Guitarist Mike Barnes performed with a pair of notable artists in two states over successive evenings. On Wednesday at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in Spartanburg, SC Barnes appeared with Gov’t Mule during ‘Sco-Mule’ and ’32-20 Blues.’ Last night at Zydeco’s in Birmingham, AL he joined Jerry Joseph early in his second set for ‘Love Is Like Water’ which bookended ‘Henry’ (later, Ashleigh Flynn, who opened the show, performed on ‘Bears That Dance’ and ‘Revolution.’) Barnes, a onetime session player for Geffen and Polygram who also teaches at the UNC Asheville, has taken the stage with the Mule over the years (for instance, the version of ‘Spoonful’ along with Johnny Neel and Col. Bruce Hampton on the Wintertime Blues benefit CD). Correspondent: Rob Turner