Photo Credit: Stuart Levine

On Saturday night Gov’t Mule descended upon the Westville Music Bowl in New Haven, Conn., where they took part in a Backline Benefit concert. The ensemble delivered a 15-song main set that saw a run-through of covers by Etta James, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and a double dose of The Allman Brothers Band, sprinkled amongst a well-represented spread of tunes from across the band’s repertoire. Moreover, the Warren Haynes-led group welcomed a plethora of talent throughout the night. Dirty Dozen Brass Band kicked off the evening’s sit-ins before Oteil Burbridge joined. Later, Eric Krasno, Jason Crosby and Tom Guarna showed up and lent their skills on several of the night’s covers.

Gov’t Mule’s set got underway with The Allman Brothers Band’s “Soulshine;” the opening number could have been a nod toward one of the night’s guests, Burbridge, Hayne’s one-time bandmate in the Eat a Peach ensemble. The night continued with “Mule” before “Banks of the Deep End” and “Larger Than Life.” For their following number, Gov’t Mule landed on “Devil Likes It Slow” as the song wrapped, the billed band welcomed The Dirty Dozen Brass Band to the stage. Next, the players dove into Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” to kick off an unforgettable night of collaborations. 

To follow the James cover, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band accompanied Gov’t Mule on the traditional “John the Revelator.” Next, Burbridge arrived and lent a groove on Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon” before The Dirty Dozen Brass Band left the stage and were replaced by Krasno and Crosby, just in time for a take on Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Good Morning Little School Girl.” One of the night’s peaks landed next after Krasno exited and Guarna arrived for The Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post,” a song that left fans and the internet buzzing. 

The evening’s guests exited the stage leaving a roaring crowd to experience Haynes, Matt Abts, Danny Louis and Jorgen Carlsson’s “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” off 2021’s Heavy Load Blues. They continued by taking a trip back in time to 2001 with “Beautifully Broken,” which faded into the first post-pandemic take on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Breakdown,” last performed on Oct. 5, 2019, at Pungo Jamboree in Virginia Beach, Va. “Wake Up Dead” was played next, before a sent ending “Blind Man in the Dark.” The night ended with an encore take on Tom Waits’ “Make It Rain.”  

Following Saturday’s epic night of music, Gov’t Mule will return to the stage on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. Then, they’ll make their highly-anticipated appearance with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, which will occur at Waterfest at Riverside Park in Oshkosh, Wis. For tickets to Gov’t Mule’s upcoming concerts, visit mule.net.

Scroll down to view the complete setlist.  

Gov’t Mule 

Westville Music Bowl– New Haven, Conn.

Aug. 13, 2022 

Set: Soulshine*, Mule, Banks of the Deep End, Larger Than Life, Devil Likes It Slow, I’d Rather Go Blind!@, John the Revelator#@, Chameleon$@%, Good Morning Little School Girl^&%-, Whipping Post*=%, Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home, Beautifully Broken > Breakdown? > Beautiful Broken, Wake Up Dead, Blind Man in the Dark 

Enc.: Make It Rain/

Notes:

* The Allman Brothers Band cover

! Etta James cover

@ With The Dirty Dozen Brass Band 

# Traditional 

$ Herbie Hancock cover 

% With Oteil Burbridge 

^ Sony Boy Williamson cover

& With Eric Krasno 

– With Jason Crosby 

= With Tom Guarna

? Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover 

/ Tom Waits cover 
Setlist via Setlist.FM.