Gov't Mule Releases Peace…Like A River

Gov't Mule Promo — Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

Gov’t Mule released their latest album Peace…Like A River on June 16^th via Fantasy Records. This is the band’s 12th studio album which is available digitally and on CD and vinyl in addition to a deluxe version. The 12-song rock collection features guest appearances from Billy F Gibbons, Billy Bob Thornton, and Celisse.

Ivan Neville and Ruthie Foster are featured on the first single “Dreaming Out Loud.” For the stirring song, currently impacting Triple A radio nationwide, GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, and producer Warren Haynes wove together inspirational quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert and John Kennedy, and the late civil rights leader and U.S. Representative John Lewis. Earlier this month, Gov’t Mule released their latest single, “Same As It Ever Was,” the opening track of Peace…Like A River, which 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.

The tracks on Peace…Like A River explore the many sides of Gov’t Mule and bring together all the qualities that have earned the four-piece – Haynes [guitar, vocals], Matt Abts [drums], Danny Louis [keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals], and Jorgen Carlsson [bass] – the beloved stature they enjoy today. Concise songcraft coexists seamlessly with their trademark instrumental journeys. Songs longer than pop convention are somehow still compact: they’re explorative but never meandering; the tunes are at once both wide-ranging and tightly focused. Thematically, the new album 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.

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. Billy F Gibbons’ trademark vocals underscore the tasty ZZ Top textures that inform the humor-infused “Shake Our Way Out,” while Billy Bob Thornton adds his distinctive vocals to “The River Only Flows One Way.” For the introductory track “Dreaming Out Loud,” Haynes wanted a Sly and the Family Stone vocal style where different singers take different sections of the song, so he called upon previous collaborators blues great Ruthie Foster, whose backing vocals graced Mule’s 2006 album High & Mighty, and longtime friend, New Orleans soul legend Ivan Neville. Lastly, rising soul artist Celisse adds her incredible vocals to “Just Across The River.”

Gov’t Mule will be out on the road this year in support of Peace…Like A River doing what they do best. This past weekend, the band wrapped a headlining spring tour, which recently took over the famed Ryman Auditorium for a sold-out evening featuring a variety of special guests including Peter Frampton and Jamey Johnson. Following another headlining run in June, Gov’t Mule has a big summer amphitheatre tour lined up performing their renowned Dark Side of the Mule set for one final time in addition to a full Mule set. They’ll also perform select dates with The Avett Brothers and on Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour this year as well as various festival appearances and other headlining shows. Visit www.mule.net for all upcoming dates and details.

Peace…Like A River is available here. In addition, the Peace…Like A River Deluxe Edition (available on CD only) includes the original 12-track album plus the special 5-track Time Of The Signs Bonus EP, which features four brand-new, unreleased tracks and an alternate version of the album track “The River Only Flows One Way,” with Warren taking lead vocals.

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Post by Scott Raymer (Website | Instagram | Facebook)

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