Warren Haynes Band
Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, Florida • September 21, 2024
by Michelle Wilson
Warren Haynes Band recently rolled into Jacksonville, Florida to blow the roof off one of my favorite Sunshine State venues, Florida Theatre. Opened in 1927 as a movie theater and nestled in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, the 1,900-seat cozy concert hall envelops you with its historic ambiance from the moment you enter. It was the perfect atmosphere for Haynes and company to deliver their large jam band sound and stellar light show to a packed house of adoring fans.
Touring in support of the forthcoming soul-infused Warren Haynes Band record, Million Voices Whisper, Haynes was backed by the same tight band that appears on the new release, including Gov’t Mule bassist Kevin Scott, monster drummer Terence Higgins, jazz saxophonist Greg Osby, and keyboardist John Medeski of jazz fusion trio Medeski, Martin & Wood. There was a healthy mix of solo cuts as well as songs from Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers Band, and Warren Haynes Band, plus two covers. The crowd was treated to two sets, 70 and 80 minutes, respectively, with a 15-minute intermission. Haynes has never looked or sounded better, and his impassioned guitar licks and searing slide captivated the crowd for the entire night.
Shrouded in darkness, the band took the stage at 8:05 pm and kicked it off with a meaty jam into “Fire In The Kitchen” (Tales Of Ordinary Madness, 1993, first Haynes solo record) followed by the title track from Man In Motion (2011, second Haynes solo record). Haynes spoke very little throughout the evening, allowing the music to speak instead. People were up and dancing, clapping along and reveling in the jam band vibe. After “Banks of The Deep End” (The Deep End Volume 1, 2001, Gov’t Mule), the audience got a double dose from the new record, including “Terrified” and “From Here On Out.” Between the two songs, Haynes did offer a heartfelt “It’s good to see ya! “ which elicited claps and cheers from the crowd. While people did seem to enjoy the new music, they definitely did not know it, since the record has not been released yet. As the band segued into Allman Brothers Band slow burner “Desdemona” (Hittin’ The Note, 2003), the shifting vibe was almost palpable. I listened to Haynes play those bluesy notes and sing the words that Gregg Allman once sang (Haynes and Allman cowrote it), closing my eyes and almost imagining it was an Allman Brothers Band show. It was a real show highlight. A third selection from the new record, the very funky “Lies, Lies, Lies,” took the penultimate slot of Set One, which rounded out with “Tear Me Down” (The Deep End Volume 1, 2001, Gov’t Mule).
After a 15-minute intermission, the energized band reemerged to share one last composition and the first single from the new album, “This Life As We Know It,” followed by “Spots of Time” (Ashes & Dust featuring Railroad Earth, 2015). Then they got down and dirty with a killer cover of Grateful Dead’s “Black Peter” (Workingman’s Dead, 1970, written by Jerry Garcia) complete with a major standing ovation and band intros/solos, the second of two Allman Brothers songs, “Instrumental Illness” (Hittin’ The Note, 2003), the Allen Toussaint cover “Get Out Of My Life, Woman,” “Invisible” (Tales Of Ordinary Madness, 1993, first Haynes solo record), and “Thorazine Shuffle (Dose, 1998, Gov’t Mule). After a momentary exit at 10:35 with the house lights down and the crowd cheering, the musicians came back for the staple encore, “Soulshine” (Where It All Begins, 1994, Allman Brothers Band, written by Haynes), as the crowd sang along, waving and dancing. At 10:50, it was all over and fans left with “Soulshine” as a pretty darn good earworm for the night.
It’s always an honor for me to cover a Warren Haynes show. He is such a multi-faceted musician with so much talent and depth, constantly striving for a different sound. The new record, described as soulful blues-rock, pays homage to some of Haynes’ musical heroes, and Gregg Allman fans will be happy to read that Haynes finished writing one of Allman’s songs after he was gone and has included it on this album.
Catch Warren Haynes Band on tour through October, and look for the release of Million Voices Whisper on November 1.
