Warren Haynes, photo by John Patrick Gatta — Warren Haynes continued his solo excursion over the weekend with three more shows down the California coast. The celebrated singer-songwriter and guitarist’s independent outing has brought intimate presentations, and in keeping with his storied career and diverse interests, some exceptionally eclectic setlists, packed with unexpected covers.
After beginning his winter solo tour with a performance in Grass Valley, Calif. on Thursday, Haynes trucked on to San Francisco’s The Fillmore on Friday night and quickly dispelled any potential for bad luck with an electrifying live debut of the Grateful Dead’s “Brokedown Palace.” The artist’s first take on the American Beauty essential thoughtfully acknowledged the hallowed venue before a soul-stirring first frame, featuring Gov’t Mule staples like “Dreams & Songs” and “Beautifully Broken” alongside rare covers like Elton John’s “Madman Across the Water,” Robert Johnson’s “Come On in My Kitchen” and James “Beale Street” Clark’s “Look on Yonder Wall,” revived for the first time since March 2022, July 2016 and Feb. 2009, respectively.
Haynes’ second set in San Francisco commenced with a return to George Harrison’s “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth),” last staged at Gov’t Mule’s 2024 Island Exodus destination event. Further surprises rolled in with Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” (LTP Sept. 2023), John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” (LTP July 2021) and the Allman Brothers Band’s “End of the Line,” drawn from the group’s 1991 Haynes-era album Shades of Two Worlds and revived for its first staging since July 2023. Following an encore of the traditional “Railroad Boy,” Haynes met a roar of demand from the crowd with a grand finale of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which he’d performed last in July 2022…