Gov't Mule Raleigh 4/20/2006

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> Hey Y'All,
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> I was up early as I had a 6:55 am flight through Cincy to Fayetteville, N.C. All travel was smooth and I arrived on time. Charles and Mindy picked me up and we made the hour drive to downtown Raleigh. Jim had already arrived in town and was at the Disco Rodeo, scouting out the venue. He found what appeared to be the sweet spot and met us over at the Sheraton. We headed over to the City Market our noses sniffed out Vic's Ristorante. We settled down and enjoyed a late lunch. I had an awesome Pomodoro Salad. The Mescaline salads at our table were equally as good. My meal was a penne with a spicy Arribiata Sauce. It was very good, and filling. The sweet tea was a bit on the unsweet side. Mindy and Jim opted for the calzones, which were no more than baked Italian bread with cheese and pepperoni. Charles enjoyed the Manicotti. On the way back to the hotel, we found Clyde Cooper's BBQ. Had to stop to get a 1/2 pound of course chopped pork. We walked back to the Sheraton and found Dave waiting for us. He and I devoured the BBQ, which will be visited again by us! Yum. Clyde started the business in 1938, and the recipes are still the same.
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> We headed over towards the venue to stop at the Ale House to hook up with Melissa, Stacy, and Tim. A quick wetting of the whistle and over to get in line. We went in and set up in the middle of the floor in front of the mirrored support beam. Actually this would give us guarded protection. There is a wooden corall around the middle of the floor, great if you had to get out in an emergency! It was a strange place as they book C&W bands, Latin music, and other music. Ran into Steve Lopez and chatted briefly before the show. After seeing and hearing about the show the night before, where they played a bunch of my personal favorites, I wasn't sure what to expect. Being 4/20, everyone was geeked and ready for the show. By 8:00, the floor was getting packed and very hot. They opened up with Mr. Man just after 8:20, which is 4:20 somewhere in the Pacific Ocean! I thoroughly enjoyed the very bluesy I Can't Quit You Baby. Very nice indeed. I loved hearing the coupling of No Need to Suffer>Painted Silver Light!. The Wine and Blood was also well received and led into an expected Soulshine. Warren played it a bit different with a lot of Wah Wah pedal. Now the place was hot. deliver the goods!
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> After a 30 minute break, we were ready. And did Mule ever deliver the goods! With Brian Farmer's help, we were led through the crowd favorite Don't Step on the Grass Sam. I see they got some new signs made for the lyrics. It flowed seamlessly into the Leslie West classic, Mississippi Queen. After the raggae portion of the show, we were treated to Eric Burden's Misunderstood. I have personally never seen them cover this and would bet it may have been a first. I saw Warren reading some of the lyrics which is also why I believe it may have been a first. I heard an Eleanor Rigby riff in here, as well as in other parts of the show. At the end as they slowly jammed it out, we could see some commotion on stage right. Sure enough, Jojo appeared. Then Dave appeared wearing shorts. The place was getting crazy. I could hear a Low Spark coming for about a minute. I made my call and sure enough, we GOT it! But, they weren't gonna be outdone just yet. At first we thought we might have a Dear Mr. Fantasy. And then, a very smooth Can't You See! Warren did Toy proud. And of course, it was the big time crowd sing-a-long. A superb set ender! Nothing like a Widespread Mule segment! An almost 15 minute Blindman as the show came to a close. A very big second set! I did not feel denied at all!
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> It was fun hangin' with Charles, Mindy, Jim, Dave, Robbie, Tim and Stacy, Melissa, Pepper, Ray and Shelley, and the rest of the FOB gang. Nick was in the house taping on the rail so we never got to hang. Slim worked out some crackle before the opening of the show and had it sounding nice. Stacy actually stayed for the entire show!
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> Here is how it went down:
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> Gov't Mule
> Disco Rodeo
> Raleigh, North Carolina
> 4/20/2006
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> 8:20
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> MR. MAN 5:23
> PERFECT SHELTER 4:43
> I CAN'T QUIT YOU BABY 9:50
> ROCKIN' HORSE> 8:58
> N O NEED TO SUFFER> 8:28
> PAINTED SILVER LIGHT> 7:21
> THELONIOUS BECK 7:09
> WINE AND BLOOD> 5:52
> SOULSHINE 8:22
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> 9:26
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> 9:56
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> DON'T STEP ON THE GRASS SAM> 6:34
> MISSISSIPPI QUEEN 3:04
> FOOL'S MOON 6:52
> DRIVIN' RAIN 5:08
> LIVELY UP YOURSELF> 11:45
> DRUM SOLO 8:08
> MISUNDERSTOOD> 10:12
> *#LOW SPARK OF HIGH-HEELED BOYS> 13:41
> CAN'T YOU SEE 12:06
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> 11:13
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> 11:17
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> BLINDMAN IN THE DARK 14:35
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> 11:30
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> SCHOEPS MK41'S>M222>NT222>SOUND DEVICES 744>SOUND DEVICES 722
> FOB/FOM(Front of mirror)/DFC/KFC/ZFC 21' FROM STAGE
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