Gov’t Mule is on the road in the heartland of America this week. Last week, the Mule rolled into Milwaukee short one drummer. Matt Abts sat out the show due to illness.

While most bands might postpone or cancel the show due to a band member illness, Warren and the rest of the Mule took the opportunity to flex their musical muscles and put on one hell of a show.

Without their drummer, the band performed a couple of tunes without drums, a couple of Warren Haynes solo tunes and a rotating cast of band members on drums and percussion. Rachel “Stixx” Turner also sat in on drums towards the end of the show.

Mule took the opportunity without their normal line-up to have some fun with their setlist and played nearly all covers. One of the coolest configurations of the evening included Jorgen on drums and Danny on bass for a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House” and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning.”

Setlist
01. Intro 03:06.00
02. The Real Thing ! 06:17.00
03. Wasted Time @ 06:13.00 
04. Hallelujah # 10:07.00
05. Banks of the Deep End 07:18.00 
06. Kind of Bird ~ 17:16.00
07. Sad and Deep as You $ 10:36.00 
08. Into the Mystic % 04:52.00
09. Endless Parade 11:47.00 
10. Red House ^ 10:45.00
11. Smokestack Lightning & 08:47.00 
12. She Said, She Said * 05:03.00
13. Politician + 09:54.00
14. I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home !! 11:44.00 
15. Soulshine ~ 10:35.00
16. Encore Break 01:37.00
17. Get Behind the Mule ## 13:53.00

Total 2:29:50.00 

Notes Galore:
Matt Abts did not perform due to illness
! Phil Lesh & Friends song, written by Warren Haynes
@ The Eagles cover
# Leonard Cohen cover
~ Allman Brothers Band song
$ Dave Mason cover
% Van Morrison cover
^ Jimi Hendrix cover
& Howlin’ Wolf cover
* The Beatles cover
+ Cream cover
!! Ann Peebles cover
## Tom Waits cover
track 06 – “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Hottentot” teases
track 14 – “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” tease
track 17 – “96 Tears” tease

Personel:
tracks 02, 03 – Warren solo
tracks 04, 05, 06 – Warren, Jorgen, Danny
tracks 07, 08, 09 – Warren, Jorgen, Danny, Stixx on djembe
tracks 10, 11 – Warren, Jorgen on drums, Danny on bass
tracks 12, 13 – Warren, Jorgen, Danny on drums
tracks 14, 15, 17 – Warren, Jorgen, Danny, Stixx on drums

Gov’t Mule:
Warren Haynes – electric guitar, vocals
Jorgen Carlsson – electric bass guitar, drums
Danny Louis – keys, trombone, electric guitar, electric bass guitar, drums, vocals
Matt Abts – drums – did not perform due to illness

with:
Rachel “Stixx” Turner – djembe, drums

Thanks to RoyFan1 for the recording and thanks to Kurt Berwanger for the copious show notes and setlist.

Photo credit: smithdc1972