. They were using the powers of that song to perpetuate the Blind Man right into the Heart. Blind Man was as perfect as ever, tearing throught the crowd. A short one though, (I kinda like it this way) no Danny soloing, instead Warren went right into his part and raged. Raged! I tell you! Raged right into About to Rage. One of my favorite songs from the new album. it's lyrical beauty is very dreamlike and perfect for the concert setting. It brought home a lot of the perfection that is Gov't Mule. An there aint nothin like hearing the chorus right up in front of Warren. Talkin bout Power. All the members of the band were class act. Feelin the energy and putting it all out there. There was a short drum improvisation intro that went into Rockin Horse. A great version again, the middle jam was quite stupendous with Warren getting down and pushing it a little further than usual. I love hearing the interpretations on these riff oriented songs. Rockin Horse into Trane Holy! Holy! Holy! 1st set Trane, wtf??!! I was not expecting this and became overjoyed when it happened. Trane was unfuckinreal, I can hardly put it into words. They came up on it and did all kinds of things with they dynamics (sound levels) swelling up in a huge crescendo. Now that's my Mule. Definatly was feeling Woody here with us. Great jammin through out, getting spacey too, lovin the jammin. Ended up with a nice Third Stone riffing and a very short Eternity's Breath jam. 32-20 Blues came rockin out next to get people back on their feet and dancin all round. Solid version, great jammin, very cool drum break in the middle that went into some bass jammin back into 32-20. Then came the 1st cover of the night, an Alice Cooper tune, Is It My Body. Done very well, and kinda funny too. Not a huge fan of the song though. 1st set ended with a monsterous Thorazine to pump everyone up for round two.

check out these spaced out fans having a ball with the Mule


Round 2:

That's right this is San Diego and people in San Diego like Tom Petty. Warren knows that, and he obliged quite frankly. {Breakdown} to open the set got my jaw on the floor and sent me spinnin. How'd he do that? I never realized what a good song it could be. Normally I am not excited by such a song (Petty veriosn), but seeing Mule do it took it to another level. They have an uncanny ability to expose a song for what it really is. A good song to boot, kinda like legend. Went into Perfect Shelter. Love hearing the opening of this song. Another great tune from the album, sung so beautifully with great conviction. None of us, have built a perfect shelter It's really amazing how strong the new songs are, essecially live. You know they belong here.

Next up was one of the BIG highlights for me....Pride and Joy Thank you!! A song I would never have expected..again! How'd he do that? It was perfect, a greater tribute to SRV I could not imagine seeing. Warren Haynes is a national treasure, the man is made of solid gold. {John the Revelator} was fuckin sick, such a cool tune to put out in the middle of the 2nd set. A huge version too, I love how they brought the insturments into this one and stretched it out. The Warren slide is mean and power hungry setting the time for Danny's outrageous trumpeting. Hot damn, this was a highlight for many folks in there that night.
>>Drums How interesting it is that Matt does drum solos every night now. wow. Mr. MATT ABTS. The guy is a power house of polyrhythms. The crowd was supplying the supplements of his energy and he brought it to them, the obvious tenacity and strength. Matt definatly has his routine down too, hitting that huge peak right away and later moving within the great energy cirlce he has created. Drums moved into a jam>with Andy and Danny, and then came out Drew Zingg on guitar. Great jammin, this is what I love, they were all working together and talkin to eachother. Then they brought it into Red Clay wtf??!! What rock band plays Red Clay?? Unfuckinbelievable. All we need now is Freddie Hubard, or do we? Drew Zingg just tore it up with blazing jazz solos all over the place. I think he was stepping on some toes, but he raged it and I'm proud of his great performance. Another thing about the Red Clay, Mule showed me some of the most impressive rhythym playing I have ever heard, holding up the backend for Drew Zingg. I was totally mezmerized by the band backing this cat up. Time to Confess came up and put a different mood down, to settle us down for what was to come. I love Time to Confess, always reminds me of San Francisco, its been popping up in 2nd sets a lot lately. All I can say now is that It Has Become Quite an Affair. To End the show, to keep the spirit alive....Lola Leave Your Motherfuckin Light On was a great way to rage the dying of the light. What an amazing tune, you'll just have to go out and experience it for yourself.

