Gov’t Mule channeled its inner Beatles for the band’s new nine-minute contemplation on loss, “Made My Peace”. The single, which also features orchestral arrangements from The Kerhonkson Philharmonic, is the final preview of Mule’s 12th studio album, Peace…Like A River, out on June 16th via Fantasy Records.
“Made My Peace” is instantly identifiable with the Fab Four’s more psychedelic era, a decision that bandleader Warren Haynes confirms was intentional. Haynes implemented double-track vocals in the style of John Lennon and split the song with a harmony slide guitar informed by George Harrison for the band’s most direct homage to The Beatles to date.
Thematically, “Made My Peace” confronts feelings of grief and loss brought on by the death of Haynes’ father. As is the style of the former Allman Brothers Band guitarist, he processes his feelings as much through introspective lyricism as he does roaring blues guitar solos.
“It deals with a lot of different aspects of what we’ve all gone through,” Haynes said in a behind-the-scenes video accompanying the single. “It touches on the emotions I was having to get past with the loss of my dad, who was an extremely important figure in my life. There are several songs [on Peace…Like A River] that reflect on loss, but more in a way of making the future count. Taking the rest of your life and looking at it with a fresher, more aggressively positive attitude.”
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Peace…Like A River serves as a follow-up to Mule’s Grammy-nominated 2021 album Heavy Load Blues. The songs were even recorded during the same sessions, but contain a unique musical identity as Peace…Like A River was tracked in a separate room on different instruments. Mule also brought in blues musicians Billy Gibbons, Celisse, and Billy Bob Thornton for the new album along with New Orleans royalty Aaron Neville and singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster.
Check out the visualizer for Gov’t Mule’s new single “Made My Peace” along with a behind-the-scenes video with Warren Haynes. The band is gearing up for a summer tour comprised of headlining concerts, special Dark Side of the Mule shows with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, and stops aboard Willie Nelson‘s traveling Outlaw Festival. For tickets and a full list of tour dates visit Mule’s website. Peace…Like A River is available here for pre-order in a variety of formats.
Gov’t Mule – “Made My Peace” (Visualizer)