Gov’t Mule Brings Out JJ Grey & Mofro For Van Morrison Classic At Artpark

Gov’t Mule welcomed opener JJ Grey and several members of Mofro to the stage during Thursday’s concert at Artpark in Lewiston, New York. The musicians teamed up for a performance of Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey,” the penultimate song of Mule’s main set.

Grey handled vocals and harmonica on the beloved Morrison classic, joined by Mofro bassist Todd Smallie, trumpeter Dennis Marion, saxophonist Darren Escar, keyboardist Eric Brigmond and backing vocalists Katie Dutton and Linzy Lauren. Mule frontman Warren Haynes shared lead vocal duties with Grey on a song the singer recorded with Mofro for their 2009 compilation album The Choice Cuts.

The collaboration capped a one-night pairing that saw JJ Grey & Mofro open the concert before Gov’t Mule delivered a 13-song main set and a show-closing encore rarity. The main set featured Mule’s first performance of “Life Before Insanity,” the title track from their 2000 studio album, since September 20, 2019 — a span of 297 shows. Haynes and his bandmates also took Shout! track “Bring On The Music” off the shelf for the first time in over three years as their lone encore.

Watch fan-shot video of Gov’t Mule’s full show below (“Tupelo Honey” starts at the 1:31:00 mark):

Setlist & Photos