E: Simple Man .....the song I wanted to hear the most, right there in front of me. How can this be? What great beauty exists in this world? I get that feeling in my body, as all nerves swell in harmony to such a moment.
Warren dedicated this song to a marine named Eugene who died in Fallujah the day before. You could see Warren a bit emotional before the song started and this meant a great deal to me. The dark of harmony. A single white feather fell to the stage as the opening riffs of Simple Man began. Many of us silently wept great tears to the beauty that was our experience.


Gov't Mule is the most amazing rock band I have ever had the pleasure to see. Thank You So Much.

It was wonderful to see all the zoners and tour heads alike. I love you all.

Bump

Haynes=Category 5 Punnisher

Hey Lord Henry, nice review. Joe and I were right there with you on the rail. Matt's double bass drum was going right through my solar plexus big time. The band is so tight, yet the jams aren't predictable. Yeah, the Mule does surprise us with those cover tunes and other nuggets. It was a great tour run, those four California shows. Too bad we couldn't get back up for Sacramento. I was just so glad to meet Warren and Matt before Wednesday's show at the Fillmore, and I got a coveted pick thrown at me in San Diego. We also got set lists from first and second set Saturday night. That was pretty cool that Brian came out to your car! We enjoyed meeting you, Furious E, and the other Zoners. Memories! <lol>

EXCELLENT REVIEW LORDHENRY!!!!

Thank you so very much. I cannot wait to hear the "Breakdown". I'm glad they are "Pullin' Your Plow".

Excellent review, LH!

You think his reviews are good..Check out the link in Music Section of board to some Lord Henry and the Republic live show streams..

MULE is the best band in the world right now!!!

MULE is the best band in the world right now!!!

Gov't Mule is the most amazing rock band I have ever had the pleasure to see.

MULE is the best band in the world right now!!!


Y'all need to get out more.

Dwyer..I agree to some extent..was soprta anticipating a reaponse like yours..

Reason..

Mule don't taste good when it gets shoved down your throat..

But when Mule is served up like it was at show here Sat night..

It becomes fused into yor tastebuds...

Extremely palatable..and gets me wanting second helpings...

Goes nicely with on plate with some Phil and RRE..

Mule..cooked right..belongs on menu..Chalk it up.. "Band Du Jour - Braised Mule"...

"Band Du Jour - Braised Mule

Lol, Gdad.

I saw the Mule in Telluride at the Blues and Brews in Sept and to say it was a lacklustre set would be praising it too much.
Very short and truncated possibly owing to the festival time schedule (although Mule were on last)and the pouring rain.

I'm also having problems with the new album.
Every song sounds like Beautifully Broken redux.
I've given it multiple spins and find it all very repetitive.

I got a Mule kicking on three consecutive nights when they opened for PLQ at Denver's Fillmore and they tore a crater in my mind.
Abts can pound those skins.
I think we'll have plenty of time to taste the Mule as it appears that Warren is pouring all his energy into his band, understandably.

"We were born before the wind..."

Nice post Dyer..

How would you like your Mule cooked sir....??..

Ha..

Guessing..Western Slope Mule Jerky.,.

Lord Henry (Terrapindew) Thank you so much for your review. It brought tears to my eyes for many reasons. I appreciate that you took the time to convey the feeling of the whole show. Not quite like being there, but as good as it gets from here in NYC. Thanks again. Angela

Lord Henry did the show some serious justice. I thought Warren had dedicated Simple Man to David Caruso who had been killed in Falluja on Friday, but, I too had the bass drums in my solar plexus and could have been hearing anything at that point. The song was in your face, beating at your heart, full on tears from this woman. Oh, lord, it was stunning. As seemed to follow on the California leg, Lord Henry is dead center, we were on the left.

I love the Mule, and can say, now, looking back, the NYC and Philly shows, as much as we loved them, and they capped off our wedding, seemed weak to what exploded this past week.

Less Than, stellar job. Your hard work is fabulous and it was just plain great to spend what little time you had just shooting the shit in San Diego.

There were songs at all four shows that blew my mind, but San Diego as a whole blew me away. Also, for the first time, I met some super cool and mellow folk at that venue which is always great.

Lord Henry, maybe or maybe not in NYC, but, as always, you are the kindest dude with a beautiful heart and smile. TimmyHoover, nice to meet you. And GDad, fucking great to see you and hang after the show. That lot turned into a wonderful way to end our trip. Just wonderful. May we all get to do it again. Our best to you guys.