A couple weeks after staging a special tripleheader with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Duane Betts in Macon, GA, Gov’t Mule returned to the Peach State on Wednesday for a headlining show in Rome, GA, where the band called up keyboardist Matt Slocum (Railroad Earth).
The night kicked off with “Mule” and “Stone Cold Rage” before the band stretched out early with a blistering “Game Face” > “Mountain Jam” > “Game Face” sequence, the first of three Allman Brothers Band nods of the evening. Bandleader Warren Haynes soared vocally and on guitar through other first-set highlights, a dynamic “Snatch It Back and Hold It” > “Hold It Back” > “Snatch It Back and Hold It” sandwich and a high-octane “Sco-Mule”. The band closed the opening frame with a triple-punch of “Shake Our Way Out”, “Peace I Need”, and setlist staple “Soulshine”.
Set two opened with “Traveling Tune” before Gov’t Mule invited Matt Slocum onstage to join in alongside Danny Louis on keys. Slocum, who has toured with Haynes’ former Allman Brothers bandmate Oteil Burbridge, frequent collaborator Susan Tedeschi, and is a member of Railroad Earth, brought a soulful, jazz-infused touch to “Hattiesburg Hustle”, “Stratus”, and ABB’s “Desdemona”. He’s sat in many times over the years, including during a 2018 run opening for Mule with his band The Magpie Salute, always adding beautiful layers and harmonies to the performances.
Gov’t Mule — “Traveling Tune” — 10/22/25
[Video: Stephen Hyde]
The sit-in was particularly special as it marked Mule’s second-ever live performance of “Hattiesburg Hustle”, taken from Haynes’ 2011 solo album, Man in Motion. Gov’t Mule debuted the song back in March at Suwannee Amp Jam #1, which invited the guitarist’s Warren Haynes Band to headline its sophomore edition in February 2026.
“Desdemona”, taken from the Allman Brothers’ final album, Hittin’ the Note (2003), saw Haynes deliver more compelling vocals, digging deep into the roots of his ABB legacy. “Stratus” let the band venture into extended instrumental improvisation, blending Mule’s gritty blues-rock with Slocum’s fluid keyboard touch.
After Matt Slocum left, Gov’t Mule leaned into its blues foundation with a searing “I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)”, followed by “Slackjaw Jezebel”, which featured one more nod to the Allmans with a sly tease of “Les Brers In A Minor”. The band closed out the second set with a powerhouse “Thorazine Shuffle”, locking into deep grooves that elicited one more roar from the crowd as the band walked offstage.
For the encore, the band returned with “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home”, weaving in a playful nod to the Rolling Stones with a brief “Miss You” tease before taking a final bow.
Many of these songs, like “Mule”, “Soulshine”, Thorazine Shuffle”, have been played well over a thousand times throughout the band’s 30-year career. That history and sheer muscle memory shine through in the band’s effortless interplay and commanding stage presence, even as Terence Higgins subs in for longtime drummer Matt Abts while he recovers from longstanding drumming-related wear-and-tear.
Gov’t Mule’s Rome, GA stop was everything fans have come to expect from the band over the past three decades: adventurous improvisation, gritty blues power, and the kind of musical telepathy that only comes with years of shared history onstage.
The band went on to ring in its 2,500th show on October 26th at Ting Pavilion in Charlottesville, VA. Haynes even logged some extra minutes sitting in with openers Andy Frasco & The U.N.
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Check out a gallery of photos from Gov’t Mule in Rome courtesy of photographer Emily Butler, plus full-show audio. Up next for Gov’t Mule are stops in Reading, PA (10/28) and New Haven, CT (10/30) en route to the band’s Aerosmith-themed Halloween run in Washington, D.C. (10/31) and Philadelphia, PA (11/1). Find tickets and tour dates here or on the band’s website. Follow along with the tour on nugs. Start streaming on nugs or sign up for a free trial here. [Editor’s Note: Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your nugs subscription or purchasing a download via the links on this page helps support our coverage of the world of live music. Thank you for reading!]
Gov’t Mule — The Forum River Center — Rome, GA — 10/22/25 — Full Audio
[Audio: Zmanatl]
Setlist: Gov’t Mule | The Forum River Center | Rome, GA | 10/22/25
Set One: Mule, Stone Cold Rage, Game Face > Mountain Jam (The Allman Brothers Band) > Game Face, Wake Up Dead, Snatch It Back and Hold It > Hold It Back > Snatch It Back and Hold It, Sco-Mule, Shake Our Way Out, Peace I Need, Soulshine
Set Two: Traveling Tune, Hattiesburg Hustle [1], Stratus (Billy Cobham) [1], Desdemona (The Allman Brothers Band) [1], I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) (Howlin’ Wolf), Slackjaw Jezebel (w/ “Les Brers In A Minor” tease), Thorazine Shuffle
Encore: Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home (Ann Peebles) (w/ “Miss You” tease — The Rolling Stones)
[1] w/ Matt Slocum (keys)