Photos by Dino Perrucci

Event hosts Gov’t Mule headlined Hunter, NY’s Mountain Jam last night The band was joined by saxophonist Bill Evans during the first set for a take on moe.‘s “Opium,” a tune that they debuted last year before co-headlining a tour with moe. Evans returned along with Alecia Chakour, Eric Bloom, Neil Evans, Ryan Zoidis and Cochemea Gastelum for “I’d Rather Go Blind” at the beginning of the next set.

The next guest to join Mule on stage was harmonica player and longtime collaborator Hook Herrera, who made an appearance on “How Many More Years.” The second set then came to a close with a stellar take on Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” sandwiched between Jimi Hendrix’s “1983 (A Merman I Should Turn to Be).” The show finally wrapped up as Bill Evans, Neil Evans, Bloom, Zoidis, Herrera and Eric Krasno sat in on “Get Behind The Mule,” which also featured a “Going Out West” tease.

The day was filled with other highlights as well. The Lumineers included covers of the Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place” and Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” in their set. Warren Haynes joined Michael Franti and Spearhead for “Life Is Better With You,” and he also made an appearance for Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” during Soulive’s performance. Haynes also sat in with Evan’s project Soulgrass earlier in the day.

Local hero Amy Helm offered a fun show, backed by fellow Woodstock-area performers Marco Benevento, Mike Merenda and Ruthy Ungar. They played the Band classics “Long Black Veil” and “Makes No Difference,” among other tunes.

Phil Lesh and Friends, Jackie Greene, Dispatch, ALO and more will close out the Mountain Jam festival today.

Here’s a look at last night’s Gov’t Mule setlist via our Box Scores page

Saturday, June 9, 2013, Gov’t Mule, Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY

Set I: Broke Down On The Brazos > Slackjaw Jezebel > Rocking Horse, Temporary Saint, Painted Silver Light, Opium*, Time To Confess, Effigy > Folsom Prison Blues Jam > Effigy, Hope She’ll Be Happier, Funny Little Tragedy > Thorazine Shuffle Reprise

Set II: There’s No Way Out Of Here > I’d Rather Go Blind^, Scared To Live, Streamline Woman > Bad Little Doggie Intro > How Many More Years^^ > Drums > Captured, 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) > No Quarter > 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)

E: Get Behind The Mule (with Going Out West Tease)%

(*)with Bill Evans
(^)with Bill Evans, Alecia Chakour, Neil Evans, Eric Bloom, Ryan Zoidis and Cochemea Gastelum
(^^)with Hook Herrera
(%)with Bill Evans, Eric Bloom, Neil Evans, Ryan Zoidis, Hook Herrera and Eric Krasno

Photos by Dino Perrucci