iTunes launched to a huge commercial success, selling 10 million songs in the first four months, Little Nemo debuted on the big screen and the airwaves were being dominated by Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” and Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” The year was 2003 and for luckily for Gov’t Mule and Chris Robinson fans, the New Earth Mule tour in the fall was an amazing month and half of collaborations and live rock and roll.

The New Earth Mule tour kicked off in the beginning of October of 2003 with Gov’t Mule officially headlining and Chris Robinson and New Earth Mud supporting the Mule through 20+ dates. After the final official show of the tour in Laurence, MO on the 11th of November, New Earth Mud headed to Denver for a pair of headlining late night shows after the Phil Lesh and Friends & Gov’t Mule shows. Mule and Jimmy Herring joined New Earth Mud deep into the early morning for a couple of epic encores on this final date.

Chris Robinson and New Earth Mud played plenty of material from their album during the show as well as covers like the Grateful Dead’s “Sugaree” and Pink Floyd’s “Interstellar Overdrive.”

For the encore, Chris Robinson welcomed Gov’t Mule (Warren Haynes, Andy Hess, Danny Louis, and Matt Abts) and Jimmy Herring for a couple of blues tunes including “Key to the Highway” and “Blues Power.” Warren and Jimmy had both played earlier in the evening at the Fillmore with Phil and Friends as part of Phil Lesh’s famous “Q” or Quintet. As you’ll hear, they both had plenty of gas in the tank to help Chris Robinson and New Earth Mud end the tour.

Setlist:
– (Mother Of Stone) (missing)
01 Hi-Speed Transportation LA City Limit Blues (fade in)
02 Got Love If You Want It
03 The Red Road >
04 Old Blue
05 Like A Tumbleweed In Eden
06 Beginners And Sinners
07 Lazy Day
08 Sugaree
09 Chat
10 Waiting In Vain
11 Detour On The PCH Samba > Interstellar Overdrive
12 Ride
13 Encore Break

– Encore –
14 Open Jam (1)
15 Band Intros & Tuning
16 Key To The Highway (1)
17 Tuning & Chat
18 Blues Power (1)

(1) With Jimmy Herring, Warren Haynes, Andy Hess, Danny Louis, and Matt Abts

Chris Robinson – vocals, guitar, & harp
Paul Stacey – lead guitar & backing vocals
George Reiff – bass & backing vocals
George Laks – keyboards
Jeremy Stacey – drums

Thanks to Steve “ballsdeep” Hagar and Dennis Orr for the uncirculated recording.