Photo Credit: Stuart Levine

Over the weekend, Gov’t Mule arrived at Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Calif., to perform a Saturday set. During the Bay Area concert, the Warren Haynes-led ensemble ran through an array of originals and covers, including an encore take on the Jerry Garcia original “Sugaree” played with special guest Mark Karan, who has worked alongside members of the Grateful Dead in RatDog, the Other Ones, Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum and Phil & Friends. 

The band’s main frame commenced with “Mule” before the arrival of their second number, “Banks Of The Deep End,” and an ensuing rendition of “Wake Up Dead.” A high point occurred next as the group of billed players landed on “Game Face,” which merged into “Mountain Jam,” followed by a return to “Game Face” to cap the veteran group’s myriad of instrumental moments. 

Nodding to his time in The Allman Brother Band, Haynes and his bandmates covered “Dreams” before adding in Bob Marley & The Wailers’ original “Lively Up Yourself” and continuing with the Kenny Neal-written “If Heartaches Were Nickels.” The band returned to their self-penned material and delivered “Dreaming Out Loud,” followed by “Made My Peace,” and a set-ending run-through of “Thorazine Shuffle.” 

With the arrival of the night’s encore, came a special guest, Karan, who dipped into a familiar archive as the group covered Garcia’s “Sugaree.” Given the location, the band twisted the lyrics to reflect the location, changing the original “I’ll meet you at the jubilee” to “I’ll meet you at the winery.” For the final song of the performance, Karan once again assisted his hosts with Ann Peebles’ original “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home.” 

Previously, during Gov’t Mules show the night prior on June 9 in Jacksonville, Ore., the band welcomed another guest, Jeff Pevar. The member of Jazz Is Dead assisted during the first set, contributing to a rendition of The Box Tops’ “The Letter” and an ensuing take on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Almost Cut My Hair,” cementing the collaborative nature of their current trek.

Scroll down to view Gov’t Mules’ setlist from June 10. 

Gov’t Mule

Mountain Winery – Saratoga, Calif.

June 10, 2023 

Set: Mule, Banks Of The Deep End, Wake Up Dead, Game Face > Mountain Jam > Game Face, Dreams, Lively Up Yourself, If Heartaches Were Nickels, Dreaming Out Loud, Made My Peace, Thorazine Shuffle

Enc.: Sugaree,* Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home* 

Note:

* With Mark Karan