Gov’t Mule Delivers Guest-Filled Performance In Austin

Gov’t Mule returned to Austin last night, the city in which they recorded the bulk of their most recent album, Revolution Come…Revolution Go. Mule’s performance at ACL Live At The Moody Theater saw them welcome a number of guests including some who collaborated on the LP.

Thursday’s show began with a series of classics that included “Mule,” “Banks Of The Deep End” and “Time To Confess.” The band then brought out percussionist Ray Arteaga for Revolution Come…Revolution Go tracks “Stone Cold Rage” and “Sarah, Surrender.” Arteaga stuck around for a cover of Billy Cobham’s “Stratus” that also featured keyboardist Ike Stubblefield. Gov’t Mule continued on with their first cover of The Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” since last November. Arteaga, Stubblefield and guitarist Gordie Johnson, who co-produced most of Revolution Come…Revolution Go, added to “The Joker.” The set then concluded with a “Traveling Tune” featuring Johnson and Arteaga.

Gov’t Mule kicked off last night’s second frame with a “Broke Down On The Brazos” that gave way to a “Tributary Jam.” Later in the set, the band brought back Arteaga for a “Kind Of Bird” featuring teases of “Happy Together” and “The Wind Cries Mary.” Next up was Revolution Come…Revolution Go’s “Burning Point” with Arteaga and Johnson ahead of the “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground” finale.

For the encore, Gov’t Mule loaded the stage with guests. The band was aided by Arteaga, Johnson, Stubblefield and guitarist Lance Lopez for a cover of “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home.” Mule and their friends fit “The Thrill Is Gone” within “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home. Next up for the band is a performance in San Antonio on Friday night.

Setlist

Set One: Mule, Rocking Horse, Banks Of The Deep End, Time To Confess, Stone Cold Rage (with Ray Arteaga), Sarah, Surrender (with Ray Arteaga), Stratus (with Ray Arteaga & Ike Stubblefield), The Joker (with Ray Arteaga, Ike Stubblefield & Gordie Johnson), Traveling Tune (with Ray Arteaga & Gordie Johnson)

Set Two: Broke Down On The Brazos > Tributary Jam, Revolution Come, Revolution Go, No Need To Suffer, Kind Of Bird (with Ray Arteaga; Happy Together & Wind Cries Mary teases), Burning Point (with Ray Arteaga & Gordie Johnson), Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground

Encore: Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home (with Ray Arteaga, Gordie Johnson, Ike Stubblefield & Lance Lopez) > The Thrill Is Gone (with Ray Arteaga, Gordie Johnson, Ike Stubblefield & Lance Lopez) > Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home (with Ray Arteaga, Gordie Johnson, Ike Stubblefield & Lance Lopez)