Search - Warren Haynes :: Benefit Concert 2

Gov't Mule, Allman Bros. and friends kick back and stretch o

Mike | San Jose, CA | 05/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sequel to Warren's "Wintertime Blues" (now reissued under the name "The Benefit Concert Volume 1"). The first disc starts off with two acoustic numbers from Warren. He then introduces Austin's Chris Duarte Group, who perform their song "Badness" (with strong SRV overtones) and the Jimi Hendrix / Band of Gypsys call-and-response classic "Who Knows." The Bottle Rockets are up next with "Nancy Sinatra," which owes more than a little to that little old band from Texas, ZZ Top, and "Stuck In A Rut," a riff-driven song in the 70s blues-metal mode. Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit serve up the goofball funk of "Elevator To The Moon," the cowpoke ramble "Fixin' To Die," and the 17-minute, "all over the place" jam "Time Is Free / Jack The Rabbit" with Blues Traveler's John Popper sitting in. Then it's Mule time, as Warren and Mat Abts welcome Widespread Panic's Dave Schools on bass. After a half hour of the somewhat eccentric Hampton, the arrival of Gov't Mule and the straightforward stomper "Goin' Out West" is a true hit of fresh air. This is road music, baby. Popper then returns with Gov't Mule for "Mountains Win Again." Disc Two opens with the Haynes / Popper acoustic duet "Alone." Kevin Kinney joins Popper for "Scared But Smarter," and Kinney takes the lead for "A Good Country Mile." Warren returns for an acoustic duet with Edwin McCain on "Solitude." They are then joined by Popper and Kinney for "I Shall Be Released." Gregg Allman's up next in an acoustic duet with Warren on "Come And Go Blues." The final four tracks ("Ain't Wastin' Time No More," "Born Under A Bad Sign," "Soulshine," "Statesboro Blues") are electric Allman Brothers with various guests joining in. It's a "kindred spirits jam session," tighter in some spots than others, but any fan of Haynes / Mule / Allmans will definitely want it in their collection."

Benefit

Greality Test | Greeley,CO | 05/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you really like Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule, you may really like this album, or you may not. It is well done technically, but is a wide spread of styles, and a bit folksy for me."