Gov’t Mule rang in 2026 with a New Year’s Eve stand at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Wednesday (12/31) for a New Years Run that included a totally different show at the venue the night before (12/30) and an opening salvo in Schenectady on 12/28.
While all the gigs were sizzling, led by legendary guitarist Warren Haynes on guitar and lead vocals, Matt Abts on drums and percussion, Danny Louis on keyboards, guitar, trumpet and backing vocals, and Kevin Scott on bass, it was the NYE concert that took it to the next level.
Of note was the second set billed as "1971: The Year Music Changed the World," a loose tradition Gov’t Mule has revisited on NYE at The Beacon with different themes over the years.
Our records show that this was approaching the 20th NYE performance the Mule delivered at the iconic NY venue, a habit they formed in 2002.
Over the years the veteran act has explored themes in the middle of the show like:
The Winter of Love (2007) where the Mule performed 13 live debut covers of late-1960s psychedelia, British Invasion rock, Motown, Stax, and soul standards where they doled out hits by Traffic, The Stones, Cream, Hendrix, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Booker T. bangers, several with guest saxophonist Steve Elson.
The Dub Side of the Mule (2006) which featured special guest Toots Hibbert who joined the group for covers of Al Green, Otis Redding, and a heap of Toots & The Maytals classics.
Tribute to Musicians lost in 2016 (2016) which consisted of a 19-song set of covers that honored Prince (“Kiss,” “Let’s Go Crazy”), David Bowie (“All the Young Dudes,” “Rebel Rebel”), Leonard Cohen (“Hallelujah,” “Bird on the Wire”), Merle Haggard (“Mama Tried”), Sharon Jones (“100 Days, 100 Nights”), Glenn Frey (“Take It Easy”), Leon Russell (“Tight Rope,” “Delta Lady”), Bernie Worrell (“Maggot Brain,” “Flash Light,” “Red Hot Mama”), Keith Emerson and Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (“Lucky Man”).
They did a 10-song Beatles set in 2019 with Connor Kennedy, a 13-tune Doors set in 2013 with Robby Krieger on guitar, an a whopping 17-track AC/DC set in 2014 with Myles Kennedy on vocals where even Warren helped out on the mic.
So how to top all of that in 2025? How about giving love to stars of 1971 and do it with 13 live debuts?
One of the best parts about the Mule is they are able to seamlessly pull from hard rock, soul, folk, funk, and singer-songwriter covers with the greatest of ease and last week's second set was a master class.
With the talented Jackie Greene (Phil Lesh & Friends, Black Crowes) proving to be a lovely special guest, the band moved through Grand Funk Railroad’s “Footstompin’ Music,” James Gang’s “Walk Away,” and Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey" (made even better thanks to the Chronic Horns), which not only reminded everyone how delightful music was in the early '70s, and how far we have strayed.
After Dr. John’s “Where Ya at Mule,” Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and David Crosby’s “Cowboy Movie,” Haynes strapped on Jerry Garcia's Travis Bean TB500 #11 to cover "Bertha" which the Dead live debuted in 1971 to kick off their Feb 18th show in Port Chester, NY.
That Dead show was pretty key that night in that they also live debuted “Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Wharf Rat,” and “Playing in the Band” that night along with Jerry's "Loser."
Haynes, who chatted it up with Setlist's Bree Wilde last year for Marquee Memories, played two other classic guitars on NYE: Mike Bloomfield’s 1963 Fender Telecaster, and Dickey Betts’ 1958 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop.
After the Dead, the Mule did a twofer of Beatles solo numbers: George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” and then John Lennon’s “Imagine,” which is nuts to remember they both came out in the same year.
The hits kept coming from Sly & the Family Stone’s “Thank You for Talkin’ to Me Africa,” to Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” to The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” and even the Stones’ “Bitch,”
After even more jams, they wrapped it up with the Allmans' "Whipping Post," which, now that you mention it, probably should be how all shows end.
The Mule hits the road again in March, but before that Hayes is doing a short solo stint called The Winter of Warren. Get tix to that and the forthcoming Gov't Mule tour on the Mule website.
Winter of Warren 2026 Tour
2/12 The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, CA
2/13 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
2/14 Uptown Theatre, Napa, CA
2/15 Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz, CA
2/17-2/18 Blue Note Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2/20 Lensic Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe, NM
2/22 The Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX
2/23 The Kessler Theater, Dallas, TX
2/24 The Heights Theater, Houston, TX
2/26 The Caverns, Grundy County, TN
2/26-2/28 Suwannee Amp Jam #2, Live Oak, FL
3/1 Iron City Bham, Birmingham, AL
3/3 Kodak Center, Rochester, NY
3/4 F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre, PA
3/6 The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
3/7 State Theatre of Ithaca, Ithaca, NY
