It's always best to write these things while your ears are still ringing. Whether or not it's the inexplicable connection between Southern Rock and Southern Ontario, or just the fact that Gov't Mule lovingly, and ruthlessly, parade the forgotten freak flag of '70s hard rock, the crowd tonight at Toronto's Opera House collapsed into the streets, frying out on what they had just heard and seen. At one time, this type of aggressive blues-based rock ruled the airwaves, the record stores and the stadiums. Nowadays, you just don't see rock stars that look like Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes and Allen Woody - big, fat biker boys with long hairs and mean stares. But, hot damn, it sure is great to see them because they slaughter your brain with all those mind-numbing blues riffs and then build incredible jams out of them.
After a spectacular set that included tunes from their yet unreleased new disc, old faves like their anthem and name explainer "Birth Of The Mule," as well as "Blind Man In The Dark," Steppenwolf's "Don't Step On The Grass, Sam" and their tribute to Zappa "Left Coast Ghoulies" (which also allowed drummer Matt Abts to stretch out his sticks), they invited up Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar to join in the fun. At this point, it seemed that guitarist Haynes had invited this youngster on stage to put him through the paces. They did a couple of Big Sugar tunes along with Humble Pie's "Thirty Days In The Hole," but while it surely seemed that he was slick and had the stamina, Johnson was just not on the same plane with Warren Haynes. Besides, instead of looking Iggy, now he looks like David Byrne with long hair. Nevertheless, his vocals did add a nice break from Haynes' hard rock high notes.
After Johnson, Ian Thornley of Big Wreck brought his guitar to the stage to join the jam machine. This, again, was a wailing test, as the band just traveled the well-worn terrain of blues riffs while Haynes whipped off the leads for Thornley, who joyfully played them back. This was an amazing display of both technical skill, improvising and timing as the two players continued to bounce licks of each other. Absolutely astounding and the crowd was truly loving the competition.
With the biggest ending of any rock anthem ever, the show is over and my ears already ring. But I'm happy because now I've had my once-a-year-dose of heavy Southern Rock and it will continue to warm my skinnards during the already cooling fall that approaches. Gov't Mule have left their red hot brand of the blues firmly burned into my heart.
