Photo via @beacontheatre via Gov’t Mule’s Facebook page

Last night. Gov’t Mule returned to New York’s Beacon Theatre to kick off their two-night New Year’s stand at their longtime home venue. Near the end of their first set, the group nodded to their New Year’s Eve Beatles theme by seguing between The Fab Four’s “She Said, She Said,” “Tomorrow Never Knows” as well as their “And Your Bird Can Sing” and “Revolution.” The Better Half Singers—the vocal group comprised of Mule wives Michan Taylor and Mini Carlsson—augmented the Mule on “And Your Bird Can Sing” while Woodstock-area guitarist Connor Kennedy, who is currently a member of the Steely Dan touring band, helped out on the band’s debut take on “Revolution.”

The sit ins continued during Gov’t Mule’s second set. First, saxophonist Aaron Heick—who was a member of Paul Shaffer’s CBS Orchestra on The Late Show—and The Better Half Singers emerged for The Rolling Stones’ “Play With Fire.” Then, frequent Mule guest Oz Noy took the stage for “Birth of the Mule.” Finally, during Mule’s encore, Fab Faux guitarist Jimmy Vivino made his traditional December 30 appearance with Gov’t mule for the group’s first take on the Stones’ “Live with Me.” Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice swapped in for Mule drummer Matt Abts on the number,

Mule will close out 2019 at the Beacon this evening.