I read an article after the recent American election in which a Kerry supporter shrugged off the Bush-backing ‘Red’ states.

“We eat better,” wrote columnist Ted Rall, referring to the Democratic ‘Blue’ states, “travel more, dress better, watch cooler movies, listen to better music...”

Hold on there. Better music? I’m not so sure about that, and neither, I’d guess, were the thousand or so folks who showed up at the Commodore ballroom on November 16th to see Gov’t Mule.

With roots in the deep south, Gov’t Mule blend the kind of guitar chops you’d get from the Allmans or the Black Crowes with some groovy, skillfully delivered rhythms.

Burly frontman Warren Haynes is a tasteful but unmistakably red meat guitar player. He is pretty much in a league of his own, genuinely capable of putting a spell on an audience. By itself this would make the band a premier division outfit, but what puts Gov’t Mule over the top is the drumming of Matt Apts.

Wringing something new out of the blues scale can be a tough trick, and Gov’t Mule often employ some unique time signatures to keep things interesting. The flair with which Apts handles these rhythms keeps the band from losing the thread of the groove or sinking into math-rock wankery.

Offhand, I’d say Apts brings to Gov’t Mule something similar to what Dave Grohl brought to the latest Queens of the Stone Age album. He can take a riff or progression and put a fresh spin on it. Moreover, he can bring a tune from a smolder to a burn and back again with real deftness.


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