Gov’t Mule Commence New Year’s Eve Run in Schenectady with Special Guest Reeves Gabrels

Photo: Dino Perrucci

On Sunday, Dec. 28, Gov’t Mule initiated its New Year’s Eve run, performing the first in a series of three concerts built around the looming firework displays and champagne toasts as the clock strikes midnight. Last night’s live show occurred at the Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, N.Y. During the event, the band delivered two thrilling sets before bringing out Reeves Gabrels for a musical reunion that simmered on pieces from Alice Cooper, Humble Pie, and The Faces. The guest guitarist had previously joined Gov’t Mule on multiple occasions, and as recently as one of their 2023 Jazz Fest appearances. 

Sunday night’s performance built momentum for the party to come while demonstrating the amalgamated might of bandleader Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, Danny Louis, and Kevin Scott, coalescing on the set-one opener, the Life Before Insanity feature, “Bad Little Doggie.” Next, the unit of artists clicked into “Brand New Angel,” “Lay Your Burden Down,” and “Don’t Ring the Bell.” The aforementioned sequence hovered over pieces from 2006’s High & Mighty, and continued with more from the collection through the arrival of “Endless Parade.” 

Next, the band tore into “Devil Likes It Slow,” “Neighbor, Neighbor,” before arriving on “Shake Our Way Out,” which served as the piece that came before set one’s finale, Ann Peebles’ classic, “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home.” The band took a break before resuming their task on stage, finding their footing on set two opener, “Thorazine Shuffle.” Gov’t Mule continued their frame with covers of Savoy Brown’s “Street Corner Talking” and Allen Toussaint’s “From a Whisper to a Scream,” before initiating a return to originals on “The River Only Flows One Way.” 

The Dose cut, “Larger than Life” ensued, followed by “Captured” and “Mule” to end the second set. Rather than proceed with fan expectations of a customary encore, the band welcomed a former live guest, virtuoso guitarist known for his work with David Bowie and Tin Machine, Reeves Gabrels. The visitor helped his hosts with covers of Alice Cooper’s “Is It My Body,” Humble Pie’s “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” and The Faces’ “Stay With Me.” 

After turning in last night’s concert, the first in a multi-night NYE series, Gov’t Mule will take the night off before resuming their run at New York City’s acclaimed Beacon Theatre. Tickets remain on sale for the band’s final shows of the year; purchase here.

Gov’t Mule 

Proctors Theatre – Schenectady, N.Y. 

Dec. 28, 2025 

Set I: Bad Little Doggie, Brand New Angel, Lay Your Burden Down, Unring The Bell, Endless Parade, Devil Likes It Slow, Neighbor, Neighbor, Shake Our Way Out, Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home

Set II: Thorazine Shuffle, Street Corner Talking, From A Whisper To A Scream, The River Only Flows One Way, Larger Than Life, Captured, Mule

Enc.: Is It Body+, I Don’t Need No Doctor+, Stay With Me+

Notes:

With Reeves Gabrels on guitar