Photo by Dino Perrucci

Gov’t Mule kicked off their summer tour at Portland, ME’s Merrill Auditorium, The evening featured a number of teases, including both “Norwegian Wood” and “Mountain Jam” during “Gameface,” “Get Away” and “Jungle Boogie” in the middle of “Superstition” and” bits of “Peter Gunn” and “Loser” as part of “Going Out West.”

In addition, Gov’t Mule performed frontman Warren Haynes’ “If Heartaches Were Nickels” for the first time. Kenny Neal released the first official version of the song in 1994, and Joe Bonamassa recorded a cover of the song on his 2000 album A New Day Yesterday. Earlier this month Haynes performed the number with Bonamassa, which likely inspired him to bust out the song with Gov’t Mule.

Gov’t Mule will perform at Boston’s Bank of America Pavilion this evening.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist as it appears in our Box Scores section

Thursday, May 30, Merrill Auditorium, Portland, ME

Set I: Bad Little Doggie, Steppin’ Lightly > Any Open Window, About To Rage, Broke Down On The Brazos > Tributary Jam, Kind Of Bird (with Les Brers In A Minor, Happy Together & The Wind Cries Mary Teases), Gameface (with Norwegian Wood & Mountain Jam Teases), Slackjaw Jezebel

Set II: Fearless, No Reward, Rocking Horse, If Heartaches Were Nickels*, Frozen Fear > D’yer Mak’er > Frozen Fear, Soulshine > Mule > Superstition (with Get Away & Jungle Boogie Teases) > Mule

E: Going Out West (with Peter Gunn & Loser Teases)

*Debut