By any measure, the annual New Year’s Run by Gov’t Mule at the Beacon Theatre has become a sacred ritual for fans, two nights of deep dives, fearless improvisation, and carefully curated themes that honor the band’s roots while pushing them forward. Night one of the 2025 run, December 30, delivered one of the band’s most ambitious concepts yet: 1971: The Year Music Changed the World, a sweeping celebration of the records and artists that reshaped rock, soul, and blues in a single, seismic year.
From the opening notes, it was clear this wasn’t just about nostalgia—it was a heartfelt, living tribute. Gov’t Mule treated the material with respect and power, putting their own improvisational stamp on songs that have long been part of the musical canon. The setlist moved easily between genres, eras, and moods, all held together by the band’s trademark mix of grit and grace.
The covers came quickly and dug deep. Bill Withers’ “Hope She’ll Be Happier” was delivered with a quiet, soulful intensity, while Traffic’s “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” slowly built and expanded, feeling less like a straight cover and more like Gov’t Mule making the song their own.
A major highlight came when Jackie Greene joined the band for several guest spots, adding another spark to an already electric night. On Pink Floyd’s “Fearless,” his harmonies brought extra depth and atmosphere. During “I’m Eighteen,” Warren Haynes handled the vocals while Greene switched between harmonica and guitar, injecting the song with raw swagger and energy as they played off each other effortlessly.
One of the evening’s most resonant moments was “Reason to Believe,” written by Tim Hardin but immortalized for many by Rod Stewart’s 1971 recording. Released as the B-side to “Maggie May,” Stewart’s version charted alongside it and became definitive for generations of listeners. Gov’t Mule honored that legacy with a performance that felt emotional, reflective, and deeply lived-in.
The historical theme continued with “When the Levee Breaks,” first recorded in 1929 by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy as a blues account of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Led Zeppelin famously reworked it in 1971 with massive drums and a darker, heavier feel. Gov’t Mule blended both versions, keeping the blues at its core while leaning into the power and weight of Zeppelin’s take, with Jackie Greene adding extra fire.
Al Green’s “I’m a Ram” kept the soul quotient high, reminding the crowd that 1971 wasn’t just a rock year—it was a year when Black American music set the tone for everything that followed.
Balancing the covers were Gov’t Mule originals that proved why the band remains so vital decades in. “After the Storm,” “Rocking Horse,” and “Temporary Saint” landed with authority, each one feeling sharpened by the context of the night. “Birth of the Mule,” featuring guitarist Oz Noy, showed the band settling into a groove and letting things unfold.
The encore sealed it. “Willin’,” a Little Feat classic, received its live debut—a moment met with equal parts surprise and gratitude from the Beacon crowd—before the band tore into “Locomotive Breath” (Jethro Tull), with Jackie Greene returning to help drive the train home at full speed.
By the final notes, it was clear Gov’t Mule had done more than revisit a year—they’d illuminated why 1971 still matters. These weren’t museum pieces. They were songs built to be played loud, stretched wide, and felt deeply. At the Beacon Theatre on December 30, 2025, Gov’t Mule didn’t just celebrate the year music changed the world—they proved it’s still changing.
Set 1: After the Storm, Rocking Horse, Temporary Saint, Banks of the Deep End, Painted Silver Light, Slackjaw Jezebel, Hope She’ll Be Happier (Bill Withers cover), The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic cover), Mr. Man
Set 2: Railroad Boy (traditional cover), Peace I Need, Birth of the Mule (with Oz Noy), Time to Confess, Fearless (Pink Floyd cover, with Jackie Greene), I’m Eighteen (Alice Cooper cover, with Jackie Greene), Reason to Believe (Tim Hardin cover, live debut), When the Levee Breaks (Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy cover, with Jackie Greene), I’m a Ram (Al Green cover)
Encore: Willin’ (Little Feat cover, live debut), Locomotive Breath (Jethro Tull cover, with Jackie Greene
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