Gov't Mule

This year has been a great one for bluesy rockers Gov't Mule. Hot on the heels of their newest album The Deep End Vol. 2, the band won Jammy Song of the Year for "Soulshine" and performed at the ceremony with several special guests, including Trey Anastasio, John Scofield, Gregg Allman, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge and the entire Allman Brothers Band. Not one to sit still for long, guitarist Warren Haynes has laid down his signature sweeping sound in recent performances with DJ Logic, Mike Gordon, Skerik, Jessica Lurie, Casey Benjamin (Project Logic), Charlie Hunter, Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band), Stanton Moore and moe. This month also saw the release of two Mule video/DVDs: The Deep End Volume II and Rising Low.

Not too bad for a band that unexpectedly lost its original bassist and founding brother, Allen Woody, just two years ago. Instead of seeking out a permanent bassist, Warren and drummer Matt Abts decided to record an album with bassists whose work was a major influence on Allen. They made a list, invited all prospective bass players to help create the album and, to their pleasant surprise, received an overwhelming response. The Deep End, Vol. 1 and The Deep End, Vol. 2 feature 25 of today's most intriguing and talented bass players including Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Les Claypool (Primus), Bootsy Collins (James Brown, P-Funk), Mike Watt (Minutemen, Firehouse), Mike Gordon (Phish) alongside rock legends like Jack Bruce (Cream) and the late John Entwistle (The Who).

Now the Mule is kicking off a national fall tour with a stellar lineup featuring founding members Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers, Phil Lesh & Friends) and Matt Abts (Blue Floyd), along with keyboardist Danny Louis (Gregg Allman Band) and a rotating list of gifted bassists, including George Porter Jr. (The Meters) and Greg Rzab (Black Crowes, Buddy Guy), who will join the Mule for their show at the State Theatre in Portland. All of the performers from The Deep End projects have been invited to join the band on stage during this tour, so keep an eye out for special guests! It's sure to be a unique show each and every night.

Gov't Mule on JamBase | http://www.jambase.com/search.asp?band=govt+mule
Gov't Mule's Official Site | http://www.mule.net
MuleZone.com - Fan Site | http://www.mulezone.com
MuleBase - Setlists | http://mulebase.com
Buy The Deep End, Vol. 2 | http://www.jambase.com/merch.asp?productID=733
Buy The Deep End, Vol. 1 | http://www.jambase.com/merch.asp?productID=321

Mule Fall Preview | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1612
Interview with Warren Haynes | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1612
Mule Photo Gallery | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=2326
The Deep End, Vol. 1 Review | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1613
MP3 Sample: "On The Banks of the Deep End"
with Mike Gordon on bass and background vocals, and Danny Louis on organ and Wurlitzer
http://mule.net/music_media/asx/deepend/deepend_deepend.wax

JamBase Show Reviews
Warren Haynes XMas Jam | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1831
Gov't Mule & Friends: Review and Photos | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1537
Summit Music Festival 2001 | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1438
Show Review: May 2001 PA | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1142
One For Woody: Sept 2000 NYC | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=525

Les Claypool's Frog Brigade

Bassist extraordinaire, vocalist and songwriter are just a few of the roles Les Claypool has taken on over the years with Primus. Producer, video director, cartoonist/animator, screenwriter, record label owner and interactive design artist are all part of the panoply of talents and interests this unique multimedia adventurer has explored. Claypool has always kept his musical hands wet outside the Primus waters with side projects including Sausage (featuring Jay Lane of Rat Dog) and Les Claypool & the Holy Mackerel (which included the talents of Jay Lane, Charlie Hunter, and Henry Rollins). More recently he has toured and put out an album with Oysterhead (which also features Trey Anastasio of Phish and Stewart Copeland, formerly of the Police) and collaborated with Buckethead and Bernie Worrell in Col. Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains. His playing can also be heard on albums by Tom Waits, Rob Wasserman, Alex Lifeson of Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains), and the latest Gov't Mule release The Deep End, Volume 2.

Two live Frog Brigade CD's were released in 2001 on Les' own Prawn Song Records label, Live Frogs Set 1 and Live Frogs Set 2. While Set 1 contains versions of originals and covers, Set 2 is a complete performance of the Pink Floyd classic albumAnimals. Musicians included in this recorded line-up of the Frog Brigade included Todd Huth on guitar (Primus, Sausage), drummer Jay Lane (Sausage, Rat Dog), and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti (Rat Dog, Pharoah Sanders).

September, 2002 marked the release of the first-ever Les Claypool Frog Brigade studio recording: Purple Onion. The album's 12 all-new songs are sometimes light, sometimes dark, lyrically thought provoking and rhythmically compelling. While the Brigade regulars are consistent on much of the record (eenor, Skerik, and new percussionist Mike "Tree Frog" Dillon), many special guests grace the album as well. "D's Diner" features sitar player Gabby Lang in addition to the triple-bass onslaught of Claypool, Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) and Lonnie Marshall (Weapon of Choice). Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, Phil Lesh) handles guitar on the psychedelic hillbilly stomp of "Buzzards of Green Hill" and Fish Fisher (Fishbone drummer) guests on "Whamola," a live show staple named after the unique instrument Les employs: a one-string bass played with a drumstick. Original Frog drummer Jay Lane (Ratdog, Sausage) appears on four songs, while Bay Area monster Dean Johnson also makes an appearance.

The Les Claypool Purple Onion tour is taking off this Fall. Come catch the Frogs in all their glory!

Les Claypool on JamBase | http://www.jambase.com/search.asp?band=les+claypool
Les Claypool's Official Site | http://www.lesclaypool.com
Buy Purple Onion | http://www.jambase.com/merch.asp?productID=724
Download MP3 (More on LesClaypool.com) | http://www.lesclaypool.com/audio/David-Makalaster.mp3

Mountain Aire 2002 Review | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=2546
Les Claypool Feature Article | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=1486
Interview with Les Claypool | http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=859

Claypool World Links
Club Bastardo | http://www.clubbastardo.com
Primus | http://www.primussucks.com
Oysterhead | http://www.oysterhead.com
Prawn Song | http://www.prawnsong.com