It’s no secret that the hardest working man in rock has been Warren Haynes. From his work with Gov’t Mule, The Dead, The Allman Brothers, Phil and Friends, and The Warren Haynes Band, not to mention his Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration tours or his many years of promoting the Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam, it is very clear that Warren Haynes likes to keep busy. In addition to his intense schedule, Haynes has also demonstrated on many occasions that he has no problem taking musical risks or reinventing himself. This again proves to be the case with Gov’t Mule’s latest release, Dark Side of the Mule.

Dark Side of the Mule, released as a single CD or as a 3-CD/DVD set, captures live Gov’t Mule at their finest during their 2008 Halloween show from Boston’s Orpheum Theatre. Mule fans will be thrilled with the song selection and track quality, while Pink Floyd fans should gain an appreciation for Govt. Mule if they weren’t already on board. A must for the jam band fan Christmas List, Dark Side of the Mule helps to set the bar even higher for their jam band peers and competition.

As the title illustrates, the single CD is a selection of Pink Floyd covers, while the three CD, eighteen song set, includes choice Gov’t Mule tracks. Highlights of the the band’s Pink Floyd set include a haunting version of “Comfortably Numb,” an intense version of “One of These Days,” a medley of Dark Side of the Moon tracks from “Speak To Me > Breathe” through “Money,” and a treat for the ears, “Fearless,” from Pink Floyd’s Meddle.

It’s exciting to hear a band in their prime, and, just like their recent Stoned Side of the Mule vinyl release featuring Rolling Stones covers [review here], Dark Side of the Mule further demonstrates just how prolific Gov’t Mule and Warren Haynes continue to be. Gov’t Mule’s famous 2008 Halloween show takes the Pink Floyd brand to another level, both musically and stylistically. Quite frankly, it’s just an amazing CD that is great from start to finish.

You can stream the whole thing, via Spotify, below!

Dark Side of the Mule Tracklisting

Disc 1
Brighter Days
Bad Little Doggie
Brand New Angel
Gameface
Trane / Eternity’s Breath / St. Stephen Jam
Monkey Hill
Child Of The Earth
Kind Of Bird

Disc 2
One Of These Days
Fearless
Pigs On The Wing, Pt. 2
Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 1 – 5
Have A Cigar
Speak To Me
Breathe (In The Air)
On The Run
Time
The Great Gig In The Sky
Money
Comfortably Numb

Disc 3
Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 6 – 9
Wish You Were Here
Million Miles From Yesterday
Blind Man In The Dark