Guitarist Haynes is a hard-working Mule

By Steve Morse, Globe Staff, 10/17/2003

Any discussion about workaholic musicians has to include Warren Haynes, who just might top the list. The North Carolina native is in three high-profile, active-touring groups -- the Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, and Gov't Mule, the last of which he cofounded and just might be closest to his heart.

"The last three years have really been busy," says Haynes, who leads the Mule into the Orpheum Theatre tonight. "But, really, playing with these different groups keeps you fresh."

Adds Bob Weir of the Dead and Ratdog (which plays the Orpheum tomorrow): "Warren is a busier workaholic than I am."

Haynes must be doing something right. He was just named 23d best all-time guitarist by Rolling Stone ("I was honored, even though I thought Albert King should have been up there too," he says) and has several times been named best slide guitarist by Guitar World magazine. "It's weird to be named over Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, and Johnny Winter, who I grew up listening to incessantly, but again, it's an honor," Haynes says.

These days, Haynes is riding high with the Mule, which just might feature the widest repertoire of any of his bands. In addition to its own material, the Mule "does everything from Black Sabbath to Coltrane to Doc Watson to whatever we feel like doing," says Haynes. "We have so many different influences and we want to explore them all."

When Mule bassist/cofounder Allen Woody died in 2000, the band already had a repertoire of 400 songs. Since then, the group has invited a slew of top-name bassists to play with them -- from Jason Newsted (Metallica, Ozzy) and John Entwistle (The Who), to Mike Gordon (Phish), Les Claypool (Primus), Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) and Roger Glover (Deep Purple). Many have appeared on two separate CD/DVD sets called "The Deep End" and the just-released "The Deepest End," culled from a six-hour Mule show in New Orleans last spring.

But the big news is that the group has officially settled on a regular bassist in Andy Hess, who previously played with John Scofield. "We're very excited to have decided on him as a full-time member," says Haynes. "It's been a long process, a joyous process, but it's important to get back to being a real band again."

The Mule has played a handful of dates on its new tour and "with Andy, the jams have been real slinky," says Haynes. "He has a big, warm sound, in some ways like Woody's, but in some ways different. We're loving it." The group has also jammed with opening act Chris Robinson (formerly with the Black Crowes, now with New Earth Mud) on an average of two songs per night, mostly blues covers.

Haynes, who is also a raw, emotional singer, first fell in love with music by listening to black gospel on the radio in North Carolina. "Then I started listening to James Brown and Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin, and that moved me in the same way and led me to Cream and Jimi Hendrix," he says. "And I fell in love with guitar players who, when they solo, sound like they're singing through their instrument. That's what I look for."

A new bark for Ratdog: Grateful Dead spinoff band Ratdog plays the Orpheum tomorrow. It will be the first Boston visit with new bassist Robin Sylvester, a Bay Area studio veteran known for playing with sax great Steve Douglas. He replaced all-world bassist Rob Wasserman, who left under "pretty much amicable" circumstances, says Weir. "Robin is a real solid bass player," adds Weir. "He's not all over his instrument like Rob was, which is OK. The band worked well when it was a duo or trio with Rob, but as the band got bigger, Rob's virtuosity sort of crowded him out. We'll still play with Rob when we do a small ensemble show."

Ratdog, which is now a sextet, has been able to firm up its grooves now that a more traditional bassist is in the group. "The rhythm is a little tighter and it's more danceable," says Weir. "And our approach to the repertoire is changing. We're starting to use looping devices and that's been fun."

Weir is coming off a triumphant summer of touring with the reconstituted Dead, which now includes singer Joan Osborne. "I thought Joan worked out particularly well. She got the gig," says Weir. As for further Dead plans, he says there's a debate about whether to go out this February on a short tour or wait until next summer, which he favors so he can spend more time with Ratdog. As for any Dead recording, he says, "We'll do it on the road. The technology now allows you to do that."

A blues spike: As expected, the recent PBS series on the blues has led to a spike in blues albums sales, much as Ken Burns' "Jazz" did for that genre two years ago. The sampler "Martin Scorsese Presents the Best of the Blues" enjoyed a 36 percent sales gain this week, according to Billboard. That album crests the blues charts, while series-related releases also account for 11 of the top 15 places on the chart. Blues sales, overall, are up 40 percent in the past week.

Bits and pieces: Rufus Wainwright just booked at Avalon for Nov. 16. Tickets on sale today. . . . A Perfect Circle is headed to the Providence Performing Arts Center Nov. 24. Tickets on sale today. . . . The red-hot Kings of Leon open for the Strokes at Tsongas Arena Oct. 31. . . . Godsmack releases an eight-song acoustic album, "The Other Side," Nov. 18. It includes two new tracks. . . . Reggae kingpin Burning Spear is at the Roxy next Thursday. . . . Mark Simos, who has penned songs for Alison Krauss & Union Station, is at Club Passim next Thursday. . . . Tonight: Evan Dando and Vic Chesnutt at the Paradise, the Kickbacks at the Linwood, Slayer at the Worcester Palladium, and the Cheryl Arena Band at the Yardrock in Quincy. . . . Tomorrow: Josh Rouse and Leona Naess at the Paradise, Andy Stochansky (known for playing with Ani DiFranco) at the Lizard Lounge, David Johnston at Toad. . . . Sunday: Ronnie Gilbert (of the Weavers) at Sanders Theatre.