"Dub Side of the Mule" is above all the traditional New Year concert given by Gov't Mule, and here we are 31 December 2006 at the Beacon Theatre in New York, the headquarters of the Allman Brothers Band ! As usual for this kind of concert river, the party is divided into three distinct parts. First set with Gov't Mule on stage alone for a group of classical repertoire which opens on a dazzling "Thorazine Shuffle" played a faster tempo has therefore habitude.Suivent the pieces known to all with in the middle all this a cover of "Whiter shade of pale" why not? With "Play with fire" reggae version you come to the transition to a change of universe and the first guests arrive that will give the coloring reggae / soul to this part of the festival. Toots Hibbert former leader of Toots & the Maytals grabs the microphone, accompanied by a brass section and backing singers for a repertoire that ranges from soul and reggae with songs of Otis Redding and the former group Hibbert. Listening to this second part I was somewhat reassured, because I was worried a little, this kind of music is not a priori my cup of tea ..... Anyway we must recognize that all the groove perfection. Just before the 12 strokes of midnight Haynes and his band we ship a "Hard Road" Pyrotechnic that takes us somewhere near New Orleans with its pleasing brass solos. This part ends, as it should be with "Reggae Soulshine" circumstance.
Final part and arrival of Greg Allman, and here we find ourselves in familiar territory! ABB atmosphere thanks to the voice of Greg and very bluesy cover of "Just like a woman". Follows a great "I feel so bad" and the appearance of John Popper flamboyant leader and harmonica of Travellers; beautiful "Dreams" and an amazing and steamy cover of "It's a Man's Man's World" by James Brown with a chorus which only Warren Haynes has the secret! The festivities end on the Bob Seger "Ramblin 'Gamblin' Man" and Elmore James "It Hurts me too" because even when Gov't Mule is also the blues!
The musical eclecticism of Warren Haynes is proven, for those who still doubt the "Dub Side of the Mule" drives the point after Floyd, jazz-rock and Matt Scoffield, The Stones .... .and it's probably not over!
PS: a DVD accompanying the three cds, dvds, who gets only the central part of the concert, so that with Toots Hibbert.
