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A Dub Side of The Moon with a Bonus Allman Joy |
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Written by Relix Admin
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Tuesday, 02 January 2007 |
For the fifth year in a row, Gov’t Mule celebrated New Year’s Eve at New York’s Beacon Theater. As is tradition, the group also invited a number of high-profile guests onstage throughout their three-night run. On December 29, Los Lobos opened Gov’t Mule’s performance and remained a visible presence throughout the night. <p>
First, Los Lobos saxophonist Steve Berlin emerged for “Doin' It To Death” and “I Ain't Superstitious.” Late Night guitarist, and Fab Faux member, Jimmie Vivino also added some additional axe to the number. Vivino, who has stopped by Gov’t Mule’s New Year’s Eve performances in the past, later showed off the Beatles cover skill he perfected with the Fab Faux, performing “Hide Your Love Away” and “Helter Skelter” with Gov’t Mule during its encore. Los Lobos guitarists Cesar Rojas and David Hidalgo also appeared on “That’s What Love will Make You Do” and the pairing of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” with Gov’t Mule’s “Politician,” respectively.
A night later, the North Mississippi Allstars provided support duties and the Dickinson Brothers appeared on “Smokestack Lightning” during the group’s first set. Luther Dickinson also added addition guitar to “32/20 Blues” later in the group’s set. The North Mississippi Allstars then jetted down to Memphis for a New Year’s Eve performance of its own. The parade of guest musicians continued during Gov’t Mule’s second set with noted New York organist Peter Levin playing on “Devil Likes It Slow.” Gov’t Mule then showed off its blues-roots during its encore, with New York/Chicago guitarist Danny Draher appearing on “Long Distance Call” and Big Sugar’s guitarist Gordie Johnson appearing on “Thirty Days In The Hole.”
Labeling its New Year’s Eve celebration Dub Side of the Mule, Gov’t Mule embraced the roots of reggae by inviting out Toots Hibbert for most of its entire second set. The Maytals founder appeared on a number of songs, including his own “Pressure Drop” and the traditional “Turn on Your Lovelight.” After Hibbert left the stage, Gov’t Mule ran through a reggae-version of its anthem, “Soulshine.” Though a far cry for the group’s blues-rock roots, reggae has been a source of inspiration for Gov’t Mule throughout the last year. “There are a lot of new genres and influences we explore on [2006’s] High and Mighty], like reggae,” Warren Hayes tells Relix. “But it stills sounds like a Gov’t Mule record, partially because it’s Gov’t Mule interpreting the songs.”
Set 3 began with an even bigger surprise as Gregg Allman and Friends offered a surprise mini-set consisting of “Sweet Feeling” and “Just Like A Woman.” Allman was in town performing at the nearby Westbury Music Fair and jetted to the Beacon immediately after his performance. Allman remained onstage as Gov’t Mule retook the stage for “Sweet Feeling” and “Just Like A Woman,” before Gordie Johnson reemerged for the remainder of the group’s set. At the end of Gov’t Mule performance, Relix recording artist John Popper emerged for “It Hurts Me Too” and “Goin' Out West.”
Gov’t will appear on Late Night with Conan O’Brien tonight and Last Call with Carson Daly on January 16.
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