Los Angeles Show at The Wiltern February 15 2024 By Andy J. Gordon
Gov’t Mule is in the middle of their 30 Years Strong Tour, hitting several venues in the western United States. They stopped at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on February 15, 2024. An enthusiastic audience was treated to the band’s usual mix of newer songs, deep tracks from their catalog and cleverly chosen covers.
New bass player Kevin Scott has taken over for Jorgen Carlsson who left the band last year. Scott has had to quickly learn a deep catalog of originals and classic covers that the band breaks out for their live shows. He did a fine job without any hiccups at the Wiltern show as he laid down thumping bass lines that complemented Matt Abts’ pulsing drumbeats.
Scott’s fills were particularly noticeable during “Time To Confess,” “River Only Flows” and a very special cover of Jeff Beck’s “Freeway Jam.” Prior to that song, Warren Haynes said, “last year we lost one of the greatest guitarists of all time. We’re gonna dedicate this one to Jeff Beck.” Haynes handled the challenging Beck tune like the virtuoso guitarist we have always loved and admired. His screaming solos filled the theater all night and his emotive, husky voice on lead vocals never disappointed.
Check out the full gallery of photos from this night by Andy J. Gordon here.
Other show highlights included a guitar duet between Haynes and keyboardist Danny Louis during set one’s “Peace I Need.” Louis also broke out his trombone for a solo during the second set’s “River Only Flows.” When Louis wasn’t showing off his instrumental versatility, he played a series of creative organ fills and solos. The interplay between Louis and Haynes on a funky cover of the JB’s “Doing It To Death” was quite special. He also produced a beautiful piano solo during “Made My Peace.”
The end of the show was dramatic as Haynes led the band through Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline),” a heavy blues number that shifted from a slow tempo to wildly fast and then back to slow. That transitioned into Scott pounding out the familiar “Thorazine Shuffle” bass line before the rest of the band joined in. Louis and Haynes played impressive solos before the spotlight went onto Abts who belted out a progressively fast solo that included lots of cowbell. As Abts brought down the tempo, Haynes jumped in and they alternated riffs until it built up once again, reaching a frenzied pace for the conclusion.
The “Endless Parade” encore started out as a moody ballad but finished with an explosive flourish from all four band members, led by Haynes’ wailing guitar. The show was a successful exploration and celebration of the band’s thirty year journey, exploring their interpretations of blues, soul, southern and hard rock. If the Wiltern show was any indication, the band has given no hint at slowing down and these road warriors will keep on delivering excellent performances into the future. Gov’t Mule have upcoming shows in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Georgia before their annual nighttime gig in New Orleans during Jazz Fest on May 1.
Rocking Horse
Wake Up Dead
Banks of the Deep End
Peace I Need
Pressure Under Fire
Doing It to Death
(The J.B.’s cover)
Made My Peace
Time to Confess
Set 2:
I’m a Ram
(Al Green cover)
Thorns of Life
Temporary Saint
The River Only Flows One Way
Freeway Jam
(Jeff Beck cover)
I Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)
(Howlin’ Wolf cover)
Thorazine Shuffle
Encore:
Endless Parade
Check out the full gallery of photos from this night by Andy J. Gordon here.
Photos courtesy of Andy J Gordon ©2024
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