Gov’t Mule – Forum, London – 12th May 2016

Tonight at the Forum was Gov’t Mule.  As usual there is no support act – Gov’t Mule prefer to play without support and do two sets.  Since both sets each last around an hour then fans get over two hours of music from Gov’t Mule, which is excellent value and is something the fans are all happy about.

It’s slightly unusual seeing the upstairs full and the downstairs area not quite so busy, but since the audience is generally older than at most of the gigs at the Forum then the lure of the seating for over two hours of music is understandable.  Before the band come on there’s a very real air of anticipation, and once the gig begins it quickly turns into something more like enthralled rapture.  There’s almost nobody using phones or talking, and far less people heading to the bar during the show than at a typical gig as the people here tonight have their attention firmly fixed on what they’re hearing.  It’s completely understandable – Gov’t Mule are a superb live band, and their shows are always impressive.

With most bands that have an album being released, their setlist is usually made up largely of songs from that album, but although Gov’t Mule have “The Tel-Star sessions” coming out they only play two songs from the album tonight, but that’s the thing with Gov’t Mule, they aren’t predictable when it comes to what they play.  It’s a fantastic show – the songs all tend to be quite long and feel more like jams at times, and that improvised feel means you never feel like you’re getting a “standard” show, but instead you’re seeing a show which is different to any other show on the tour.

The first set is all Gov’t Mule songs, but for the second set we get a mix of their songs and covers from The Band, and The Allman Brothers.

For the final song of the encore, an Ann Peebles cover, Bernie Marsden joins them along with Joe McGlohon on sax.  A great end to a fantastic night of music from Gov’t Mule.

Set 1:
World Boss
Blind Man in the Dark
Steppin’ Lightly
Rocking Horse
Stoop So Low
Larger Than Life
Thorazine Shuffle

Set 2:
Banks of the Deep End
Time to Confess
Trane
Eternity’s Breath
Stage Fright
No Need to Suffer
Dreams
Slackjaw Jezebel

Encore:
Fallen Down
I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home

[flickrapi user=”planet mosh” get=”photoset” id=”72157666085797114″ size=”z” count=”100″]