Opening Night | Govt Mule Kicks Off Spring Tour In Augusta

Last night marked the start of Gov’t Mule Spring Tour as Warren Haynes and Co. headlined this year’s installment of the Major Rager in Augusta, Georgia. Gov’t Mule welcomed many guests, including James Brown’s cape man, over the course of one lengthy set and an encore at the Augusta Commons.

[Photo by @alienjns407]

The band kicked off their first show of the tour with “Bad Little Doggie” which led into a “Game Face” that featured “Mountain Jam” teases. Later in the set Danny Ray -former cape man and emcee for the late James Brown -introduced Mule’s version of The JB’s “Doin’ It To Death.” Gov’t Mule was joined by Eric Bloom, Neal Evans and Ryan Zoidis as well as frequent collaborator Craig Sorrells for both “Doin’ It To Death” and the “It’s A Man’s World” that followed. The set ended with Sorrells helping out on “Mule.” The trumpeter also contributed to an encore of “Soulshine” > “Tupelo Honey” > “Soulshine.”

SiriusXM’s Jam On channel broadcast Gov’t Mule set and other performances live from Augusta on Thursday. The channel will re-broadcast its Major Rager coverage starting at 12 p.m. ET today including a Lettuce set that saw a guest appearance from Sharon Jones. Gov’t Mule plays Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia tonight.

Setlist (via Mule.net)

Set One: Bad Little Doggie > Game Face (with Mountain Jam tease), Rocking Horse > Banks Of The Deep End, Broke Down On The Brazos, Whisper In Your Soul, Doin’ It To Death (with Danny Ray Introduction + guests Eric Bloom, Ryan Zoidis, Craig Sorrells & Neal Evans), It’s A Man’s World (with Eric Bloom, Ryan Zoidis, Craig Sorrells & Neal Evans), I’m A Ram (with Black Dog tease), Beautifully Broken > Breakdown > Beautifully Broken, Mule (with Craig Sorrells)

Encore: Soulshine > (with Craig Sorrells) Tupelo Honey > (with Craig Sorrells) > Soulshine (with Craig Sorrells)