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wickedfleaWell, it's been a very good week. I've gotten some stuff for school done, and can kind of see a negotiable path toward the end of the semester.
Tuesday night I skipped class and went to Birmingham to see one of my favorite bands, Gov't Mule. They're a heavy blues-based power trio (though they're playing this tour with legendary keyboardist Chuck Leavell) led by Warren Haynes, who used to play in the Allman Brothers Band. Their original bassist, Allen Woody, died last year, so Dave Schools from Widespread Panic is filling in for this tour, and I think he's doing a great job. I've seen a fair number of bands, but I have to say that the show I saw Tuesday night was the most awe-inspiring display of musicianship I've witnessed -- an incredible mix of technical wizardry and real emotion. The Mule may not be considered cool by the hipsters, whatever the fuck they're into now, but I'm done with being concerned with any of that bullshit. Fantastic show, and it was in a fairly small club, so I was able to be right down front for the entire show.
All of that was made even more special by the fact that I really haven't been to a live show in about five years. I quit drinking about 4 1/2 years ago, and the last few shows I went to before that were just not enjoyable because I was in such a black state of depression. I even had a freaking panic attack at an Allmans show, and anyone who has a panic attack at an ABB show is in pretty bad shape. Anyway, though I trade live recordings all the time, I've been reluctant to start going to shows again. I mean, it wasn't like I said that I'd never go to a show again -- I just kept finding excuses not to go, and the months rolled by, and... goddamn, five years.
I won't blather on any longer; suffice it to say that music is a very powerful force, and this show was the best thing I've done for the spirit in a long time.
Tuesday night I skipped class and went to Birmingham to see one of my favorite bands, Gov't Mule. They're a heavy blues-based power trio (though they're playing this tour with legendary keyboardist Chuck Leavell) led by Warren Haynes, who used to play in the Allman Brothers Band. Their original bassist, Allen Woody, died last year, so Dave Schools from Widespread Panic is filling in for this tour, and I think he's doing a great job. I've seen a fair number of bands, but I have to say that the show I saw Tuesday night was the most awe-inspiring display of musicianship I've witnessed -- an incredible mix of technical wizardry and real emotion. The Mule may not be considered cool by the hipsters, whatever the fuck they're into now, but I'm done with being concerned with any of that bullshit. Fantastic show, and it was in a fairly small club, so I was able to be right down front for the entire show.
All of that was made even more special by the fact that I really haven't been to a live show in about five years. I quit drinking about 4 1/2 years ago, and the last few shows I went to before that were just not enjoyable because I was in such a black state of depression. I even had a freaking panic attack at an Allmans show, and anyone who has a panic attack at an ABB show is in pretty bad shape. Anyway, though I trade live recordings all the time, I've been reluctant to start going to shows again. I mean, it wasn't like I said that I'd never go to a show again -- I just kept finding excuses not to go, and the months rolled by, and... goddamn, five years.
I won't blather on any longer; suffice it to say that music is a very powerful force, and this show was the best thing I've done for the spirit in a long time.
