Gov’t Mule Welcomes Larry McCray & Bob Margolin At King Biscuit Blues Festival

Gov’t Mule headlined the 2017 installment of the King Biscuit Blues Festival on Saturday night in Helena, Arkansas. The band played one lengthy set followed by a guest-filled encore featuring two famed guitarists.

The quartet opened with “Railroad Boy” off 2009’s By A Thread before treating attendees to a rendition of the classic “Mule.” Next up were covers of the traditional “John The Revelator” and Al Green’s “I’m A Ram.” Gov’t Mule then worked “Smokestack Lightning” into “Lay Your Burden Down” ahead of a “Broke Down On The Brazos” > “Tributary Jam” sequence. The set ended with the blues number “Need Your Love So Bad,” the Allman Brothers Band’s “Come & Go Blues” and “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground,” which Mule recorded for Revolution Come…Revolution Go.

Warren Haynes & Co. brought out guests for the encore starting with guitarist Larry McCray on “Soulshine.” McCray famously recorded “Soulshine” in 1993, one year before the Allman Brothers Band laid down the track for Where It All Begins. The finale of the show saw Gov’t Mule, McCray and guitarist Bob Margolin on a “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” > “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” > “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home.” Margolin was a longtime member of Muddy Waters’ band and performed with Muddy and The Band at the original The Last Waltz. Bob was also one of Warren’s guests at the most recent Christmas Jam in Asheville.

Setlist

Set: Railroad Boy, Mule, John The Revelator, I’m A Ram, Lay Your Burden Down > Smokestack Lightning > Lay Your Burden Down, Broke Down On The Brazos > Tributary Jam, Need Your Love So Bad, Come & Go Blues, Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground

Encore: Soulshine (with Larry McCray; Les Brers In A Minor tease), Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home (with Larry McCray & Bob Margolin) > Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (with Larry McCray & Bob Margolin) > Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home (with Larry McCray & Bob Margolin)