Gov’t Mule Signs With Blue Note, New Record Shout! Due 9/24

Blue Note Records has signed legendary rock band Gov’t Mule and will release Shout! – the group’s first studio album in four years – on September 24. And in an unprecedented twist and gift to their fans, a special bonus CD will also be included, which includes the 11 tracks from the album but in different versions with each one sung by a different world class special guest and friend of the band. Further details will be announced shortly, but see below for a track listing of Disc 1.

“The Mule holds a unique and lofty berth. They have roots that run real deep — drawing from the entire history of rock ‘n’ roll going all the way back to Robert Johnson and the Delta,” noted Blue Note Records’ President Don Was. “Yet, despite their mastery of past idioms, they have managed to rearrange those elements into a whole new thing. On this new album, they’ve elevated their songwriting, playing, and production values to a whole new plateau. It’s gonna blow people’s minds.”

“I’ve been a huge jazz fan since my early teens. I have hundreds of jazz cd’s in my collection and I can honestly say that the majority are Blue Note recordings,” said Warren Haynes, singer-guitarist for Gov’t Mule. “My favorite period of jazz is 1955-1965 and I went through a time when I bought every Blue Note record from that era whether I knew of it or not. Their reputation for putting out the best of the best is unparalleled and the sound of those recordings will never be topped. It’s those kind of recordings that have convinced all of us in Gov’t Mule that the only way to capture improvisational music in the studio is to record as ‘live’ as possible. We are truly honored to be part of the Blue Note roster.”

The 11 original songs on Shout! were written over the course of the past two years. The band members first convened at Carlsson’s Los Angeles studio, where they wrote, recorded and produced leadoff track “World Boss” and two other songs. Inspired, they agreed to meet up on the East Coast to continue work on the album. They recorded eight tracks at Carriage House Studios in Stamford, CT, with longtime co-producer/engineer Gordie Johnson co-producing four of the songs with Haynes.
“This album puts the spotlight on the new songs and the way that we interpret them, which hinges on the unique chemistry we’ve developed as a band,” says Haynes.

Gov’t Mule recently kicked off its “Prepare To Shout Tour,” which will continue through the summer. They will perform at Mountain Jam (June 6-9), which Haynes has presented over the last nine years, and at Bonnaroo (June 15).  In addition, Haynes will be involved with two other tours. The Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration Featuring Warren Haynes is a groundbreaking orchestral adventure – curated by the Garcia family and Haynes – that will feature the musical icon’s storied original compositions as well as classic interpretations of timeless standards that were hallmarks of Garcia and the Grateful Dead’s shows. The outing will pair Haynes with some of the country’s most respected symphonies, while a band assembled especially for the tour will also accompany Haynes at all eight concerts. Haynes worked with a handpicked team – Steve Bernstein, Sean O’Laughlin and Chris Walden – to arrange the material, which will also include a few of his own songs.

SHOUT! Track Listing

1. World Boss
2. No Reward
3. Whisper In Your Soul
4. Captured
5. Scared To Live
6. Stoop So Low
7. Forsaken Savior
8. Done Got Wise
9. When The World Gets Small
10. Funny Little Tragedy
11. Bring On The Music

Gov’t Mule Tour Dates

6/4             Red Bank, NJ                   Count Basie Theatre

6/5             Charlottesville, VA            nTelos Wireless Pavilion

6/6             Newport, RI                       Newport Yachting Center

6/8             Hunter, NY                        Mountain Jam

6/12           Buffalo, NY                       Artpark

6/13           Grand Rapids, MI             Meijer Gardens

6/15           Manchester, TN                Bonnaroo

7/27           Bridgeport, CT                  Gathering of the Vibes

9/5-9/8       Arrington, VA                    Interlocken Festival (w/ Gov’t Mule AND The Warren Haynes Band in one day)

9/13           Fredericton, NB                Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival

9/15           Burlington, VT                   Grand Point North

Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration Featuring Warren Haynes

6/18           Pittsburgh, PA                   Heinz Symphony Hall w/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Fawzi Haimor

6/20           Raleigh, NC                      Red Hat Amphitheatre w/North Carolina Symphony

6/22           Lenox, MA                        Tanglewood Music Center w/The Boston Pops

Conductor: Keith Lockhart

6/25           Philadelphia, PA                Mann Center w/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Fawzi Haimor

6/26           Vienna, VA                        WolfTrap w/the National Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Emil de Cou

7/30           Morrison, CO                    Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/Colorado Symphony

Conductor: Scott O’Neill

8/01           San Francisco, CA           Davies Symphony Hall w/San Francisco Symphony

Conductor: Sarah Hicks

8/02           San Francisco, CA           Davies Symphony Hall w/San Francisco Symphony

Conductor: Sarah Hicks

8/04           Los Angeles, CA               The Greek Theatre w/55-piece Orchestra

Conductor: Sean O’Laughlin