2008 Woodie Awards
Gov't Mule goves UVM a kick
Cynic staff writer talks with drummer Matt Apts about the band's genesis
Jordan Thorson
Issue date: 5/2/06 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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It seemed like all of UVM was on Central campus on Saturday afternoon to not only celebrate the coming of summer but also to listen to and appreciate music. This year's Springfest was jam-packed with jive, funk, and a lot of soul.
The headliners, Gov't Mule played a captivating show and left the audience hungry for more. The level of talent in this band is amazing. Warren Hayes, named one of the best guitar players ever by Rolling Stone Magazine, showed off his slide-guitar skills and rocked every one of those solo's that the audience loved so much. I had the opportunity to interview Matt Abts, the drummer for the band and find out a little bit more him, his music, how Gov't Mule came into being and where they've been since.
Matt started playing music while living in Panama as a young teenager. His father was in the Army and he and his family moved every two years. His family eventually moved to the United States, and after graduating high school, Matt played in bar bands up and down the east coast. By moving the Florida, he was struck with good luck when he moved almost next door to Dicky Betts, a former member of The Allman Brothers.
Matt said that after having a musical conversation with Betts, it turned out that he was looking for a drummer for his band and ended up playing with them for five years. During those five years, Matt met Warren Haynes while they were both playing on an album for the Dicky Betts Band called "Pattern Disruptive". Warren went on to play with the reunited Allman Brothers where he met Allen Woody who would later become one of the legs of the tripod that was Gov't Mule. The idea for the band was started while both Warren Haynes and Allen Woody were still a part of the re-formed, Allman Brothers.
Whenever the Allman Brothers played in LA, (which is where Matt was living at the time), all three of them would get together for jam sessions, said Matt. I asked Matt how he felt when they decided to start the band. He said it was "exciting", they wanted to see how far they could get with it. In 1994, Haynes and Woody decided to leave The Allman Brothers to focus their attention on Gov't Mule.
The headliners, Gov't Mule played a captivating show and left the audience hungry for more. The level of talent in this band is amazing. Warren Hayes, named one of the best guitar players ever by Rolling Stone Magazine, showed off his slide-guitar skills and rocked every one of those solo's that the audience loved so much. I had the opportunity to interview Matt Abts, the drummer for the band and find out a little bit more him, his music, how Gov't Mule came into being and where they've been since.
Matt started playing music while living in Panama as a young teenager. His father was in the Army and he and his family moved every two years. His family eventually moved to the United States, and after graduating high school, Matt played in bar bands up and down the east coast. By moving the Florida, he was struck with good luck when he moved almost next door to Dicky Betts, a former member of The Allman Brothers.
Matt said that after having a musical conversation with Betts, it turned out that he was looking for a drummer for his band and ended up playing with them for five years. During those five years, Matt met Warren Haynes while they were both playing on an album for the Dicky Betts Band called "Pattern Disruptive". Warren went on to play with the reunited Allman Brothers where he met Allen Woody who would later become one of the legs of the tripod that was Gov't Mule. The idea for the band was started while both Warren Haynes and Allen Woody were still a part of the re-formed, Allman Brothers.
Whenever the Allman Brothers played in LA, (which is where Matt was living at the time), all three of them would get together for jam sessions, said Matt. I asked Matt how he felt when they decided to start the band. He said it was "exciting", they wanted to see how far they could get with it. In 1994, Haynes and Woody decided to leave The Allman Brothers to focus their attention on Gov't Mule.
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