MFJ/OIM

557b9330dca0cc863b2a5010.L.jpg

as soon as I locate this I'm going to copy it for you two.

fucking UNROOLY.
 
great stuff. Gov't Mule live is where it's at. I used to have a bunch of mp3s of this and a whole lotta bootlegs, but sadly I think I lost most of them at one point.. still have a few bootlegs, but I'm pretty sure I don't still have this album.

This is probably the only band where I doubt I've actually heard anything of their's recorded in a studio :Spin:
 
lizard said:
BONAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

let's see if the ole VW van will start up. I'll meet you in Tennessee


:grin:

when I move to Tennessee I'll let you guys crash in my doublewide and we'll do the Bonaroo thang
 
The Deepest End is the culmination of a three year tribute to the late Gov't Mule bassist and founding member Allen Woody, who died prematurely in August of 2000, at the age of 44. In 2001, the band's two other founding members, guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes, and drummer Matt Abts chose to rise above the tragedy of losing their friend and band mate by putting together an ambitious new album that featured a different bassist on each song - and we're not talking about just any old bassists here, we're talking about the best of the best, we're talking about Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham, Roger Glover, and others of that caliber showing up to pay their respects. The success of that project, which was called The Deep End, Vol. 1, led to the release of The Deep End, Vol. 2 the very next year, and featured an equally impressive and diverse group of bassists, including Chris Squire, Les Claypool, Billy Cox, Phil Lesh, Tony Levin, Jason Newsted, and many more.

The Deepest End concert served as a grand finale for the whole Deep End project, and a sort of transition from healing period to the rebirth of a new Gov't Mule, which would gain two new permanent members in keyboardist Danny Louis and bassist Andy Hess, the following year. Recorded May 3, 2003 at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, this concert features no less than 26 world-class guest musicians who made their way to the show. Many of them already had other gigs they were performing in town either before, after, or even DURING this show, but they managed to make the time anyways. The actual show started around 10:10 PM and, about 33 songs later, ended at 3:50 AM. That is why they call these guys jam bands, because 5 1/2 hours is no frigging concert - it is a JAM my friend.

Warren Haynes, the hardest working man in rock and roll, was the ringmaster of this marathon jam and he brilliantly tailored each performance to showcase the genre and style that each of his guests are famous for. For instance when Jason Newsted, of Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica fame, takes the stage, they tear through the Black Sabbath classics "Sweet Leaf" and "War Pigs", which was a huge departure from the blues-rock material that preceded it. Things got even weirder when Les Claypool joined the band during the first encore, to perform "Greasy Granny's Gopher Gravy (Parts 1 & 2)", a song he co-wrote with Haynes for The Deep End, Vol 2 album, and which would have easily fit on any Primus album. The mood was for improvisation, and many of the songs were extended to over twice their original length. Most of these performances were absolutely unrehearsed adventures in spontaneity, but they miraculously sounded tight as hell.

Haynes is one of the best guitarists you've probably never heard of, even though he has been an official member of the Allman Brothers for over a decade, and has put out ten albums with Gov't Mule since 1995. His eclectic style easily slides between rock, jazz, blues, and funk with equal authority. He is also obviously highly respected by his contemporaries, seeing that there was such an overwhelming turnout in support of the Deep End projects, and the camaraderie amongst all of the musicians was like nothing I have ever seen. One of the most telling moments was between the second and final encore, at about 3:15 AM, when Haynes tracks down George Porter Jr. on his cell phone, while he is still at his other gig across town, and asks if he can make it back in time for the final encore of the three-bassist version of "Thorazine Shuffle", which Haynes so eloquently calls the "Thorazine Clusterfuck". Although Porter had already played on three songs during the first half of the concert, he tells Haynes "I'll be there in three or four minutes". Of course he didn't make it until about 20 minutes later, but they all gladly waited for him.

The DVD concert kicked of with a rousing version of the southern-rock anthem "Bad Little Doggie" from the 2000 album Life Before Insanity, which was the last Gov't Mule album made with Allen Woody. By the second song, "Blindman In The Dark", the guest musicians had started to take the stage in force. First up was Dave Schools, from the Mule's brothers-in-jam, Widespread Panic, who along with Karl Denson on tenor sax, helped to transform this song into a 16-minute jam-fest. The sheer variety of sounds and styles that follow are simply amazing. For "Sco-Mule", the amazing Victor Wooten takes over the bass chores, and Bernie Worrell adds some killer Hammond organ to the mix. Haynes' guitar work on this song is astonishingly smooth and had me thinking of Robben Ford. "Lay Of The Sunflower" is a haunting country-blues ballad that features Wooten's band mate Bela Fleck on the electric banjo, and Rob Wasserman adds some upright bass. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band was also in town to lend their horns to the gospel-blues inspired "John The Revelator", which has Haynes breaking out the bottle-neck slide. "Beautifully Broken" flawlessly incorporates extended sections of Prince's "When Doves Cry" and George Porter Jr.'s incredible bass playing makes this soulful ballad one of the show's highlights. Are you starting to feel the diversity yet?

If that was not enough for you, Haynes and the boys follow up several Gov't Mule originals with a few classic cover tunes. Roger Glover happened to be in town, so why not play the Deep Purple classic, "Maybe I'm A Leo". After a stunning version of Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile", featuring Jack Casady on bass, Conrad Lozano and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos join the band for a performance of Cream's "Politician". Just when things can't get much better, but can certainly get heavier, Jason Newsted takes the stage to storm through Black Sabbath's "Sweat Leaf" and "War Pigs". Haynes' guitar tone was simply monstrous, and he also proved that he is equally adept at singing metal, as he is at soulful blues.

The Deepest End "package" consists of two CDs which contain a total of 20 songs, and a bonus DVD which also includes 20 songs. Only seven of the songs performed on the DVD are also found on the CD, which means that if you want to experience the entire 5 1/2 hour concert you will need to listen to both the CDs and the DVD. The production of this "bonus DVD" was amazing. The Dolby 5.1 surround provided excellent instrument separation and clarity, and, most importantly, the bass mixes sounded thunderous. The picture was very clear, sharp and colorful, and the brightly lit stage looked superb. Overall the camera work was excellent, but sometimes the angle changes came a little too quickly. I would also have liked to see a few more wider-angle shots showing the entire stage, but all of the key solo performances were expertly captured with effective close-ups.

This was easily one of the best live packages to come out in 2003, and at an average price of about $25 dollars, is one of the best bargains you are likely to find.
 
I'm listening to some killer vintage live music, only of a different nature...some selections from the new Yes boxset. Damn, this Long Distance/fish/Perpetual Change/Gates Of Delirium medley from the '78 tour is frightening in its intensity. :) Great versions of America and Sound Chaser as well. Now back to your regularly scheduled jam band thread...