Govt Mule tore through the south last week, offering some new material and a variety of guest musicians in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. Tuesday at Memphis Minglewood Music Hall the quartet debuted the epic Inside Outside Woman Blues from By a Thread, and the next day Warren Haynes previewed another BaT number, Forevermore, during a semi-private performance for listeners of the Atlanta-based syndicated morning radio program, The Regular Guys.

Thursday night fellow Allman Brothers Band member, and area hero, Oteil Burbridge joined The Mule at Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, AL during the second set for a spirited reading of Allen Toussaints Get Out of My Life Woman, and the next night Haynes offered Fillmore-specific lyrics to the Bang a Gong which split the bands encore version of Tom Waits Goin Out West at Charlotte, NCs The Fillmore Auditorium . The members of Govt Mules crew also treated fans to a humorous rendition of Men Without Hats Safety Dance during the bands set break.
MOFRO opened for The Mule at Atlantas Masquerade Music Park, and JJ Grey and Cody Dickinson both joined the group for a version of Robert Johnsons 32/20 Blues. Later in the evening, Haynes later joined Dickinsons Hill Country Revue during their late night performance inside the Masquerade proper.
Govt Mule finished the weekend under Raleigh skies, performing a lengthy show on the street stage erected by the Lincoln Theater. Jason Isbell opened the show with his 400 Unit, and then re-emerged during Govt Mules first set to lend vocals and guitar to Neil Youngs Dont Let It Bring You Down. When Isbell left the stage Govt Mule closed said set with an interesting melding of Creedence Clearwater Revivals Effigy and Johnny Cashs Folsom Prison Blues.
Govt Mule has announced a four-day winter getaway at The Grand Lido Negril Resort in Negril, Jamaica. The first annual Gov’t Mule Island Exodus will take place from January 15-19, featuring three -length Gov’t Mule shows and a Haynes solo show on the beach. The band will bring some special guests with them, including longtime collaborator Ron Holloway. DJ Logic will also spin each night in the Atlantis nightclub. A variety of other activities will take place throughout the extended getaway. Report by Rob Turner