On March 27, Gov’t Mule returned for a new year on the road with a performance at Denver’s Mission Ballroom. The Southern rock firebrands’ first performance of 2026 reunited storied frontman Warren Haynes, keyboardist Danny Louis, bassist Kevin Scott and drummer Terence Higgins (filling in temporarily for co-founder Matt Abts) to set the tone for a long stretch of touring ahead; with a fistful of rarities and two live debuts in the mix already, fans can confidently hold to high expectations.
Gov’t Mule tore into their eagerly anticipated performance on Friday with the traditional “Railroad Boy,” then followed that bluesy tone into the Haynes original “After the Storm” and “I’m a Ram,” their inventive take on the Al Green classic. After further staples life “Sco-Mule,” the band made history with a setting-appropriate live debut of Bob Seger’s “Get Out of Denver,” then took a page from Radiohead’s book with “Karma Police” and “Paranoid Android,” the latter returning to their repertoire for its second rendition to date and first since 2005.
“Time to Confess” wrapped up the first frame, then the band embarked on the next with the Haynes-penned Phil Lesh & Friends entry “Patchwork Quilt,” a reliable anchor for stating the second set. Shortly afterwards, “The River Only Flows One Way” opened out into a first-time cover of Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way,” then the group steeled themselves for the pummeling funk of The J.B.’s’ “Doing It to Death.” The band kicked up some dirt through the essentials “Larger than Life,” “Thorazine Shuffle,” Van Morrison’s “I’ve Been Working” and “Mule,” then let it settle before a searing encore of Tom Waits’ “Goin’ Out West.”…