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Gov't Mule
Gomez
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Ryman Auditorium
Nashville, TN
10/20/2004
By: Lindsey M. Keen
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Just weeks before the 2004 Presidential election, Gov't Mule - not a Democratic party but a thriving Southern Rock band - played at Nashville's Mother Church, the Ryman Auditorium.
Suddenly the houselights go dim and Warren Haynes approaches the stage with his electric guitar and a clear slide on his left hand. The crowd is yelling and smacking their hands against the old wooden pews and to their delight Hayes kicks off the autumn concert with "Soul Shine."
The evening's set list featured songs from their recent ATO Records release, Deja Voodoo; a highly anticipated album since the passing of bassist Allen Woody. As one of the most sought after musicians in the jam band scene, Haynes has many friends that just so happened to be in the Nashville area and willing to sit in for a round or two. Widespread Panic pianist JoJo Hermann, Black Crowes'/New Earth Mud's Audley Freed and former Allman Brothers guitarist Jack Pearson were a few of the musicians that surprised the crowd during the second set. Then, the crowd was astounded as Gomez (the opener) stepped out on stage and, in unison with Gov't Mule, played the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down." With psychedelic lights flashing against the faces of audience members, Gov't Mule and Gomez closed the show by playing a tribute to Leonard Skynard, "Simple Man."
Gov't Mule is the epitome of Redneck Underground music, a theory posed by Patterson Hood, lead singer/songwriter of Athens, GA's Drive By Truckers and son of David Hood, a key session player in the original Muscle Shoals scene, delivering new material that echoes the sound of great, classic Southern Rock. It's about time fans got that kind of music back into their easy-going way of life.
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