UB Center for the Arts to Present Gov't Mule

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present Gov't Mule, with special guest Chris Robinson and New Earth Mud, at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the Mainstage theater, located at the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. The event is sponsored by the undergraduate Student Association. Media sponsor is WBUF-FM.

Gov't Mule was formed in 1994 by guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody, both from the Allman Brothers Band, along with drummer Matt Abts. Haynes and Woody met Abts during a jam at a Los Angeles club while they were on tour with the Allman Brothers. In April of 1997, Haynes and Woody amicably departed the Allman Brothers to focus their efforts with Abts and Gov't Mule. The influence of the Allman Brothers Band is apparent in their music, as well as the incorporation of the psychedelic, bluesy power-trio feel of the band Cream.

The band's self-titled debut album reached No. 5 on the Billboard album charts. In 1998, they released their major label debut Dose under Capricorn Records, with a follow-up double live release in 1999, Live…With a Little Help From Our Friends. Since 1994, Gov't Mule has toured relentlessly, gaining fan bases around the world, including in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Brazil. They have toured with Dave Matthews Band, Black Crowes, Blues Traveler, Widespread Panic, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jethro Tull, and Steve Miller.

In August 2000, Allen Woody died unexpectedly and the band's future was uncertain. Rather than replace Woody, the surviving members elected to gather many of their favorite bassists and those who had the most influence on Woody to collaborate together on their next two albums, The Deep End Volume I and The Deep End Volume II.

Gov't Mule has since added keyboardist Danny Louis to its full-time lineup. A replacement bassist is expected to be announced soon.

Former Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson and his band, New Earth Mud, will open the concert. After reaching great success with the Black Crowes in the 1990s, Robinson began to feel burnt out as a result of conflict and constant touring, and started to work on his own. In 2002, he teamed up with guitarist Paul Stacey and he completed his solo debut album titled New Earth Mud.

Robinson's rock roots are apparent with his new band New Earth Mud, as well as an incorporation of funk, jam and rock. Freed from the constraints of his former band, Robinson still remains close to his trademark Southern rock sound.

Tickets for Gov't Mule with Special Guest Chris Robinson and New Earth Mud are $27.00. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.