Warren Haynes will take Gov't Mule back out on the road for a ten-date tour starting February 11th in South Bend, Indiana. For Haynes, the gigs will be a brief Mule excursion sandwiched between duty with the Allman Brothers Band. The Allmans have been putting the finishing touches on their first studio album in nine years, and then, after the Mule dates, they will do their annual residence at New York City's Beacon Theater.

As for Gov't Mule, the touring lineup this time around will include original members Haynes and drummer Matt Abts along with keyboardist Danny Louis and bassist Andy Hess. Hess is one of the multiple bass players that have been filling in with the band since the 2000 death of co-founding member Allen Woody. Karl Denson will join the band on saxophone from February 14th through the 21st.

Gov't Mule has issued two CDs in its The Deep End series, featuring revolving bass players, but, according to Haynes, the band will likely look to fill the position permanently this year. "We kind of feel like as long as we're doing the promotion for The Deep End, that's gonna be the case," he says, "playing with different people. But as long as that's run it's course, which will be sometime [this year], it'll be time for us to decide and announce who the new bass player is going to be. When we do the next official project, it'll be with the new bass player."

Gov't Mule tour dates:

2/11: South Bend, IN, State Theater
2/12: Toronto, Opera House
2/13: Rochester, NY, Water Street Music Hall
2/14: Pittsburgh, Metropol
2/15: Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
2/16: Norfolk, VA, NorVa
2/18: Allentown, PA, Crocodile Rock
2/19: Albany, NY, Palace Theater
2/20: Ithaca, NY, State Theater
2/21: Burlington, NY, Memorial Auditorium

ANDREW DANSBY
(January 15, 2003)