Photos by Dino Perrucci

Gov’t Mule returned to New York’s Beacon Theater last night for their annual New Year’s shows. Though Mule formally reunited in Asheville, NC during Christmas Jam weekend earlier this month, last night’s show was the band’s first hometown gig in almost a year. The quartet remained guest-free for their first set, bringing things to a close with the Warren Haynes/Dickey Betts Allman Brothers cut “Kind of Bird.”

The ensemble’s second set opened with an extended jam that segued into Pink Floyd’s “One Of These Days” and “Fearless.” Bassist Paul Ill also subbed in for Mule’s Jorgen Carlsson on “Since I’ve Been Loving You.” The guests really started rolling out a few songs later when longtime Mule auxiliary harmonica player Hook Herrera, Fab Faux/ Conan guitarist Jimmy Vivino and Warren Haynes Band/Royal Family keyboardist Nigel Hall emerged for a stellar “32/20 Blues.” Herrera and Vivino remained onstage for the rest of the set, including John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” (a song Haynes recently brought over to The Allman Brothers Band repertoire).

Los Lobos guitarist David Hidalgo—who is in town with his band for a performance at New York’s City Winery tonight—joined the party for a bluesy run from “Smokestack Lightning” into “John The Revelator.” Both Hidalgo and Vivino also sat in on “Politician” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy” during Mule’s encore.

Gov’t Mule will return to the Beacon tonight. The band plans to perform music from Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen album.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Mule.net

Set 1
Maggot Brain >
Gameface >
Fool’s Moon
Little Toy Brain
Lively Up Yourself
Brand New Angel
Kind Of Bird

Set 2
Jam >
One Of These Days >
Fearless
Since I’ve Been Loving You with Paul Ill, without Jorgen Carlsson
Blind Man In The Dark
32/20 Blues with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & Nigel Hall
Working Class Hero with Hook Herrera & Jimmy Vivino
Smokestack Lightning > with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo
John The Revelator with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo

Encore
Politician > with Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo
Dear Mr. Fantasy with Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo, with For What It’s Worth Outro