2023 is shaping up to be a busy year for the southern rock jam band Gov’t Mule. On June 16th, the band released their latest album ‘Peace…Like a Rive,’ a masterful journey through classic rock via the guitar work of Warren Haynes. Mule also announced several tours keeping them on the road for the rest of the year. This summer they are treating fans with a special tribute in honor of the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s seminal album ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’ The Dark Side of the Mule tour is heating up amphitheaters around the country this summer as Gov’t Mule brings their take on the Pink Floyd classic to the live arena. Friday night, the tour rolled into Charlotte at the PNC Music Pavilion and it proved to be a unique and exceptional musical and visual experience.
Opening up the show was Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening. JBLZE brings the classic songs of Led Zeppelin to life once again as Jason pays tribute to his late father, the legendary drummer John Bonham. The band takes their places on the stage as we wait for the arrival of Jason who in typical fashion brings a cellphone to take video of the crowd before starting the set, getting everyone amped up and ready to rock. Although nobody can really take the place of the original members of Zeppelin, vocalist James Dylan does the songs justice and guitarist Jimmy Sakurai is a standout as he poses and plays to the audience down in front. Of course, all eyes are on the drumkit which is situated center stage on a riser in front of a JBLZE curtain depicting the classic Zeppelin album ‘Houses of the Holy.’ Bonham is every bit his father’s son, a complete master behind that kit, thundering his way through a set of Zeppelin classics as the audience sang along. If you’re heading out to see the tour, be sure to get there early and relive these illustrious rock tunes once again.
After a short break, it’s time for Gov’t Mule to hit the stage. On this run, the band is performing two sets albeit without a break. The first six songs, have Mule doing what Mule does best, making their songs come alive, jamming at will, as the fans vibed out and danced along. Kicking things off with “Stone Cold Rage” from their 2017 album ‘Revolution Come…Revolution Go,’ the band was on fire from the start. Warren Haynes is such a brilliant guitarist pulling on his blues and Southern rock roots and man, oh man, does he play a mean slide. Drummer Matt Abts was practically invisible behind his enormous kit but kept right on pounding all night. Danny Louis was situated among a bevy of keyboards stage left as he provided the lush accompaniments to the Mule tunes. This was also our first time hearing and seeing bass player Kevin Scott who recently replace long-time bassist Jorgen Carlsson who has departed from the band.
We got to hear three songs from the new album and they fit right into the mix with all the Mule classics and were well-received by the fans. There was a huge disc at the rear of the stage that would change lighting schemes throughout the evening with a bevy of different colored lights and very well-thought-out visuals to accompany the music. But it was the latter half of the set that really drew your attention.
After “After the Storm,” the stage went dark and the Dark Side of the Mule emblem lit up as everyone jumped to their feet. The crowd was ready to hear these songs live and in person as the anticipation built and built. The disc lit up once again and we were off to the races with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V).” This was a magical, mystical experience as we soaked it all in. The visual experience was second to none. Gov’t Mule really pulled out all the stops for this tour to bring fans the absolute best and it was amazing. The variety of lighting schemes and visual accompaniments was outstanding with lights and lasers galore. It was a bit of a cross between a Trans-Siberian Orchestra show and a Dead and Company show. Lasers shone and lights dazzled the audience and they even had giant foggers back at the soundboard area to fill the entire seating area with an appropriate amount of foggy mist.
But of course, all the visuals in the world wouldn’t be worth anything without the music. Pink Floyd’s music is always a great choice, but it has to be done right. There’s nothing worse than a band covering a legendary act and mucking it up, but this was certainly not the case. Gov’t Mule’s ‘Dark Side of the Mule’ not only pays homage to the Floyd originals but transforms them into their own, putting a Mule touch on them with every nuanced note as fans experienced “Money” and “Welcome to the Machine” in ways they never have before. Before it was all over, Mule came back on for not one, but two encores to make us “Comfortably Numb” and take us home with “Wish You Were Here.”
The ‘Dark Side of the Mule’ Tour is the complete package providing fans with an amazing experience with extraordinary musicians giving an incredible performance and all the bells and whistles that make for a memorable night. There’s only about a week left for this run of the tour, so get your tickets while you can. If you miss this one, Gov’t Mule will be back on the road beginning in September as they kick off the ‘Peace…Like a River’ World tour in Toronto.
Set List:
Stone Cold Rage
Rocking Horse
Revolution Come, Revolution Go
Shake Our Way Out
Made My Peace
After The Strom
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V) (Pink Floyd cover)
Have a Cigar (Pink Floyd cover)
Welcome to the Machine (Pink Floyd cover)
Speak To Me (Pink Floyd cover)
Breathe (In The Air) (Pink Floyd cover)
On The Run (Pink Floyd cover)
Time (Pink Floyd cover)
Breathe (Reprise) (Pink Floyd cover)
The Great Gig in the Sky (Pink Floyd cover)
Money (Pink Floyd cover)
One of These Days (Pink Floyd cover)
Fearless (Pink Floyd cover)
The Nile Song (Pink Floyd cover)
Echoes, Part 2 (Pink Floyd cover)
Encore:
Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd cover)
Encore 2:
Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover)
We would like to thank Kim Shiver from Livenation for the credentials to review the show.
