The 5/2 Gov't Mule Show @ Saenger Theatre

Pre-Sale tomorrow at 11:00 CST.

"Gov't Mule's history with New Orleans goes back to January 1996, our second full year of existence. With the city's famous rich musical history, it really wasn't a surprise that we instantly were inspired by our surroundings and quickly found a new favorite place to play. We wound up returning for a second show in September. The following year, 1997, we would up playing NOLA 3 different times in the span of 5 months! New Orleans became a treasured destination in our touring schedule...I've played there at least once every year since '96 (with the lone exception being in 2006 when I was on the road with the Dead).

The number of Mule Orleans Memories is really way too long to list but there are certainly a few shows and experiences which stand out: opening for The funky Meters at the old Tips Ruins, the "New School of Gov't Mule show" with Dave Schools & Chuck Leavell in '01, the first time we played the Jazzfest Fairgrounds in 2002, the late night shows at the Orpheum and, of course, The Deepest End at The Saenger Theatre.

A lot has, deservedly, been said about both The Deepest End show and The Saenger Theatre already so I don't need to go too in depth, but that show remains one of the most special musical nights of my life and specialness of the room certainly contributed. There was a true "magic" to the whole event....something that no amount of planning or rehearsing could produce. Again, it was something that could never happen anywhere else. When The Saenger closed in the wake of Katrina, we held out hope that one day, it would return. The initial timeline given for its renovation kept getting pushed back and, for a while, it seemed like it might not happen. So when we were told that the Saenger would indeed be reopening, we began making plans to play our traditional Jazzfest night show there. So, when Gov't Mule's return to The Saenger on Friday May 2nd, 2014 will be a "special" show as we've been waiting a long time to get the opportunity to make magic on that stage again..."
- Warren Haynes