Gov’t Mule (from the album Heavy Load Blues

Gov’t Mule (from the album Heavy Load Blues available on Fantasy Records) (by Bryant Liggett)

More Blues, less Jam. Jam Band mainstays Gov’t Mule have always used Blues music as a base for their mighty-roar of a sound. The band have been kicking sand in the Jam Band realm since day one when the genre was just the gleam in a stoners eye. Gov’t Mule set up in a Blues neighborhood while dabbling in Psychedelic sounds and Southern Rock among other styles. For their latest release, Heavy Load Blues, finds the quartet foregoing a simple toe dip in Blues waters to gauge its temperature. Instead, Gov’t Mule perform a perfect cannonball from the high-dive, fully committing to their own interpretation of American Blues music. The result is a chunky and sonic slice of Blues, no polish nor overproduction, with all the grit in Warren Hayne’s always on-point guitar work.

Gov’t Mule slide right in, literally, as Warren Haynes slide-guitar work pushes album opener “Blues Before Sunrise”, where his six-strings are eventually joined by boogie piano and heavy harmonica. Gov’t Mule continue to move all over the Blues map. “Hole in My Soul” puts a full horn section on display. “Have Mercy on the Criminal” is loaded with aggressive guitar, “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” is fat, funky Blues. While Gov’t Mule’s power and ferocity as a loud live band is always within reach, the band pull it back for a swipe at the acoustic, “Heavy Load” and “Black Horizon” are both stripped down and dirty.  Heavy Load Blues is a big album, 21 tracks that dig into the big and beautiful world of the Blues. Any music fan can hear Warren Haynes acing his homework, his resume speaking for his experience. Gov’t Mule has been a big Rock band dabbling in Blues. Now, with Heavy Load Blues, they are a big Blues band that rocks as Gov’t Mule give a nod to a big genre, wide-open with possibilities.

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