Gov't Mule releases new single, 'Same As It Ever Was'

Press Release

Renowned Grammy-nominated band Gov’t Mule, led by guitar legend, vocalist, songwriter and producer Warren Haynes (whose performances last weekend at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday concert at the Hollywood Bowl were an event highlight), has released the new single “Same As It Ever Was,” the opening track of their forthcoming studio album, “Peace…Like A River,” out June 16 via Fantasy Records.

“Same As It Ever Was” features a soaring arrangement – anchored by Jorgen Carlsson’s thunderous bass and Matt Abts’ precise yet soulful drumming – that helps bring the song’s heartfelt sentiments home. Press here to listen and press here for the visualizer.

Gov’t Mule has also shared a behind the song video for “Same As It Ever Was” – press here to watch.

“Peace…Like A River,” the band’s 12th studio album and follow-up to Gov’t Mule’s chart-topping, Grammy-nominated blues album, “Heavy Load Blues,” is available to preorder and presave on DSPs – press here. Each digital presave will include an instant download of “Same As It Ever Was,” and the previously released single “Dreaming Out Loud” featuring Ivan Neville and Ruthie Foster.

“ ‘Same As It Ever Was’ is such an opus, an expansive piece. It goes in all these different directions, but lyrically and conceptually it makes sense to be the opening track,” Haynes said. “Life throws challenges at you when you least expect it, but in some ways, the disruption of the lockdown period is no different than what could happen at any given moment. We've all dealt with what in some cases seem like insurmountable hardships, but in my lifetime, the pandemic is the first time that the entire planet went through it together. The whole message of the tune is we’ve come a long way, but now we’re on the other side and life is normal, life is good. Same as it ever was.”

The album’s lead single, “Dreaming Out Loud,” featuring Ivan Neville and Ruthie Foster, is currently impacting Triple A radio nationwide. For the stirring song, Haynes wove together inspirational quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert and John Kennedy, and the late civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis. Press here to watch a behind-the-song video from Haynes about “Dreaming Out Loud.”

“Peace…Like A River” was recorded during the same sessions as “Heavy Load Blues” at The Power Station New England with co-producer John Paterno (Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos) alongside Haynes. The albums, however, were created in different rooms, with no shared gear or instruments, keeping the two concurrent projects with their own unique identity and character.

One distinguishing difference on “Peace…Like A River” is the presence of talented friends in important guest roles, including Billy F Gibbons, Billy Bob Thornton and Celisse, as well as Ivan Neville and Ruthie Foster. Thematically, the new 12-song rock collection explores the seismic changes the world has gone through over the past few years. Influenced both in his songwriting and playing by what Haynes calls “the golden era of rock, soul, jazz and blues,” Gov’t Mule combines the best and most enduring qualities from all those musical strains to create a timeless piece of art on “Peace…Like A River” that could have easily come out in the 1970s.

Press here to watch the album trailer.

“Peace…Like A River” will also be available in a deluxe edition (on CD only), including the special five-track “Time Of The Signs” bonus EP, in addition to the original 12 tracks.

Tonight, Gov’t Mule – Warren Haynes [guitar, vocals], Matt Abts [drums], Danny Louis [keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals] and Jorgen Carlsson [bass] – kicks off their spring headlining tour in New Orleans for a special show during Jazz Fest featuring special guests George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners. The band’s show at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Friday, May 12, will feature surprise special guests and be livestreamed for free via nugs.net exclusively for subscribers – press here to subscribe and watch. The 10-date spring run then wraps in Haynes’ hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, with back-to-back shows at Salvage Station’s Outdoor Stage on May 19-20. Gov’t Mule will head to the West Coast and Midwest in June for a mix of headlining shows and dates with The Avett Brothers before launching their “Dark Side of the Mule Tour” on July 29. The 21-date summer amphitheater outing, produced by Live Nation, will feature a full Gov’t Mule set leading into their extremely rare Pink Floyd tribute “Dark Side of the Mule,” in addition to special guest Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, and will mark the final time Mule will perform the acclaimed set, which first debuted in 2008 and has only been performed live 10 times in total.

Additionally, Gov’t Mule will perform select dates on Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour this summer and fall as well as various festival appearances. The band’s “New Year’s Run” from last year has also been rescheduled for Dec. 29 in Philadelphia and Dec. 30-31 in New York City. Visit https://mule.net/for ticketing details and to purchase.

More About Gov’t Mule & Warren Haynes

For over two decades, Gov’t Mule has galvanized a global fan base with their honest, organic and daring music and improvisational virtuosity, leading them to be recognized as one of the most timeless, revered and active bands in the world whose spot amongst rock titans remains unshakable. Led by visionary Grammy Award-winning artist and guitar legend Haynes – a cornerstone of the American music landscape – the enduring, globally revered Grammy-nominated group has showcased its intelligence and breadth over the course of 20-plus studio and live albums, thousands of memorable performances, and millions of album and track sales.

Gov’t Mule has become a human encyclopedia of great American music while adding to that canon with their signature sound. The band’s flexible interplay in the studio and on stage makes them a true living, breathing ensemble and Haynes is lauded as one of the most formidable guitarists and vocalists of the modern era and a prolific songwriter and producer. Throughout his prolific career as part of three of the greatest live groups in rock history – Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and the Dead – and an acclaimed solo artist, Haynes has become one of music’s most treasured storytellers.

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Gov’t Mule performs at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on July 30.