Just got back from Columbus following a Sco Mule concert Sunday night. I had also attended a TTB show a couple of weeks ago. The difference in the shows is interesting. My bias has always been toward TTB however the Sco Mule show was much closer to a Beacon ABB experience. At TTB the audience was approximately 55% male 45 % female with a significant portion couples. The Sco Mule show was closer to an 80/20 split as might be found at the Beacon. Ave age seemed younger at Mule though. Also at TTB there was too much sitting for me when the incredible play of the band should have had everyone on their feet. At Mule it was GA so there was no choice. Standing for the whole show was great. Every TTB song was at the worst really enjoyable. Not the same reaction to Mule. Some good songs but some I just don't care for. The inclusion of Scofield after the fourth or so song changed everything. Great blues jamming and if I closed my eyes I was transported to the Beacon. John and Warren really seem to enjoy playing together. Spectacular. While I still lean toward the TTB sound the gap has closed with the inclusion of JS and the Sco Mule concert experience was superior. IMHO Mule much more enjoyable with John Scofield than without. Two weeks and I'll come full circle when GA comes to Cleveland. Not quite the same as the Beacon in March but apparently as close as any of us are going to get.
I just caught two shows of TTB 2/20 and 2/21. I see Sco Mule 3/6. I'll post my thoughts mustang bob.
Same here..Saw TTB in Sept. at the Beacon..a great show..Totally agree with Bob regarding the crowd breakdown. Lots of couples, including myself at TTB. Will be seeing ScoMule March 13...I haven't seen Mule in a number of years..I distinctly remember the crowd being younger and much rowdier than at an ABB show...even at the Beacon
I see both bands every chance I get. Both twice in december, 2 times mule in March, 1 time TTB in April. When derek or warren are playing live it can't be bad. Love them both!
Love both bands. Saw Gov't Mule with Scofield a couple hours ago. Saw TTB 14 and 15 days ago.
I can't say enough about TTB. The harmonies are beautiful, the melodies can be beautiful and haunting. The musicianship is top notch. The dynamics, the variety, the original tunes, the acoustic tunes... they are a fantastic band that seem to hitting the note more each time I see them. I will see them every chance I get.
Gov't Mule blows my ever loving mind.
Tonight's show was stupendous! Started at 9:15 ended at 12:30. I only sat down during the intermission. Everyone in the orchestra seemed to be up and moving. A build up and crescendo in every song as well as a continuous build up to the "Sugaree" encore.
Gov't Mule blows me away.
[Edited on 3/7/2015 by BillyBlastoff]
I will say Mule for sure , I love Dereks palying but I think he needs to put together a power Trio for a little while anyway
The last time I saw Mule in the fall Derek came out and did Dreams so that was pretty dam cool, Mule just kills it every time right out the gate. I will be seeing Mule next fri and sat.
Do you compare chocolate with vanilla? Apples to oranges? It's all good! Enjoy them within their own part of the musical spectrum! 
Love both bands but Mule with or without Scofield will always be my #1 live music experience.
Love both bands but Mule with or without Scofield will always be my #1 live music experience.
And mine as well.
Mule is an incredible band,always keeping it fresh,interesting and creative.Been enjoying them since they started.Their live crowds are too darn drunk,rowdy and talkative for me to see them live anymore,but I still listen....these Sco-Mle shows have been off the charts!Never saw TTB.
...Never saw TTB.
Well then, what are you waiting for? They've been getting better ever since they started.
Love Mule, can't wait to see them with Sco next week.
If I had to pick one band, it would be TTB (or DTB)
😛
This....
....and this!!!!
[Edited on 3/8/2015 by jszfunk]
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
If this is a popularity vote - TTB for me.
Never saw TTB.
I have good news for you: they are still performing!
After seeing ScoMule Saturday night at Stroudsburg, I find my experience was very similar to the OP.
The first few songs of the first set were good, but pretty pedestrian, including Whiter Shade of Pale. Scofield came out for The Other Ones jam, and the show shifted into overdrive. A very extended Kind of Bird included a lot of Liz Reed soloing by Warren, although he never fully broke into IMOER.
The second set started with more Mule material. Better than the first set, but not as good as what followed with Scofield. The band never attained quite the height of the first set, but the encore Afro Blue was outstanding.
Warren played a lot with some effect that I do not care for... by me it hides rather than enhances his playing.
The show had lots of Beacon-worthy jams... Warren and Scofield play very nicely together.
The show also helped bring into focus why I do not care for the TTB. Their material is very song oriented with added solos. Most of the original material is pretty mainstream, and I don't like it. I am not interested in hearing covers of Darling Be Home Soon, Shelter, or Fire and Rain. This is just my personal taste, not a reflection of the band's talent.
I enjoyed seeing them do Wade in the Water and The Sky is Crying. I am sure I would have liked the acoustic Done Somebody Wrong.
Most of the Mule material from Saturday was about the instrumental music, with vocals as an added plus. For me TTB is the opposite and many of the solos have no context. They seem like they are just thrown into the mix.
To paraphrase Gregg: Mule is a jam band, TTB is a band that also jams.
Of course you mileage and opinion may vary, that's fine. I have just expressed my own opinion.
Mule, that is all.
After seeing ScoMule Saturday night at Stroudsburg, I find my experience was very similar to the OP.
The first few songs of the first set were good, but pretty pedestrian, including Whiter Shade of Pale. Scofield came out for The Other Ones jam, and the show shifted into overdrive. A very extended Kind of Bird included a lot of Liz Reed soloing by Warren, although he never fully broke into IMOER.
