Govt Mule dubbed its New Years Eve celebration at New Yorks Hammerstein Ballroom the Temple of the Mule and devoted its entire second set to neo-classic, alt-rock covers. Pete Thorn, who is currently part of former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell’s solo band, played guitar with the quartet throughout the extended set, which opened with a bang with covers of Alice in Chains Rooster’ and Say Hello to Heaven by the oft-forgotten 1990s supergroup Temple of the Dog with (the band was assembled as a tribute to fallen Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood by the members of Soundgarden and future members of Pearl Jam). Fittingly, immediately after, the group proceeded to offer three songs from Pearl Jams canon (Black, Nothing Man and Indifference) and two cuts from Soundgardens repertoire (Fell on Black Days and Black Hole Sun). As midnight approached, the five musicians shifted into the Nirvana songbook for All Apologies and Where Did You Sleep, before the clock stuck 12:00 AM and the band launched into one of the most recognizable songs from the 1990s, Come as You Are. The set then continued on with Nirvanas About a Girl, Lithium and Breed, as well as a set-closing version of Temple of the Dogs Hunger Strike.
As Govt Mule has on occasion, the group revisited its previous trio format on a cover of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs at the start of its third set. Danny Louis then resumed his position for the rest of the groups late-night set, begining with a take on Mongo Santamars Afro-Blue.’ In addition, Thorn returned to the stage at the end of the night with Drivin n Cryins Kevn Kinney for The Clashs Straight To Hell and Neil Youngs Rockin’ In The Free World, as well as Marshall Tucker Bands Can’t You See.