On Friday night, Gov’t Mule kicked off their New Year’s Eve run at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, PA before heading to the Beacon Theatre for the next two nights in New York City, NY. Warren Haynes and company were joined by Oteil & Friends, who kicked off their own NYE run at The Capitol Theatre on the previous night.

The ever-evolving lineup that backs bassist Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, Allman Brothers Band) this time around features legendary keyboardist Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), guitarists Eric Krasno (Lettuce/Soulive) and John Kadlecik (Furthur, Dark Star Orchestra), drummer Jay Lane (Furthur Primus), vocalist Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), and percussionist Weedie Braimah (Trombone Shorty, The Nth Power). With so many friends in one place, collaborations were bound to take place–and, indeed, they did.

Oteil & Friends used the title track of his 2017 album, Water In The Desert, to kick off their eight-song set, which was carried through with covers of Janis Joplin‘s “Piece Of My Heart”, Jerry Garcia Band‘s “Tough Mama”, “Tore Up Over You”, and “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”, Grateful Dead‘s “Scarlet Begonias” and “So Many Roads”, and “Unconditional Love”. Warren Haynes, who toured extensively with Burbridge during their years together in the Allman Brothers Band, joined the band for a beautiful version of “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”.

“Tough Mama”

“Scarlet Begonias”

“Tore Up Over You”

“That’s What Love Will Make You Do”

[Videos: Sean Roche]

[Audio: vwmule]

For the headlining performance, the collaborations continued with Melvin Seals, Jennifer Hartswick, Weedie Braimah, and saxophonist Ron Holloway joining Mule during the first set for a cover of Little Feat‘s “Spanish Moon”. During the second set opener, Holloway returned for a “Mule” sandwich, which featured a section of Van Morrison’s “I’ve Been Working”. Pedal steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier surprised the audience for a special sit-in with Ron Holloway during the encore for a cover of Tom Waits‘ “Going Out West”.

“Spanish Moon” w/ Ron Holloway, Melvin Seals, Jennifer Hartswick, and Weedie Braimah

“Goin’ Out West” w/ Ron Holloway & Roosevelt Collier

[Videos: Sean Roche]

Oteil & Friends will return to The Capitol Theatre tonight, December 29th, before throwing it down at NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl on December 30th and 31st with special guests Jen Hartswick and Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band) on trumpet, trombone, and vocals. For the band’s forthcoming New York dates to ring in 2019, Oteil & Friends will also be supported by visual artist Johnathan Singer, who will lend his legendary visuals to the mix. Pay-Per-View webcasts of Saturday, December 29th’s performance at The Cap, as well as Oteil & Friends’ pair of Brooklyn Bowl shows on December 30th and 31st, can be purchased here.

Gov’t Mule will return to The Beacon Theatre in New York, NY for their annual celebration on December 29th, followed by their three-set extravaganza on December 31st, where the band will be joined by guitarist Jackie Greene and drummer Shawn Pelton. Tickets for Gov’t Mule’s upcoming New Year’s run are still available here for all three performances.

Setlist: Oteil & Friends | Tower Theatre | Upper Darby, PA | 12/28/18

Water In The Desert, Piece Of My Heart, Tough Mama, Scarlet Begonias, Tore Up Over You, So Many Roads, That’s What Love Will Make You Do, Unconditional Love

Setlist: Gov’t Mule | Tower Theatre | Upper Darby, PA | 12/28/18

Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground, Game Face, Time To Confess, Spanish Moon, (with Melvin Seals, Jen Hartswick, Weedie Braimah, Ron Holloway), Revolution Come, Revolution Go, I’m A Ram

II: Mule (with Ron Holloway), Thelonius Beck, Beautifully Broken, The Man I Want To Be, I Think You Know What I Mean, When The Levee Breaks, 30 Days In The Howl, Soulshine

E: Going Out West (with Roosevelt Collier, Ron Holloway)