Gov’t Mule Dust Off Blind Faith’s “Presence of the Lord,” Welcome Oz Noy and Rick Lawlor on Night One at The Beacon

Photo: Dino Perrucci

On Monday, December 30, 2024, Gov’t Mule arrived at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City for night one of two at the revered venue, celebrating the New Year and the band’s three-decade run. Previous, the group had commenced their holiday adjacent concerts in New Haven, Conn., on Saturday, Dec. 28, taking the next night off before resuming their plans at the Upper Westside location last night–there, they dotted their setlist with a bust out, and sit-ins from Rick Lawlor and Oz Noy. 

“Revolution Come, Revolution Go” rang out as the official start of set one, preluding “Game Face.” In turn, Haynes and company smirked at their ensuing plan, a return to supergroup Blind Faith’s “Presence of the Lord,” performed for the first time since August 28, 2018, effectively ending a 341 lapse in shows. Next, the band returned to originals, utilizing their setlist as a pass-through Gov’t Mule’s discography, working through “Dreaming Out Loud” [Peace… Like a River], “Sco-Mule” [The Deep End, Volume 1] with Lawlor, “Unring the Bell,”  “Endless Parade” [High & Mighty], and “Mr. Man” [Déjà Voodoo].

Following the concert’s first half, the band returned for their second set with “Traveling Tune” before bringing out Noy, who added riffs on “Devil Likes It Slow.” Following their initial sit-in, Gov’t Mule treated their always-anticipated Allman-beckoned ballad “Soulshine.” Next, they performed “Banks on of the Deep” before dipping into The J.B.’s original “Doing It to Death.” Another return to originals ensued and took shape as “Time to Confess” and “No Need to Suffer” before the final song of the frame, the traditional “Railroad Boy.” 

For the night’s encore, the ensemble strode back on the framed stage and unleashed Tom Waits’ original, “Make It Rain.” With their Dec. 30 concert in the books, Gov’t Mule will return to the Beacon stage tonight, Dec. 31, to ring in the New Year. Tickets remain on sale.

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist. 

Gov’t Mule

Beacon Theatre – New York, N.Y.

December 30, 2024

Set I: Revolution Come, Revolution Go, Game Face, Presence Of The Lord (1), Dreaming Out Loud, Sco-Mule (2), Unring The Bell, Endless Parade, Mr. Man

Set II: Traveling Tune, Devil Likes It Slow (3), Soulshine, Banks Of The Deep End, Doing It To Death, Time To Confess, No Need To Suffer, Railroad Boy  

Enc.: Make It Rain  

Notes:

(1) LTP 8/28/2008. 341 Shows

(2) w/ Rick Lawlor – Guitar

(3) w/ Oz Noy – Guitar