Gov’t Mule & Guests Honor Musicians Who Died In 2016 On New Year’s Eve At Beacon Theatre: Photos & Videos

Gov’t Mule continued a lengthy tradition of New Year’s Eve performances at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on Saturday night. This time around Warren Haynes & Co. honored a number of the many musicians who died in 2016 as part of a guest-filled second set in NYC.

Haynes opened the show by himself with the fitting “New Year’s Eve” off his 2015 solo album, Ashes & Dust. The rest of Mule emerged for a set heavy of classics including a “Thorazine Shuffle” > “Funny Little Tragedy” > “Thorazine Shuffle” sequence. Guitarist and longtime Mule collaborator Oz Noy was the evening’s first guest as he shredded on “Birth Of The Mule” and “Sco-Mule” to end the first set.

The first musician Gov’t Mule honored during their second set was Bernie Worrell. Mule, percussionist Marc Quinones and the Chronic Horns added to “Maggot Brain” ahead of Warren leading a countdown to 2017. Balloons and streamers filled the venue was the quartet, horns, Quinones and vocalists Jasmine Muhammad and The Sweet ’16 Singers lit into “Flash Light” and “Red Hot Mama” in honor of Worrell. Both were Gov’t Mule debuts. Leon Russell was the next late musical legend to be honored as Mule and their guests worked through “Tight Rope” and “Delta Lady.” Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey was then honored with debut covers of “Take It Easy” and “Already Gone” featuring Muhammad and The Sweet ’16 Singers. Muhammad’s talents were also on display during a two-song tribute to Sharon Jones with “100 Days, 100 Nights” and the soul singer’s rendition of “Midnight Rider.”

Considering we lost both Keith Emerson and Greg Lake in 2016, it was fitting Gov’t Mule, Muhammad and the Sweet ’16 Singers played “Lucky Man” by ELP. Leonard Cohen was then represented by Haynes and keyboardist Danny Louis performing “Hallelujah” before the rest of the band, the horns and singers emerged for “Bird On A Wire.” Another fitting number was the traditional “Angel Band,” which led into Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.” Next up was a tribute to Earth Wind & Fire founder Maurice White with takes on “Shining Star” and “Getaway,” both Mule debuts and both featuring Quinones, the horns and the singers. The Black Crowes’ keyboardist Eddie Harsch was feted with “Descending” featuring Quinones, while a “All The Young Dudes”/”Rebel Rebel” duo for David Bowie saw Jimmy Vivino make his first appearance of the night.

Prince was one of the last of those we lost in 2016 to be honored by Gov’t Mule and guests. First up was “Kiss” featuring Vivino, Quinones, the horns and the singers before the same crew wrapped up the epic second set with “Let’s Go Crazy.” For the encore, Mule was aided by Marcus King, Vivino, Quinones, the horns and singers for “Purple Rain,” which gave way to a reprise of “All The Young Dudes.”

Gov’t Mule returns to the stage later this month for Island Exodus 8.