Gov't Mule's Tower show casts a reggae vibe; new album well-received

On Oct. 6, Gov't Mule showed their uncanny ability to evolve without leaving their fans behind. At the Tower Theatre, the band showcased the sound of their new album "Mighty High," set to release on Oct. 16, which draws heavily from their reggae influences.

Opening for the night, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals quickly won over the audience. Potter showed her flexibility by alternating between organ and rhythm guitar throughout the set, sometimes during the same song. In addition to her instrumental skill, Potter's vocals were loud and powerful.

The guitarist for the Nocturnals, Scott Tournet, contributed excellent lead guitar. Several of his solos were met with cheers from the unsuspecting crowd. Tournet's slide work was less impressive, but this could have been a result of the mixing.

The last song of the set featured a polyrhythmic drum sequence that featured each of the four members of the band playing a different part of the drum set. After finishing their set, The Nocturnals returned to the stage for a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together," prompting cheers from the audience. Overall, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were very enjoyable and would be worth seeing if they toured alone.

Gov't Mule launched their set with selections from their upcoming reggae album. These new songs do not represent a change in direction for the band, as they have covered reggae classics before. They have simply never made it a central part of their sound. The newest efforts by the band are just as impressive as the rest of their catalogue.

In most of their sets, Gov't Mule played several covers between their own songs from the band's last album, "High and Mighty." These included Steppenwolf's "Don't Step on the Grass, Sam," which featured cue cards so that the crowd could sing along to the chorus. Warren Haynes also blew through Jimmy Page's minor blues workout, Led Zeppelin's "Since I've Been Loving You." To the delight of the audience, the band also transitioned into Howlin' Wolf's blues classic "Smokestack Lightnin' " during one of their own songs.

"Let me tell you a true story," Warren Haynes said to the audience. "I wrote this song here in Philadelphia. I was in a hotel room overlooking the Liberty Bell, and I had a lot of things going through my mind."

After Haynes' introduction, the band played one of their older songs, "Mr. Man."

The finale of the first set was a guest appearance by Grace Potter on vocals for "Take Me to the River."

Highlights of the second set included a reggae flavored cover of the Beatles' "Love Me Do," and an instrumental jam on the Bob Marley standard "Get Up, Stand Up." Despite being an instrumental, the crowd sang the lyrics along to Haynes' guitar tease of the vocal melody. This transitioned into one of the band's older songs, "Slackjaw Jezebel." During "Jezebel," Matt Abts channeled the spirit of John Bonham for a 10-minute drum solo that featured hints of "Moby Dick."

The second set also featured a cover of Willie Dixon's often-covered "Wang Dang Doodle" and ended with the Gov't Mule classic "Mule."

The band returned to the stage for an encore that began with Muddy Waters' "Champagne and Reefer," which featured soulful vocals and fiery slide playing from Haynes. Gov't Mule brought the night to an end with "A Million Miles From Yesterday," from last year's "High and Mighty" album.

Overall, the performance was exceptional; both bands delivered energetic performances to a receptive crowd. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals gave the audience a solid performance that undoubtedly won over new fans. Gov't Mule balanced their new reggae venture with fan favorite covers and originals, and showed their ability to take their fans someplace new without betraying their oldest followers.