Show Review

When Warren Haynes was asked to play as the house band for Last Call With Carson Daly he could have easily just assembled his band Gov’t Mule, and played songs from their recent album, Deja Voodoo. Instead, he took this invite as an opportunity to form an All-Star band comprised of familiar faces from the improvisational music community. Joining him was John Medeski (Medeski Martin &Wood) on keyboards, Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) on bass, Skerik (Critters Buggin’, Tuatara) on saxophone and Matt Abts (Gov’t Mule) on drums. It only made sense that this band should play a live show for the fans, so fittingly, a date at the Bowery Ballroom was set.

For most of the band members, it was a chance to return to the intimate club setting they had since left behind as their following and popularity has increased over the years. Many wondered what to expect from this eclectic line-up especially with Medeski and Skerik coming from the avant-guard jazz scene and mixing with the more rock and blues based sounds of Haynes, Schools and Abts.

The show opened up with an abstract free form jam that could have come from one of Miles Davis’ 1970’s era studio sessions. Warren then led the band in “Hammer and Nails” from The Deep End, Vol. 2 taking full advantage of his proximity to the audience leading them in an a cappella chant of the chorus to finish the song.

The band thundered through the first set playing “Sco-Mule,” a soulful version of “Hey Joe" and “Hottentot” from John Scofield’s A Go Go, on which Medeski was the album’s keyboardist. At this point it became clearly evident no one on stage was holding back. Medeski’s fevered solos coupled with Dave School’s charging bass lines had the audience screaming for more. The set closed with a cover of Tom Waits' “Going Out West,” which fans from Mule and Panic considered a favorite.

A lot of questions had been answered as to the kind of show the band was going to play, but no one could have expected the intensity and energy to be this high. Shows like this are usually saved for JazzFest or other music festivals that allow musicians to play outside their normal band line-ups.

The second set opened with the creeping groove of “Rockin’ Horse” which Medeski melted into “Think” from MMW’s Shack-man. The covers kept on coming with a note perfect rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Living Loving Maid,” Jimi Hendrix's “Red House" and Traffic’s “Glad," which was then followed by a slamming version of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” They encored with the classic Warren Haynes anthem “Soulshine,” and as fans walked out of the venue, they knew they had truly seen something special.

The show had been billed as “what very well might be their only show ever.” Many will agree that these talented musicians need to hang out on stage a little more often.

Setlist

Set 1

Intro, Rocking Horse, Think > Drivin Rain, Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman), Red House, How Many More Years > Higher Ground > Glad > Freeway Jam > Mule

Encore: