Gov’t Mule Presents Beatles Set On New Year’s Eve At The Beacon Theatre

Gov’t Mule closed out 2019 and started 2020 at the familiar confines of New York City’s Beacon Theatre, the same venue the band has played each New Year’s Eve except one (during a renovation) dating back to 2002. This time around, Mule treated fans to a set filled with Beatles covers from the Fab Four’s final two albums featuring special guests Connor Kennedy and Jimmy Vivino.

The two-set show, which included a particularly long encore, began with a string of seven originals starting with “Mr. Man” and ending with “Game Face.” Gov’t Mule worked a portion of “Mountain Jam” into “Game Face” and then served up a cover of Steppenwolf’s “Don’t Step On The Grass, Sam.” A jam on Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Eternity’s Breath” gave way to “Tastes Like Wine” to end the first set.

When Mule returned for the second set, they were joined by Steely Dan guitarist Connor Kennedy for a series of songs from the Beatles’ Abbey Road and Let It Be albums. Warren Haynes led the augmented ensemble through “Get Back” and “Don’t Let Me Down” to get the tribute underway. Then, Mule and friends covered “I’ve Got A Feeling,” “One After 909” and “Dig A Pony.” A “Dig A Pony (Reprise)” was interrupted by the sounds of a British police car. Men dressed as British police officers came on stage and presented a skit that paved the way for a countdown and the traditional “Auld Lang Syne.”

The Beatles tribute continued into 2020 with “Come Together,” “Oh! Darling,” “Something,” “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and “The End.” The last two songs of the set were the only ones Mule had played prior to Tuesday night. Gov’t Mule returned without any guests to kick off a lengthy encore with “Brighter Days.” The quartet then worked “Silent Scream, Part 2” into “Scenes From A Troubled Mind,” which gave way to multiple jams on Yes classics “Starship Trooper” and “The Gates Of Delirium.” Eventually, the four-piece wrapped up “Scenes From A Troubled Mind” and “Silent Scream, Part 2.” The Fab Faux/former Conan band leader/guitarist Jimmy Vivino then emerged to lend a hand on a run of “Sco-Mule,” “Lay Your Burden Down” into “Smokestack Lightning” into “Lay Your Burden Down” and “Catfish Blues” before Mule ended the marathon concert with “Bad Little Doggie.”

Fan-Shot Videos

I’ve Got A Feeling Captured by Sean Roche

Dig A Pony Captured by Sean Roche

Oh Darling Captured by Sean Roche

One After 909 Captured by Michael Caldwell

Come Together Captured by Michael Caldwell

The End Captured by Sean Roche

Scenes From A Troubled Mind Captured by Sean Roche