Gov’t Mule performs at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 4, 2023.
Lollapalooza wasn’t the only musical extravaganza happening in the Chicago area on Friday, Aug. 4. Gov’t Mule – Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, Danny Louis and Kevin Scott – stopped by the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park to share a rare set of Pink Floyd classics, known as Dark Side of the Mule, as well as hits from their own storied discography. Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening was also on hand to celebrate Zeppelin favorites with the enthusiastic crowd.
Bonham took time out to explain how this project makes him feel closer to his father, John Bonham, and why sometimes nostalgia is best enjoyed in the present moment.
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience performs at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 4, 2023.
“Let’s live in the right now,” Bonham said. “Let’s get into the moment, get into the music, have some fun, remember the days when you didn’t get a prescription for the pot you’re smoking now – Back in the days when the albums played on the radio from start to finish how it was meant to be. So, let’s go back and let’s go ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ and have some fun, okay.”
“What Is and What Should Never Be,” “Immigrant Song” and “Rock and Roll” – complete with a killer drum solo – were among the Zeppelin hits included on the setlist.
Before taking fans up to the shadowy stratosphere, Gov’t Mule engaged in a jam-heavy set of their own material. “Mule” – with tasty licks from Haynes and his slide – kicked things off before “Banks of the Deep End” and “Time to Confess” further melted the faces of fans across the venue. “Peace I Need” – from the band’s 2023 album, Peace… Like a River – served as a tender love song, a valuable commodity in this “greedy world gone crazy.”
Gov’t Mule performs at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 4, 2023.
Gov’t Mule’s performance was divided into two sets, but the band didn’t take even the shortest of breaks between jam sessions. The sprawling instrumental wonder of “Trane” seamlessly transitioned in to the spacey introduction of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” ushering in the Floyd segment of the night. A smokey haze and a moonlit stage provided the perfect setting to enjoy Dark Side tracks like “Time,” “Breathe (In the Air),” and more. Haynes and company did Floyd justice, honoring the source material while blessing the crowd with a one-of-a-kind live music experience.
The songs of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin are timeless. They may have been released decades ago, but, with new fans gravitating to the music and the message year after year, these hits feel like they belong to each and every generation. With this show, Gov’t Mule beautifully paid homage to the Gods of Rock and their ever-growing list of disciples.
Check out photos of Gov’t Mule and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening below and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More information can be found at Mule.net.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
