Gov’t Mule Deliver Tribute to 1971 with Special Guests and Debut Covers on New Year’s Eve

Gov’t Mule, photo by John Patrick Gatta

Gov’t Mule rang in 2026 this week with the return of their annual New Year’s Eve staging. Continuing a tradition that dates back to 2002, the Warren Haynes-fronted Southern rock powerhouse touched down at New York’s storied Beacon Theatre for two shows on Dec. 30 and 31, which celebrated another triumphant year of touring with a litany of surprises. Their run culminated in a reverent tribute to the music of 1971, presented through debut covers, special guests and historic instruments.

Following an upstate kickoff at Schenectady, N.Y.’s Proctors Theatre on Dec. 28, Gov’t Mule tore into their NYC double-header with “Afer the Storm,” then cut deeper into their catalog with “Rocking Horse” and “Temporary Saint,” both of which have remained cornerstones of their repertoire for three decades. Other staples like “Banks of the Deep End” preceded covers of Bill Withers’ “Hope She’ll Be Happier” and Traffic’s “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys,” the former performed for the first time since October 2016 and both foreshadowing their total embrace of 1971’s finest on New Year’s Eve.

Gov’t Mule wrapped up their first set with “Mr. Man,” then lit into their second with the traditional “Railroad Boy.” It wasn’t long before they tapped celebrated guitarist Oz Noy for a surprise guest-spot on “Birth of the Mule,” then welcomed longtime collaborator Jackie Greene to bolster covers of Pink Floyd’s “Fearless” and Alice Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen,” both of which returned to the band’s live rotation after two years away.

The quartet’s first debut of the year-end series arrived with Tim Hardin’s “Reason to Believe,” then Jackie Greene returned to support Mule’s first take on Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy’s “When the Levee Breaks” since June 2022. After wrapping up the set with their tried and true version of Al Green’s “I’m a Ram,” the band’s first-ever cover of Little Feat’s “Willin’” and six-year bust-out of Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath” left their fans with high expectations for night two.

On December 31, Gov’t Mule strode confidently into their last show of the year with “Same as It Ever Was,” the first track off their 2023 album Peace… Like a River. The quartet patiently and powerfully worked through fan favorites “Game Face” and “Sco-Mule,” then broadened their sound for “Dreaming Out Loud” with accompaniment from the Chronic Horns, featuring Pam Fleming, Jenny Hill and Buford O’Sullivan. “Blind Man in the Dark” wrapped up the all-originals introductory set.

Gov’t Mule’s second set on New Year’s Eve was a non-stop thrill ride through a greatest hits mix of 1971, highlighting the band’s diverse sonic influences and selling Haynes’ claim that it was “arguably the greatest year in rock music history.” Among the eclectic 21 tracks, a whopping 13 were first-time covers, while all eight others were revived for the first time in several years. The tribute came in phases as special guests rotated in, beginning with Greene’s support on first time treatments of Grand Funk Railroad’s “Footstompin’ Music,” James Gang’s “Walk Away” and Dr. John’s fitting “Where Ya at Mule,” plus Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” (LTP Oct. 2019) and Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” (LTP Sept. 2021).

Country soul firebrand Yola stepped in for a roaring resurrection of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” (LTP May 2021), then remained in the spotlight to lead debuts of Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz” and Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” Greene signed on again for the better part of Gov’t Mule’s set, backing debuts of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord,” John Lennon’s “Imagine,” Sly & The Family Stone’s “Thank You for Talkin’ to Me Africa” and “Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” as well as returns to the Grateful Dead’s “Bertha” (LTP May 2018), The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (LTP June 2011), The Doors’ “Break On Through (to the Other Side)” (LTP Oct. 2018) and The Rolling Stones’ “Bitch” (LTP Jan. 2016).

In the final minutes of 2025, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Louis Cato made a surprise appearance, lending his multi-instrumental talents to first-time takes on Al Green’s “I Can’t Get Next to You” and Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” and “What’s Going On.” The core quartet slowed things down for an intimate and resolute return to Elton John’s bluesy “Madman Across the Water” (LTP Jan. 2011), then finally hosted Greene again for an explosive grand finale of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post,” featuring a stirring snippet of “Auld Lang Syne.” 

Gov’t Mule will return to the stage on March 27 for a special “Mile High Mule” show at Denver’s Mission Ballroom, commencing a five-stop spring tour. Find tickets and more information at mule.net. Read the full setlists of the band’s New Year’s Eve series below.