Customer Reviews

Live At The Roseland Ballroom

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chronologically speaking, this was the second Gov't Mule album (a live document of their New Year's Eve 95/96 concert at NYC's Roseland Ballroom). True Haynes fans / Mule-heads will pay for the double dip in order to obtain the 15 minute "Voodoo Chile" with Jack Casady on bass and Chuck Leavell on organ (NOT the version found on the "Deepest End" DVD). The original album offered up a tasty 8-minute version of Steppenwolf's "Don't Step On The Grass Sam," one Allman Bros. track ("Kind Of Bird") and four tracks from the debut album. There's a reason why Haynes has found a home not only in Gov't Mule but also in The Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Allman Brothers...they're all jam bands and he's the consummate jam player. Everybody and his brother has covered "Voodoo Child, Slight Return" at one time or another, but Warren's the only player of consequence I know of who's tackled "Voodoo Chile" WITH original bassist Casady in tow. Later in Gov't Mule's career, an attempt was made to offer songs at the more traditional 3 to 4 minute length. Not here. The shortest track runs at approximately 6 minutes, with two topping 15. This is air guitar heaven. Jump in.

As it says in the liner, 'No overdubs, no editing, no apologies. Warren would like to take responsibility for being out of tune during Painted Silver Light. Matt would like to take responsibility for the confusion at the end of Dont Step On The Grass. Everything else is Woody's Fault !'
Master tapes were recently Calbitized and sound wonderful. This music absolutely demands to be played loud. Bonus Voodoo Chile makes for nice filler. Awesome reissue, crank it up !

LIVE AT ROSELAND BALLROOM is a great live CD by Government Mule, with no overdubs and no touch-ups. Instead, what you hear is the unvarnished honesty of a true power trio playing their hearts out like there's no tomorrow. True, this can lead to some overindulgence and excessive jamming, but there are several great songs that more than make up for the occasional excess. In addition, guitarist-singer Warren Haynes' advocacy of sanctions against Indonesia in retaliation for that country's trumped-up 2005 drug-smuggling conviction of a young Australian tourist makes this CD an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.

This is a no-brainer if you're getting into Gov't Mule--get this CD now! GREAT BLUES ROCK from an intense and tight live band. The bonus Voodoo Chile track is an ingenious addition to this reissue--Mule tears it up! Great sound quality, too. Highly recommended!!

Gov't Mule is a GREAT BLUES ROCK band! Don't be fooled into thinking that they're just another boring jam band...they are often lumped into that category, but make no mistake, they ROCK! GREAT SONGS! GREAT MUSICIANSHIP! A BAND'S BAND!

Good, but it doesn't do it for me as much as I thought it might, considering that I love me some Mule! Maybe it's because (as I've heard) they weren't headlining this show, and the crowd is a bit more subdued than their usual crowd might be. I don't know...just lacks something found on other live Mule recordings.

Gov't Mule is an awesome band. Great lyrics and singing along with powerful guitar work by Warren Haynes. Fantastic drum work by Matt Abts. Heavy deep end by Allen Woody (too bad he had to leave us so soon).

If you haven't listened to the Mule, this is a terrific album to cut your teeth on.

If for nothing else but the version of VooDoo Chile get this album. Incredible musicianship displayed on this classic. The rest of it is also bursting with light as well.

I downloaded this album two days ago, and I cannot stop listening to it. What a great band that plays REAL MUSIC, no computer music here, just real people playing great music. It is blues, rock, soul, and a little jazz all mixed together in a very pleasing way. Buy it; buy it now.

And it was GOOD. Gov't Mule all the way. Takes me back home again, from the first track on, you'll be hooked

Having never heard of govt mule and purchasing by reading reviews I felt compelled to write.Everyone has heard the classic rock bands but these guys were knew to me.I must say it was a treat to hear some good new music.Their first album is good but the Live album is excellent.You hear traces of mountain jam from the A Brothers also some Mountain.Great Buy