“Heavy jam legends Gov’t Mule lay bare their roots on Heavy Load Blues, resulting in one of the most satisfying albums of the year.” – PopMatters
“Heavy Load Blues is raw, heavy, and immediate.” – AllMusic
“A mesmerizing dynamic exists between the covers and other originals [on Heavy Load Blues].”
– No Depression
“Haynes and the band deliver a world-class musical experience [on Heavy Load Blues].” – Goldmine
“Heavy Load Blues [is] a profound experience from start to finish.” – Rock & Blues Muse
“A sonic signature…Heavy Load Blues will whisk you to a place you’ve maybe never been, but will want to return to again and again.” – Twangville
“Heavy Load Blues is an impressive showcase of Gov’t Mule’s ability to effortlessly produce a blues album while still leaving you knowing you just listened to a Mule album when it’s over.” – Discover Vinyl
Renowned quartet Gov’t Mule – led by GRAMMY® Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, and producer Warren Haynes – has officially released the Deluxe Edition of their critically acclaimed, chart-topping blues album, Heavy Load Blues, digitally across all streaming platforms. PRESS HERE to stream/download. Heavy Load Blues (Fantasy Records), the band’s first-ever blues album which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart upon its November 2021 release, encompasses an even mix of Haynes’ originals and revered covers. The deluxe version, now available on vinyl as well, features 8 additional studio and live tracks, including the Haynes original “Hiding Place” as well as covers originally by Savoy Brown, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush. To celebrate today’s digital release, Gov’t Mule has also issued a behind the scenes video for their take on the Willie Dixon song “You Know My Love” – PRESS HERE to watch.
Worldwide, Heavy Load Blues has amassed over 5 million total global streams and critical praise and support from the likes of Consequence, Guitar World, BrooklynVegan, No Depression, Ultimate Classic Rock, PopMatters, Downbeat, Classic Rock, Relix, Guitar Magazine, Paste and many more. The core 13-track album, produced by Haynes alongside engineer and co-producer John Paterno (Elvis Costello, Michael Landau, Bonnie Raitt, Robbie Williams, Los Lobos), features the original track “Heavy Load,” their rendition of the Tom Waits classic “Make It Rain,” a groovy arrangement of the Junior Wells standard “Snatch It Back and Hold It,” and more originally made famous by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Ann Peebles, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and The Animals. Though technically considered a studio album, Heavy Load Blues was recorded live in the studio at The Power Station New England on analog tape, utilizing vintage guitars, amps and other equipment to capture an authentic sound. PRESS HERE to listen to Heavy Load Blues.
Gov’t Mule – Haynes, Matt Abts [drums], Danny Louis [keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals], and Jorgen Carlsson [bass] – continue to release live performance videos of featured tracks off Heavy Load Blues exclusively on their YouTube channel for their in-progress “Session Sunday” video series. PRESS HERE to watch the first video for “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” and PRESS HERE to watch the second installment for “If Heartaches Were Nickels” – follow along for more across six weeks.
In other news, it was announced earlier this week that Gov’t Mule’s upcoming Spring U.S. headlining tour to support Heavy Load Blues, originally set to begin next Wednesday, has been postponed due to a shoulder injury sustained by Haynes. His doctors are confident that he will be healed in time for the band to return to the road this summer, as planned, to bring their acclaimed live show to audiences across the U.S. and Europe, including select dates on Willie Nelson’s 2022 Outlaw Music Festival Tour and various headlining shows and festival appearances. See below for upcoming shows, with more dates and updates regarding the rescheduled spring shows coming soon. Visit www.mule.net for ticketing details and check with the venue’s website for local health and safety requirements.
Heavy Load Blues Track Listing:
- Blues Before Sunrise
- Hole In My Soul
- Wake Up Dead
- Love Is A Mean Old World
- Snatch It Back and Hold It – Hold It Back – Snatch It Back and Hold It
- Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City
- (Brother Bill) Last Clean Shirt
- Make It Rain
- Heavy Load
- Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home
- If Heartaches Were Nickels
- I Asked Her For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)
- Black Horizon
Deluxe Version – Bonus Tracks:
- Hiding Place
- You Know My Love
- Street Corner Talking
- Have Mercy On The Criminal
- Long Distance Call
- Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home (Extended Version)
- Need Your Love So Bad (Live)
- Good Morning Little Schoolgirl with Hook Herrera (Live)
GOV’T MULE TOUR DATES
*New dates in bold
U.S. Dates
June 3 – Asheville, NC @ Salvage Station
June 5 – Chattanooga, TN @ Riverbend Festival
June 7 – Jefferson City, MO @ Capitol Region MU Healthcare Amphitheatre
June 10 – Vail, CO @ GoPro Mountain Games at Gerald Ford Amphitheater +
June 11 – Taos, NM @ Taos Mesa Brewing Mothership
June 14 – San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s By The Bay
June 17 – Reno, NV @ Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort
June 18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
June 24 – Winter Park, CO @ Blues From The Top Music Festival
July 29 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center #
July 30 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center #
July 31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake #
August 20 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Azura Amphitheater ~
September 16-18 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
+ w/ Grace Potter + special “Warren & Grace” mini-set
# Outlaw Music Festival
~ supporting Turnpike Troubadours
Europe Dates
July 9 – Pistoia, Italy @ Pistoia Blues Festival
July 10 – Chiari, Brescia, Italy @ Chiari Blues Festival
July 11 – Tuttinglen, Germany @ Honbergsommer Festival
July 12 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Kaufleuten
July 16 – Uppsala, Sweden @ Parksnäckan
July 17 – Oslo, Norway @ Rockefeller Music Hall
July 18 – Molde, Norway @ Molde International Jazz Festival
July 20 – Frankfurt am Main, Germany @ Batschkapp
July 21 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
July 22 – Torgau, Germany @ Kulturbastion
July 23 – Winterbach, Germany @ Zeltspektakel
