Veteran rockers Gov't Mule gave us the gift of spectacular live music on Friday, September 3, 2021 at Freeman Stage in Selbyville, DE. On a beautiful night near Delaware's Eastern Shore, Warren Haynes and company threw down two massive sets and reminded the crowd what a force they still are – 25 years since their formation. 

The set opener, 'Traveling Tune,' encapsulated the collective feeling we had desperately missed as Haynes sang: "Well hello people it's been a long time | So good to see you, how you feelin'? | It's good to be together even for a short while  |  Nothin' like a little rockin' and reelin'. "

The first set included a mix of Mule originals including the defiant rocker, 'Mr. High and Mighty,' the reggae-inspired 'Unring the Bell,' and the autobiographical retrospective, 'Dreams and Songs.' The quartet sounded tight early, especially during the Haynes + Dickey Betts composition, 'Kind of Bird,' which gave Danny Louis (keys) a chance to shine as Jorgen Carlsson laid down his signature, heavy bass licks. Mule stretched out the explorative and jazzy tune as Haynes sprinkled in a bit of the Allman Brothers Band classic, 'In Memory of Elizabeth Reed' to the delight of the crowd.

In the second set, Warren implored the crowd to sing along, reminding us that if it's heavy, to lay our burden down.  The Mule faithful obliged, brining a smile to Haynes' face. "That's beautiful," he remarked. After a memorable 'Endless Parade' > 'Ain't No Sunshine,' the band paid tribute to two of their fallen heroes: Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) and Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones) with a double dose of 'Brown Sugar.' First up was the Billy Gibbon's-penned rocker before Mule launched into the Stones' worldwide hit, with Danny Louis assisting on guitar. 

Mule closed out the second set with a monstrous take on 'I'm a Ram' (Al Green) as the band fired on all cylinders. "I hope you had a good time!" implored Haynes, "but I got to drive on." After a quick encore break, the band left us with a spirited rendition of 'Soulshine,' one of Warren's most beloved songs. The crowd basked in the musical glory, embracing friends and family, feeling especially grateful on this memorable night. Warren flashed his signature peace sign and wore a huge smile as the band departed. Goodbye Gov't Mule, we'll see you down the road in some other time, some other place.