Warren Haynes, what can I say. I have seen him maybe two or three times with other bands and I know he tours constantly with Gov’t Mule. Then there is his solo career and not to mention all the side projects. He has also been known to sit in with bands for their entire tour. He is just all over the place it is hard not to know who Warren Haynes is.
For years I have tried to see him but things just never worked out. Finally Gov’t Mule was playing the Warner and it was a Saturday to boot. I arranged a full day of activities for myself and it started early with a visit to Atlas Brew Works. Their beer menu is pretty impressive and this is what drew me to the brewery. It is not close to Metro but it is walk able if you are willing to hike. The location is your typical industrial neighborhood so there is little onsite parking. In the back is a large parlor with benches and corn hole next to their brewery operations. The outdoor seating situation is huge with long communal benches for people to gather around. The bar itself is surprisingly small but with plenty of space elsewhere in the brewery so its not a problem.
Beers are interesting and one that I had, If I Did It, is certainly within the top 3 of the worst beers I have ever had. It was thick as mud, literally. Tasted sorta like an orange and was thick with pulp. It was so bad I couldn’t finish the glass and had to get something else to wash the taste out of my mouth. The other beer I tasted was really good, Should I Stay or Should I Gose. The small samples I had were great and certainly worthy of a second visit to sample some more offerings. With the ever rotating taps its easy to find a new beer with every visit.
From here it was back to the center of town for cigars with Greg as Shelly’s. It has been a while since we got together so it was a great time for us to catch up. My life is a little topsy turvy and from what Greg was telling me, his life is a little up in the air as well. It was just so great hanging out with him, smoking cigars and talking. With everything else going on in my life hanging out with the Free’s is one thing I really miss. Eventually Greg had to go pickup one of his kids and for me Gov’t Mule was about to take the stage.
I was pleasantly surprised by the show. First time seeing a Mule crowd and it is certainly trended older then I am use to but not by much. I really didn’t stick out if that makes sense. Not familiar with their music so I don’t have a frame of reference but for me it was an enjoyable show. I got my ticket only a few days out so I was way up in the nose bleed section. This allowed me to sit for the entire performance and just enjoy the music. I didn’t have any problem seeing the light show they where putting on either. It was a long day in the city but I ticked a lot of boxes that day. Brewery, cigar and a concert all in the same day isn’t bad.
Gov. Mule
Saturday, May 20th 2017 Warner Theater – Washington DC
Set 1 starts at 8:40pm
1. Blind Man In The Dark
2. Mr. High & Mighty >
3. Mother Earth
4. Mr. Man *
5. Unring The Bell #
6. Endless Parade
7. Revolution Come, Revolution Go
8. Doing It To Death $
9. Soulshine $
Set over at 9:57pm
Set 2 starts at 10:27pm
1. Stone Cold Rage
2. Sarah, Surrender
3. Fell On Black Days
4. Funny Little Tragedy & >
5. drums
6. Larger Than Life >
7. If 6 Was 9 >
8. Larger Than Life
9. Just Got Paid
10. 32/20 Blues @
Set over at 11:27pm
Encore starts at 11:29pm
11. Dreams & Songs
House lights at 11:36pm
Notes:
* with Highway Star tease
# with Shakedown Street tease
$ with Ron Holloway
& with Message In A Bottle & The Bed’s Too Big Without You lyrics & Get Up, Stand Up tease
@ with Ron Holloway, Feats Don’t Fail Me Now lyrics & Loser tease