6 • Odober 29, 1999 • The Tulane Hullabaloo Mule: Brothers no more Yeah, whatever Jason Hawkins ming and practicing or writing new holed," he said. contributing writer material and Allen, Abts and Haynes And there's also more to the found a creative outlet in Gov't Mule·s music; the band has a diverse Move over Allman Brothers Mule. But then time came for a sound and plays material ranging makes them happy Band. Gov't Mule is in town, and decision: ''As long as we were in from psychedelic blues and emo- it looks as if they're here to stay. the Allmans, Gov't Mule Wllii a side tional jazz to powerful rock and Waymon Boone of Splender chats about touring, Gov't Mule's name has been added project and only a side project and folk music. to the list of great power trios, includ- we wanted more than just that," ''That correlates to the band's growing up and the music biz ing the likes of Cream and the Jimi Haynes said. So Uov't Mule hand- varied music tastes,'' said Haynes. esting and flattering. Literally there Hendrix Experience. The band has ed the Allman Brothers their walk- Gov' t Mule has a wide range of Elizabeth Parisi Rock and Limp Bizkit for filling a void in the music world. "I don't were kids who came to shows based just released its second live album, ing papers and vowed to "never influences including gospel and contributing writer on 'Teen magazine." Boone saw it Live... With a Little Help From Our look back." Since that time, the trio soul music Haynes heard on the think kids have anything else to as just another way to reach more Friends, and is soaring to radio as a child to the ''When I was a kid I was prac- relate to besides that," he said. people who haven't heard of Splen- new heights of populari- music of the Temptations, tically a mute," Waymon Boone, Boone ha-; a special relationship with music that increases his own der yet. ty. The Arcade recently Otis Redding, B.B. King, lead singer/songwriter of Splen- Splender believes in maintain- caught up \\'.ith Mule's Hendrix, Clapton and, of der, said. For Boone, music ··was effectiveness as a musician. He lead guitarist and vocal- course. Duane Allman. a way to express myself without describes music as more than ther- ing a strong relationship with their ist, Warren Haynes, ｾ ｮ ､ The band's strong fan having to talk to anyone." Lucky apeutic for him. "I just thought of fans. Boone described the touring asked about his career and base is just as diverse as for us he and his bandmates Jonathan it as an absolute necessity, like process as ·'fan collecting - like music in general. the band's influences too; Svec, Marc Slutsky and James Cru7 another limb." butterflies." In spite of a few The name of the band, ''At one of our concerts chose music as their personal out- His lyrics seem at'once power- overzealous fans, including some according to Haynes, was you may see a guy wear- lets. Splender is climbing the ci1ur..s ful and vulnerable. In ''Yeah. What- they met on their last trip to New coined by Jaimoe, one of ing a Phish shirt next to with their first release, Halfway ever." Boone perfectly expresses Orleans. Splendei loves the atten- the drummers of the All- a guy wearing a Miles Down the Sky. Boone took some the sentiment felt after rough break- tion they've been receiving. "I con- man Brothers, and it just Davis shirt next to a guy time out of his break sider us to be a very stuck. "I liked the fact that wearing a Zeppelin shirt," from touring to talk accessible group." everybody had a differ- Haynes added. to the Arcade about Boone said. He ent idea of what it meant, Of course the band pri- Splender and about appreciates the Inter- so we kinda stuck with marily attracts fans ofjam ho\\ he found his net and the official it," Haynes said. bands like the Grateful way from being a band website as new Further inquiry Dead. the Allman Broth- shy child to being a ,ways to keep in revealed that in certain ers and Widespread Panic, musician that thrives touch with fans all circles of the South, the their live show is the main on the live show. over the country. phrase "Gov't Mule" atiraction. which explains Boone admited Maybe one rea- referred to a woman's big why half of their albums his childhood was son Splender is SQ. ass. have been live. "bizarre and differ- dedicated to their The band started out Their latest release, ent from all the other fans is that they under that name in 1994 Lire, was not meant to be kids:· Not many know how hard- as a side project of the released, b·ut there was children have the earned they were. Allman Brothers Band to so much hype surround- opportunity - and Popular in their showcase the latest addi- FILEPHOTo ing the New Year's Eve responsibility - of hometown of New tions to their repertoire, Gov't Mule went from the Allman Brothers to success on show that they decided touring v.ith a musi- York. Splender Haynes. himself and their own. Catch them at the House of Blues Sunday night. to put it out while every- cian. From the age . pent year trying bassist Allen Woody, but one ｾ ｡ ｳ talking about it. of seven. Boone wit- to get noticed by a quickly took shape into a project has released four albums, from their Mule currently has another studio nessed the music record company. of its own. self-titled debut jn 1995 to their:Jat- album. tjtled Life Btfore Insanity. indusoy as he toured Boone ays they "Woody and I got the idea to put est effort, Live. due out in February and are on tour. with his mother. were waiting for together a power trio because no The roots of the band are in the They \\ill be coming to New Orleans Despite his early ·•one person to say one was doing that anymore. He South, but don't make the mistake on Halloween at the House of Blues exposure to the ·1 get it.' If we could said that we could pull it off, with of dismissing them as a southern to play one of their legendary live rougher moments of just get in the door Matt f Abts] in mind as the third rock band. · shows that you won't want to miss. the life of a musi- we could prove our- member," Haynes said, "we jammed "It's more our connection with cian. Boone alway selves." That per- and it turned out to be something the Allman Brothers that gives us knew he was des- son was a repre- magical. We knew we had to do that reputation. but my only con- tined to be in the FILE PHOTO sentative from something with it, but didn't know cern is that you like the music. The music business. "It Splender (from left rvtt"c S utsky. James Cruz, Waymon Boone and Columbia record.. Catch Gov't Mule at Jonathan Svec) W:, play Trp ｡ ｮ ｡ ｾ Uptown Nov 3. what." Allman Brothers were always the Bouse of' Blues was pretty obvious Boone apprecrntes At this time, the Allman Broth- uncomfortable with the southern on Halloween I was going to grow up and do this: ups, when anger is still obscuring Splender's relationship with Colum- ers were not concentrating on jam- rock tag: nobody likes to be pigeon- I was bred to do this." feelings of hurt. Sp lender balance ... bia because "we all ha\ e one vision Instead of his mother's disco a musical sensitivity on par with of how we want this to go." Splen- and R&B. Boone found bis outlet Boone·s writing style while main- der is. till ｦ ｯ ｣ ｵ Ｎ ｾ ｩ ｮ ｧ on getting their to be rock and roll. Boone accred- tainmg a rock edge that promi es first record publicized around the its his exposure to rock and roll to to tear up the house in any live sho\\. country. but is looking ahead a. Check for a pulse when a childhood friend and to "The Splender 1s a band that could not well. "Our main goal i;; longevity." Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. his first be confused with an) thing but rock said Boone. rock song ever. Boone now admires and roll. but recently found itself listening to Stigmata the work of Elvis Costello and David in the role of teenybopper band. Bowie, but has respect for all of the They were photographed for a photo Splender will be groups on the charts now. "It seem spread in 'Teen magazine under the perf'orming at heading of "Cute Band Alert." Tipitina's on Kristin Oravetz starts to wonder if they've suddenly choppy and unmelodic. Songs start like there can be room for ever)'- · November 2. body," Boone said. He respects Kid Boone found it to be "really inter- contributi11g writer been transported to a musical hell out nice and almost monng, then of elevator music all of the sudden sound as though ,Stigmata soundtrack and high pitched the musicians in the orchestra are vocals. Billy all playing on different pages. When Virgin Corgan said that this musical jumble of chaos sub- he felt that sides.