The second set started with more Mule material. Better than the first set, but not as good as what followed with Scofield. The band never attained quite the height of the first set, but the encore Afro Blue was outstanding.
Warren played a lot with some effect that I do not care for... by me it hides rather than enhances his playing.
The show had lots of Beacon-worthy jams... Warren and Scofield play very nicely together.
The show also helped bring into focus why I do not care for the TTB. Their material is very song oriented with added solos. Most of the original material is pretty mainstream, and I don't like it. I am not interested in hearing covers of Darling Be Home Soon, Shelter, or Fire and Rain. This is just my personal taste, not a reflection of the band's talent.
I enjoyed seeing them do Wade in the Water and The Sky is Crying. I am sure I would have liked the acoustic Done Somebody Wrong.
Most of the Mule material from Saturday was about the instrumental music, with vocals as an added plus. For me TTB is the opposite and many of the solos have no context. They seem like they are just thrown into the mix.
To paraphrase Gregg: Mule is a jam band, TTB is a band that also jams.
Of course you mileage and opinion may vary, that's fine. I have just expressed my own opinion.
I get it and respect your opinion, but it seems to me from your post is that what you really liked wasn't Mule, but Mule + Scofield.
I'll find out for myself on Thursday, but imo Sco-Mule is a slightly different animal than Gov't Mule.
I would argue that a "regular" Gov't Mule show is also mostly a band that jams (and plays a lot of covers too). Like you, my favorite parts of their shows are the instrumental parts, but that is usually only about 10 - 20% of a show.
I'm not trying to put down Mule or your opinions, but the main difference between TTB and Mule to me is that they have a different style - which, frankly is a good thing.
Completely different styles and, I think mustang bob inferred that their shows are two completely different experiences. They certainly play different styles of music and they attract different crowds.
I don't think this thread was meant to be a popularity contest.
Stormyrider I think you will see that you are going to get both a Gov't Mule show and a Sco-Mule show. I don't think you will be disappointed.
I think you are 100% correct (see the last liine of my post)
the thread has evolved from the OP - to answer more directly:
Mule started as a "power trio", and now are sort of a "power quartet", although the current tour has a different flavor (jazz/fusion / jam)with Sco
TTB is kind of a throwback to the days of Muscle Shoals and Staxx with some blues / jamming / RnR / jazz flavors thrown in.
I agree that the gender make up of the audiences are different - not surprising conisidering the styles of music they play.
They are different bands who are talented and produce excellent music in their own way. We're fortunate that we have both
I know I won't be dissapointed - can't wait until Thursday
[Edited on 3/10/2015 by stormyrider]
Love both bands but Mule with or without Scofield will always be my #1 live music experience.
And mine as well.
Yep, i agree with this too. Maybe i have the biggest "wow" moment / goosebumps at a TTB concert but overall the Mule shows are way more unpredictable and diverse music wise. And also a Mule is roughly 30-40 minutes longe than a TTB show. I'm so glad Derek and Warren have started regulary visiting Europe since 2005.
Love both bands but Mule with or without Scofield will always be my #1 live music experience.
Mule, particularly with Scofield is the closest thing to the Allman Brothers going right now. I dare say over the last couple of years I PREFER Mule to the ABB.
After seeing ScoMule Saturday night at Stroudsburg, I find my experience was very similar to the OP.
The first few songs of the first set were good, but pretty pedestrian, including Whiter Shade of Pale. Scofield came out for The Other Ones jam, and the show shifted into overdrive. A very extended Kind of Bird included a lot of Liz Reed soloing by Warren, although he never fully broke into IMOER.
The second set started with more Mule material. Better than the first set, but not as good as what followed with Scofield. The band never attained quite the height of the first set, but the encore Afro Blue was outstanding.
Warren played a lot with some effect that I do not care for... by me it hides rather than enhances his playing.
The show had lots of Beacon-worthy jams... Warren and Scofield play very nicely together.
The show also helped bring into focus why I do not care for the TTB. Their material is very song oriented with added solos. Most of the original material is pretty mainstream, and I don't like it. I am not interested in hearing covers of Darling Be Home Soon, Shelter, or Fire and Rain. This is just my personal taste, not a reflection of the band's talent.
I enjoyed seeing them do Wade in the Water and The Sky is Crying. I am sure I would have liked the acoustic Done Somebody Wrong.
Most of the Mule material from Saturday was about the instrumental music, with vocals as an added plus. For me TTB is the opposite and many of the solos have no context. They seem like they are just thrown into the mix.
To paraphrase Gregg: Mule is a jam band, TTB is a band that also jams.
Of course you mileage and opinion may vary, that's fine. I have just expressed my own opinion.
I get it and respect your opinion, but it seems to me from your post is that what you really liked wasn't Mule, but Mule + Scofield.
I'll find out for myself on Thursday, but imo Sco-Mule is a slightly different animal than Gov't Mule.
I would argue that a "regular" Gov't Mule show is also mostly a band that jams (and plays a lot of covers too). Like you, my favorite parts of their shows are the instrumental parts, but that is usually only about 10 - 20% of a show.
I'm not trying to put down Mule or your opinions, but the main difference between TTB and Mule to me is that they have a different style - which, frankly is a good thing.
Yes, I definitely liked Scofield + Mule more than Mule. But even a typical Mule show is a lot more about the instrumentals than the vocals, at least to my ears.
I have nothing against covers... the two TTB songs I mentioned above as my favorites were both covers. It's as much a question of the choice of material as how its played.
But again you are right: the two bands have very different styles. At this point in my musical taste, I have a strong preference for one over the other. It does not make the other "bad" or lacking in talent, just not what I want to see and hear.
