Gov't Mule 8/26/22 Elmwood Amphitheater, Roanoke VA
I was admittedly a little disappointed when I saw tweet announcing GM would be coming on stage at 7:00PM. Typically these split bill shows veer into 'greatest hits' territory as the compressed time slot is not conducive to much exploration. I won't rehash the entire setlist but was somewhat surprised they did not feature any songs off of Heavy Load Blues, breaking a recent trend during the current tour. Over the years, I have learned that one must pay rapt attention to catch all of the nuances and teases and this show was no exception. Warren teased Les Brers at the end of Breakdown before veering back into Beautifully Broken. In the Tomorrow Never Knows jam, Warren did multiple parts of Hard Days Night and Tax Man. During a rather restrained version of Mule, they played Shakedown Street with no vocals. Finally, Warren teased Jessica at the end of Soulshine. The highlight of the show was the instrumental version of Lively Up Yourself, a jam they have not played much recently. I also enjoyed Come and Go Blues. Personal Commentary - Going to shows for 30 years or so, I guess I should no longer be surprised that so many folks purchase tickets and pay little or no attention to the performance. At least they get a selfie to prove they were there.
You say it was a "split bill" show but you never say what band it was split with. ???
@robslob It was Trombone Shorty. I was planning to go when I saw the Gov't Mule tour awhile back but the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Va had the tickets listed at $700.00 each.
But they had come way down day of the show. $44 dollars each.
I saw Dickey and Great Southern at the same amphitheatre in Downtown Roanoke in 2009 for $20.00 dollars a ticket.
Gov't Mule has been one of my absolute favorite bands since 1994. But $700.00 a ticket was too much for the Mule.
They had a big write up on the website about Warren being the leader of the band since 1994 and how he was a major player on vocals, guitars and song writing for years in two of the most successful American rock bands of all time, The Allman Brothers Band and The Dead.
Apparently the local promoters were hoping to push Warren as being as famous as Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, David Gilmore etc but it didn't work.
Warren is a top notch player and performer and one of my all time favorites. But nobody in my favorite band The Allman Brothers Band solo or with their other band can command $700.00 a ticket can they?
Here is the latest ad. Has advance tickets down to $39 dollars. But the $700.00 price is still there. https://berglundcenter.live/events/govt-mule-trombone-shorty?occurrenceID=885
$700 Tickets? What is so special about those seats to command those kinds of prices?
I have never paid over $100 for a ticket to see Mule for the dozen times I have seen them and that is for seats in the first 10 rows at every concert. That includes the two shows I saw this August.
That is one of the things I have always loved about the Mule. Tickets have always been reasonable compared to other bands. I always wondered if Warren had any say in ticket prices and required tickets to be affordable?
JMO but, as much as I love Mule, they seem to me to be a bit of a Cult band with small but hardcore following so can't see promoters charging the inflated prices other bands charge and still fill seats. I am not sure the fan base is there to charge such high prices.
$700 was for a VIP table of 8 tickets. Individual tickets were always $39 except for the day of the show.
$700 was for a VIP table of 8 tickets. Individual tickets were always $39 except for the day of the show.
Thanks for the response tori.
That makes sense now as I have never seen Mule tickets go for more than $70 face value even for the best seats to shows I attended. One of the best values in live concerts IMHO.
@tori Thank you for clearing up the $700.00 ticket being for an 8 person VIP table.
The ad I posted above from the Berglund Center did not make that clear. Just listed Tickets $700.00 then $39 dollars advance and $44 day of show. I assumed the good seats were $700.00. Wow that was nice to find out the Mule were not changing such prices for middle down front seats.
thanks much for sharing your observations. I have tickets to see GM in Key West next month at a small amphitheater. i am curious , as it has been years since I have seen the Mule: do fans stand for these shows? Or sit? as an old guy with tickets in the second row, I am hoping to sit!
thanks much for sharing your observations. I have tickets to see GM in Key West next month at a small amphitheater. i am curious , as it has been years since I have seen the Mule: do fans stand for these shows? Or sit? as an old guy with tickets in the second row, I am hoping to sit!
The two shows I went to in Mass last month I was in the first 10 rows and everyone pretty much stood the whole concert. I would sit for a song a couple of times but stood almost the whole show.
