This is going to be a long one. If you’re only into the MP3s and/or setlist scans, pictures etc - just scroll through the text. To call this a “review” is a disservice to professional writers everywhere. When it comes to Gov’t Mule I’m a fan first. Keep that in mind while reading this drivel.
It had been over a year since I’d seen Gov’t Mule live. The move from the east coast to the west coast is entirely to blame. Well that and a change in income. So to say I was looking forward to this show is putting it very mildly. I’m only somewhat embarrassed to admit that I was in “line” for this one at 3:00PM. Alright it was 2:50. The next person to join me in ‘line’ wasn’t there until 5:30, and they didn’t even stay. The doors opened at 7. It appears the longer I go w/o seeing the band, the earlier I’ll arrive for the next show. If you’re starting to think to yourself ‘this guy puts the fan in fanatic’ - it’s really just Gov’t Mule that I get this obsessive-compulsive over.
Being first in line did allow me the privilege to pick whatever spot I wanted, and I wanted to be front and center. Which is where I ended out.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were the opening act, and they came on stage around 8. It had been well over a year since I’d last seen GP&TN, and was very damn psyched that they were the openers. The new arrangements (and I’m not even sure how new they are) to their older songs are great. Great. The song If I Was From Paris is brilliant, where the hell did it come from? See the post Smashing a perfectly good guitar for my retarded little story on Scott smashing his guitar. To Grace and the band: those two or three folks that kept shouting out crap - on behalf of Vancouver, I’m sorry. Please don’t let it (or the border crossing hassles) deter you from coming back to British Columbia.
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - The Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC - 11/15/07
Mastermind
Treat Me Right >
Stop The Bus
Here’s To The Meantime
Big White Gate
“Grace telling a story about the border crossing”
If I Was From Paris
Watching You >
Nothing But The Water (Part I) >
Nothing But The Water (Part II) >
Group Drums > Band Intros >
Nothing But The Water (Part II) >
Nothing But The Water (Part I)
More on Grace later (like, another post) cause the 2nd night (Seattle) was every bit as good, if not better, than the first.
So. Gov’t Mule, set one. Mr. High & Mighty was a great start - it’s one of my favorite tracks from that album. Pygmy Twylyte was a complete surprise, and the first time I’d heard it live in person. But to continue with Have Mercy On The Criminal, I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes and then Honky Tonk Woman - with Grace, was over the top amazing.
Set two - well just look for yourself. That’s What Love Will Make You Do with Scott Tounet (Nocturnals guitarist) was fun, though in my irrelevant opinion 32/20 Blues the next night in Seattle was the real GM w/ Scott highlight.
Regardless, it was the last song of the night that really blew me away. Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man was such a perfect encore that I’ve been refreshing MuleTracks almost every hour today just to see if by chance that the Vancouver show is already up for sale. Don’t get me wrong - the recording by Dennis (thanks Dennis!!) (download the show in lossless format here) is very solid (for a stealth), but I’m just itching to listen to the sound board.
Now, this could all be in my imagination. But… during the encore, I was one of the people singing the part of the chorus, and I caught Brian Farmer doing the same from the side of the stage. As soon as the show ended, Brian came out, moved some crap around, grabbed one of Warrens pics and handed it directly to me. I thought that was very cool, but I acknowledge that my definition of cool might differ from most. I don’t care.
Somehow I ended out with part of Matts drum kit. It was just handed to me (again, thank you Mule road-crew you guys are great). I was going to give it to my buddy Andrew but I figured it would be something my younger brother might like. He started out as a drummer, I know he thinks Mat Abts is amazing, and he’s been to more Mule shows (and has been a fan for way longer) than I. Hopefully he won’t read this and will be surprised at Christmas, but if he does, don’t worry this isn’t the only thing I’m getting you. Chances are slim he’ll read this, I’m pretty sure that the 4 people who do (one of whom is my mother) won’t include him.
Alright I’m running out of steam. The rest is in lazy bullet point format.
My buddy Andrew was at this show, it was great to catch up w/ him
It got so cold waiting in “line” that I went to the American Apparel (or something like that) and bought an extra pair of socks, for $9. I thought I was prepared - a book, my mp3 player, an umbrella, a sandwich…
If Gov’t Mule plays Halloween next year (2008) I will buy Andrews ticket. If I still live in Vancouver. Notice the font used in the setlist pictures above (not the song names, the location and date)
Now look at the font used in the song names. Tiny maple leaves. So cool.
Instead of getting the tour poster, which is what I usually do, I got the tee-shirt. If they’re going to put the time and effort into blending the Mule logo with a maple leaf, I’m going to buy it.
What’s with the no cameras policy? Don’t get me wrong I’d never even consider using a flash, but no cameras? Where’d that come from?
And the “barrier” up front - what was that about? I’ve never seen it used at the Commodore before.
I really did make an effort to have this up on a Monday, but I’ve been really busy since I got back.
I was able to send the setlist to one of the Gov’t Mule mailing lists at the end of each set, thanks to my fancy-but-too-expensive phone and the free WiFi at the Commodore. Qwerty keyboard or not, sending email via a phone is no picnic. That or my thumbs are just too fat.
I’ll do a similar but hopefully less boring recap of the Seattle show sometime soon (more setlist scans, a couple of crappy camera phone pictures and brag about how I shook Warren Haynes hand).
