The members of Govt Mule have long been described as torchbearers of the classic-rock era, so it seems only appropriate that Warren Haynes celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love during its annual New Years Eve gig at the Beacon Theatre. The group offered fans an extended three set show, the second of which was dubbed the Winter of Love and consisted exclusively of covers drawn from 1967 and thereabouts. The set began with an Ed Sullivan impersonator introducing the evenings theme and some of the more controversial numbers played on his popular television program. Govt Mule then ran through a striking mix of covers, including Traffics Dear Mr. Fantasy, the Rolling Stones 2,000 Light Years From Home and Lets Spend The Night Together, Creams Sunshine Of Your Love, the Beatles Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Jimi Hendrixs Little Wing and Spanish Castle Magic, Vanilla Fudges You Keep Me Hanging On, The Deads version of Morning Dew, The Doors When The Music’s Over and Light My Fire, James Browns Cold Sweat, Stevie Wonders I Was Made To Love Her, and William Bells Born Under A Bad Sign and You Don’t Miss Your Water. The band also spiced up its set with a variety of video montages, audio from clips WCOS On Air and other 1967 nostalgia.

Midnight arrived after one of the sets WCOS breaks and included a countdown that led into covers of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and All You Need Is Love. Saxophonist Steve Elson (who has recorded with David Bowie, among numerous others) also enhanced the group throughout its Winter of Love set and returned for Expression, the Temptations I’m Losing You and Mule during the groups third set. Govt Mule then closed the night with an encore consisting of a lone cover of Dave Masons Sad And Deep As You.
As previously reported, Govt Mules Warren Haynes, Danny Louis and Andy Hess, Karl Denson, Eric Krasno, John Gros and handful of additional musicians appeared with PBS at George Porter Jr.s birthday celebration Saturday night. The late-night performance included a number of familiar songs, including the Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Women and Govt Mules That’s What Love Will Make You Do and featured rare trips behind the drum kit by Haynes, Denson and Porter.