On Wednesday, Gov’t Mule brought their high-energy Spring Tour to the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines, Iowa. The performance marked the second night of their collaborative run with the Americana sister-act Larkin Poe, a pairing that promises to deliver powerful, blues-infused performances across seven shared dates this April. The evening reached a creative peak when the two acts joined forces for their first onstage collaboration of the tour, delivering a spirited take on The Allman Brothers Band staple, “Blue Sky.”
Gov’t Mule, photo by Dino Perrucci
The current iteration of the band—featuring Warren Haynes, keyboardist Danny Louis, bassist Kevin Scott, and drummer Terence Higgins, who is currently filling in for co-founder Matt Abts—opened the Iowa show with a rare performance of “Bad Man Walking.” The track, originally from the 2004 album Déjà Voodoo, had not been played in the state since 2020. The setlist continued with live staples such as “Brand New Angel” and “Endless Parade,” both making their 2026 live debuts, before the band showcased their versatility with a soulful cover of Ann Peebles’ “I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home Tonight.”
The highlight of the night arrived at the midpoint of the set. As Larkin Poe’s Megan and Rebecca Lovell joined the stage, the collective energy shifted. Megan’s lap steel work combined with Rebecca’s guitar and vocal prowess to transform “Blue Sky” into a raucous celebration of the musicians’ shared musical heritage. Following this collaboration, Gov’t Mule maintained the momentum with covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Effigy,” Robert Johnson’s “32-20 Blues,” and Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” The main set concluded with a powerful rendition of Al Green’s “I’m a Ram,” followed by a poignant encore of “Soulshine.”
Gov’t Mule and Larkin Poe are set to continue their tour through Pennsylvania and the Southwest, culminating in a final performance at Nashville’s The Pinnacle on April 22. For fans of acoustic music and acoustic rock, these collaborative shows offer a rare glimpse into the artistic evolution of these seasoned performers.