måndag 4 Feb 2008, 23:15

Gov't Mule has been one of my favorite bands over the last eight years or so. They formed as a band in 1994, and recorded several albums before I took notice in 2000. I don't know how I missed them, as they sprung from one of my all time favorite bands, The Allman Brothers Band, but I'm sure glad that I found them! My first Mule experience was their fourth album, Life Before Insanity, but soon, I had to collect them all!

Here's a discography:
Gov't Mule, 1995
Live from Roseland Ballroom, 1996
Dose, 1998
Live… With a Little Help from Our Friends, 1998
Life Before Insanity, 2000
The Deep End, Volume 1, 2001
The Deep End, Volume 2, 2002
The Deepest End, Live in Concert, 2003
Deja Voodoo, 2004
Mo' Voodoo (EP), 2005
High & Mighty, 2006
Mighty High, 2007

So where do you want to start if you're new to Gov't Mule? There's no right answer. I've always found that it's good to start at the beginning, and to follow a band through it's different phases. Most people will prefer one phase over the others. With the Mule, it's important to know that this is a band that has undergone many changes, none of which were induced by any desire to be trendy or make a "hit song". This is a jam band, and in the great tradition of American Southern Rock artists, tragedy played a big role in the evolution of this band.

Gov't Mule was, from 1994 until 2000, a power trio. Singer/guitarist Warren Haynes is a prolific songwriter and loves to cover other artists. Drummer Matt Abts is extremely talented, as evidenced by his solo work on the song Thorazine Shuffle, and original bassist Allen Woody was a monster on four strings. Haynes and Woody played together in the Allman Brothers Band. Haynes also enjoys a solo career and has worked with a vast collection of great artists (look him up on Wikipedia).

In 2000, bassist Allen Woody died. Haynes and Abts began to record a tribute CD using some of Woody's favorite bass players. These sessions resulted in two CDs The Deep End, Volume 1 (2001) and The Deep End, Volume 2 (2002). The first CD with Louis and Hess, Deja Voodoo, was released in September 2004, and additional material from those sessions was released in 2005 as Mo' Voodoo. The new lineup's second full release, High and Mighty, was released on August 22, 2006, and it was followed in 2007 by a dub/reggae album called Mighty High - including versions of classic Mule covers and originals with special guest appearances.

Personally, my favorite material is from the three piece days, including all of the "Deep End" projects. The Mule's earliest work has a really raw, improvisational jam band feel. It oozes power. The Deep End era is marked by great songwriting, fantastic guest artists on bass and other instruments, and each album is a listen to the whole thing affair. The DVD of the live performances that is sold with "The Deepest End" release is especially enjoyable to watch and it contains songs that aren't on the CD's.

For me, the 2004 to present line up, which includes bassist Andy Hess and Danny Louis on keyboards, is likable, but they don't have the same appeal as the former line-up. The songs include too much keyboard work for my liking. They're obviously cutting into new territory, no less bold and fearlessly as before, but it just doesn't keep my attention like it used to. Group leader Warren Haynes is as prolific as ever though, so I'm sure that one of their future releases will pull me back. I'm certain to keep buying all of their releases as each one has something that'll blow my mind.

Still not sure where to start? Do some more research! Check them out on the web:

Gov't Mule on Wikipedia
Warren Haynes on Wikipedia
Gov't Mule's Official Website
Gov't Mule on LastFM
Gov't Mule Group Page on LastFM

Thanks for letting me ramble!
Jay "BluesRok"
(Some of the text is copied from Wikipedia)