Gov’t Mule Says Farewell To Blackberry Smoke With Guest Filled Encore

Gov’t Mule said farewell to Blackberry Smoke last night after a series of Smokin’ Mule Tour shows that saw Charlie Starr & Co. open for Warren Haynes & Co. Starr and his Blackberry Smoke band mate Brandon Still helped close out Saturday night’s show at Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre in Charlotte with a pair of classic rock covers, but they weren’t the only guests.

Mule’s first set was a highlighted by a version of “Game Face” that featured “Birdland,” “Mountain Jam” and “Norwegian Wood” teases before seguing into “Soulshine.” Another bright spot was when the quartet worked a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “D’yer Mak’er” within “Frozen Fear.” The second set started with a cover of The Beatles’ “And Your Bird Can Sing,” a recent addition to the Gov’t Mule repertoire. Trumpeter Craig Sorrells and guitarist Mike Barnes were the evening’s first guests as they joined in on “Doing It To Death.”

Sorrells also took part in the collaborative encore along with Starr, Still and Gov’t Mule. Up first was an extended version of Neil Young’s “Cortez The Killer.” Barnes joined the fray for the evening’s finale, a wild cover of Little Feat’s “Spanish Moon.” Gov’t Mule plays Rocky Mount, Virginia tonight before taking a few weeks off.

Blackberry Smoke Setlist

Set: Six Ways, Testify, Crimson Moon, Rock N Roll Again, Good One, Pretty Little Lie, Let It Burn, Sleeping Dogs, Sanctified, Ain’t Got The Blues, Thunder, One Horse Town

Gov’t Mule Setlist

Note: Show Was Split Into Two Sets