Customer Reviews

Mulennium

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three discs 62, 73, 63 minutes each approximately. The sound is clean and warm with a good guitar sound in front of the rhythm section. The booklet contains a short synopsis on each of the three sets, along with many color photos of the group (and guests). The discs are snapped in, inside a tri-fold cardboard holder. There's a list of tracks and song lengths and recording information.

The first set is strictly GOV'T MULE playing some of their older material, along with smokin' covers of "21st Century Schizoid Man", "We're Not Gonna Take It", and a lengthy "Dazed and Confused". This is the band that most people will readily know, with Warren Haynes guitar and insistent vocals out front of a powerhouse rhythm section. Several tracks are lengthy, giving the band time to work through whatever they feel like playing. From all out assaults like "Blind Man In The Dark", to slower songs like "Life Before Insanity", the band show they can adapt their style to any tempo. This sets the scene for whats to come.

The second set is given over to the blues, with blues great Little Milton, a long time blues singer/guitar player. The tempos range from shuffles to slow blues. Among the songs are the well known "I Can't Quit You Baby", "It Hurts Me Too", with Elmore James-like slide guitar, and "Blues Is Alright". The set finishes up with "Power of Soul". The guitars of Haynes and Little Milton weave in and out of these songs, and its on the slow blues where they particularly shine.

The third set consists mainly of covers, starting with "Helter Skelter", which roars out with a lot of power. "30 Days In The Hole", by HUMBLE PIE, Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", and a great rendition of "Simple Man" by LYNYRD SKYNYRD round out this set. The addition of peddle steel played by Mark Van Allan, and additional guitar from Audley Freed gives this song an extra depth and punch.

This is another concert recorded on New Year's Eve (in 1999), and its hard to understand why it took so long to be released. This is prime GOV'T MULE, with the addition of a true bluesman and other friends/musicians which set this music apart from other releases. The band is well known for their New Year's Eve blow-outs, and these three sets are as good as any previous live recordings by the band. Tap in and listen to any of the tracks here and you'll hear what I mean.

This sounds so good remastered. I have had an audience recording of it for a few years now and while it sounded ok there is no comparison to the official release. Fantastic playing throughout, just the Mule on disc 1 , then on disc 2 with Warren trading licks with Little Milton and then Audley Freed.
The fun continues on disc 3 with more Audley and other friends of the band.
One of the highlights for me is the cover version of 21st Century Schizoid Man, outstanding.
Grab this one if you love the classic era Gov't Mule, there will never be another Alan Woody.

My favorite Mule era, the power trio with Warren, Matt, Matt and Woody. Still attend most shows in my area theses days. As a collector with over 150 Mule shows, this one might get played the most alond with 10/31 shows and other NYE shows. A fine opening set with Mule oldies along with a long Zep tune. Added guests as all Mule NYE shows are just a big plus. Great sound with vocals clear and a deep bass. I miss Woody. Sorry they haven't been the same since BUT still a fine band. I do love live recordings. Is it because of the Allmans' live at the Fillmore or all my DEAD bootlegs, LOL LOL

The mix is good. The show is hot. This is classic Mule from the trio era. Made me really miss the old Woody days. The stuff with Little Milton is great. Just hot rockin' old school blues. Wish these guys would release some of the jams they did with Larry McCray back on the '98 tour! The stuff with Audley Freed shows that the Mule works as a two guitar combo. It's fun to hear these guys play stuff they like. A great show. Miss the old Mule. Release more of this stuff, guys!

Gov't Mule is an exciting group live in concert and this album is a confirmation

As a big Mule fan, I highly prize this old recording from the days of the 3-piece Mule, when they ROCKED, and rocked hard! A fine guest line-up, as well! I really enjoy Audley Freed's playing, and considering that his guitar work has been relatively rarely recorded, it makes this CD set even more valuable (you MUST purchase the two Cry of Love CD's from the early-to-mid 90's if you haven't already...great playing and great songs by Freed throughout)! Little Milton gets a long overdue chance to shine on a few songs here, and he really cuts loose on the guitar--not staid and laid-back like I thought he would be. I love the cover tunes the band picked out like Power of Love and Dazed and Confused. Warren really tore it up, especially on the vocals to "Dazed". I couldn't really tell what he was doing on the breakdown passage of that one...playing with a bow? It was pretty cool, but I think the song lost a little momentum there, it just didn't seem to flow as smoothly as the Zeppelin version on Song Remains The Same. But hey, it's all good--they're just paying tribute, anyway! :-)

It's great to hear Woody again, tearing it up on the bottom end. In fact, it would have been nice to hear him more. There is absolutely NO "oomph" to the bass EQ on this recording. What happened?? The Roseland Ballroom CD sounded GREAT--why couldn't this one have sounded at least just as good? Overall, it is good, but just a little murkier, I think, than the Roseland, and again, NO BASS. Well actually, you can hear the bass guitar rather easily, but you sure as heck can't feel it. Crank up your subwoofer! If you're like me and are too poor or don't have the space for one in your car, you're out of luck. Still, it's not worth passing up this CD set over it--it's still enjoyable to listen to and still sounds better than your average live recording. Just disappointed with the lack of bass. grrrrr...

Overall, an indispensable addition to your Mule collection, and for blues-rock fans in general!

O.K., so the last year of the 20th century was 2000, not 1999! Does it really matter, when 3 great CDs of music are finally (after 10 years or so) here from Gov't Mule? And with the late, great Little Milton on several tracks, too! These guys can play anything they like - it all sounds great. A definite must-have for any fine rock/blues library.

This collection is awesome, yet typical of Warren Haynes. First met him in the men's bathrooom line at a break in the used-to-be annual New Year's show at Asheville's defunct Be Here Now. A Southern gent. A bit Ronnie Van Zant, a bit off the chain. I've tracked him and the band as it has morphed. But the one constant is Warren. He is not one to compromise. I admire his "mission" to tell - to mesmerize with his talent and to stun at live shows. I remember interviewing him from Athens, Ga., by telephone at his New York home soon after he married. He gushed about Mountain -- how he was looking for a Felix Pappalardi sound. I believe he had found that in Woody. He won me over with his sincerity and sheer muscle as a player. Haynes is complimented to the hilt by Matt Abts. Sit near the front of a show, and you will be treated with some equally sincere shirt-ruffling pulses that are intent - not arrant. Most think Warren is the show. But check out Abts. He's not exactly watching the clock, and he loves to pounce.

Great show recorded in Atlanta, GA at the turn of the millennium. Fantastic set list and even better performances by the Mule and special guests. Buy this one now if you love live music.

If you're a tried and true Govt Mule fan, this one is a no-brainer. This 3 CD edition of their New Years Eve set following the previous years "Live With A Little Help From Our Friends" release, this show from The Roxy in Atlanta simply smokes from front to back. The first CD is mainly vintage Mule with some new stuff from the Life Before Insanity disc ending off with covers of 20th Century Schizoid Man, We're Not Gonna take it and Dazed and Confuzed. Enough reason to buy this already! Disc 2 is a solid blues disc with friend Little Milton and Warren and company simply rip it up all bluesy-like. Not enough? Disc 3 they bring out pals Audley Fried, Johnny Mosier and Mark Van Allen and proceed to rip through Helter Skelter, Sometimes Salvation, 30 Days In The Hole, End of the Line,...well you get the picture.

This disc is yet another example of what a great band GM was back then as a 3 piece band before the premature death of Allen Woody. Great as they still are today (By A Thread), this disc is a must have to any seasoned Mule fan, a casual fan or someone who simply needs to hear great players playing great music.