RR: The Mule is also not looking back, and pushes forward with the new quartet. What are your thoughts about the live work of Gov’t Mule in 2009?
WH: Well, I think we all feel like the new chemistry is really special and growing and getting better all the time. I think the band—having gone through a lot of ups and downs—is on a real upswing right now. We’re all excited about watching the growth of the new chemistry. Jorgen’s doing an amazing job. It’s just a pleasure to walk on stage night after night with this quartet.
RR: Let’s finish with a look at the 21st Annual Xmas Jam in Asheville. Every year is tremendous, but I’m intrigued by several guests this year. We just ran a news item on our site about William Bell’s participation, and that’s going to be really amazing.
WH: I’m really excited. At first glance, it may not appear to have the star power that some of them have had in the past—especially the 20th anniversary. But when you look at the endless possibilities of collaboration and great music that’s going to come out of this lineup, I’m really proud of the diversity and the great people that have volunteered to be a part of it.
You brought up William Bell who is an old friend of mine. William, for people that don’t realize what a legend he is, co-wrote “Born Under a Bad Sign.” He wrote “You Don’t Miss Your Water (‘Til Your Well Runs Dry),” which he had a hit, I believe, in 1961. He wrote “Everyday is Like a Holiday,” which is a song that’s very close to my heart. We became friends in the early 90s, although I haven’t seen him for quite a while, and I’m looking forward to getting together again. He’s just a beautiful human being, in addition to being such a seminal part of rhythm ‘n’ blues and soul music history. People are going to freak out because of the performance that those guys deliver.
I’m really happy to have Ani DiFranco. We’ve been hoping for the last few years that she would become available. We finally worked together for the Pete Seeger tribute at Madison Square Garden, and we had a chance to talk. She said, “Yeah, I’d love to come.” I think she’s a wonderful addition to the lineup.
To me, it’s all about diversity. If we’re going to have a seven or eight hour show, it’s great for that show to stylistically go all over the place. That’s one of the things that I love about the Xmas Jam. We’ve had everyone from Ralph Stanley to John Scofield, from Jackson Browne to Living Colour—it’s a crazy amalgamation of great music.
moe. coming back is something I’m really excited about. I think they have a special connection with Asheville, as well. Counting Crows—I think is going to be a wonderful addition. This tour that they’ve been doing with Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Augustana in this traveling caravan show they’ve been doing, in some ways, parallels what the Xmas Jam is all about, too. Adam [Duritz, Crows frontman] and I have been speaking on the phone about the endless collaborations and possibilities with that.
That’s one of the things that I’m most proud of with the Xmas Jam—all the people that get together and, in some cases, for the first time, and appear on stage and present these collaborations that no one would ever expect. And all the great guests—Jackie Greene and Jimmy Herring and Trombone Shorty, and, of course, Porter [George, Jr.]. It’s going to be amazing. It’s going to be one of those nights of music where every set is different from the set before it, but equally exciting in its own way.
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