Editing Gov't Mule (section)

===Beginnings of the Quartet===
[[File:Abts-Govt Mule 2008.jpg|thumb|[[Matt Abts]] with Gov't Mule in 2008]]
The first CD with Louis and Hess, ''[[Déjà Voodoo (Gov't Mule album)|Deja Voodoo]]'', was released in September 2004. The album won the Jammy award for Best Album and was the last studio album involving Michael Barbiero as producer and engineer. Additional material from those sessions was released in 2005 as ''Mo' Voodoo''. The new lineup's second full release, ''[[High & Mighty]]'', was released on August 22, 2006, and it was followed in 2007 by a dub/reggae album called ''[[Mighty High]]'' – including versions of covers and original songs with special guest appearances by [[Michael Franti]], [[Toots Hibbert]], and [[Willi Williams]].

Gov't Mule continues to tour extensively and has become a staple act at many music festivals including [[Bonnaroo]], [[Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival|Wakarusa]], [[Mountain Jam (festival)|Mountain Jam]], [[Vegoose]], [[All Good Music Festival|All Good]], and their annual [[New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival|New Orleans Jazzfest]] night show, where they filmed and recorded the last show of the Deepest End tours, with 17 guest musicians in a six-hour show.

Every year since 1989, Warren Haynes hosts the ''Annual Christmas Jam'' in his hometown of [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]], [[North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmail.com/news/2008/dec/11/20th-annual-warren-haynes-christmas-jam-gonna-rock/ |title=20th annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam is gonna rock Asheville |publisher=Independentmail.com |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926215620/http://www.independentmail.com/news/2008/dec/11/20th-annual-warren-haynes-christmas-jam-gonna-rock/ |archive-date=September 26, 2011 }}</ref> The concert usually takes place the first weekend in December at the [[Asheville Civic Center]], as a fundraiser for [[Habitat For Humanity]]. Many artists who play at the Christmas Jam also perform separate gigs in various Asheville clubs, usually the day before the Jam proper. The Pre-Jam, as it is called, features many of the same artists, in smaller clubs. The 19th edition of the Jam took place on December 15, 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xmasjam.com/2007/index.php |title=Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam |publisher=Xmasjam.com |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009093507/http://www.xmasjam.com/2007/index.php |archive-date=October 9, 2011 }}</ref> with performances by [[Grace Potter and the Nocturnals]], [[Shelly Colvin]], [[Jason Isbell]], [[Jackson Browne]], [[G. Love]], [[Bruce Hornsby]],  [[Peter Frampton]], and others. Gov't Mule headlined.

On June 28, 2008, while keyboardist Danny Louis was drafted by [[Cheap Trick]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/sgt-pepper039s-40a-beatles-celebration-featuring-cheap-trick/2007-08-10 |title=Sgt. Pepper's at 40…a Beatles Celebration featuring Cheap Trick |publisher=Hollywood Bowl |date=May 14, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215063740/http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/sgt-pepper039s-40a-beatles-celebration-featuring-cheap-trick/2007-08-10 |archive-date=December 15, 2013 }}</ref> to revisit Sgt. Pepper at the Hollywood Bowl, Gov't Mule performed as a [[power trio]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://muletracks.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=755_3706&pc=GMDD080628 |title=Mule Tracks All Downloads &#124; Majestic Ventura Theater Ventura, CA 06.28.08 &#124; Shop the Mule Tracks Official Store |publisher=Muletracks.shop.musictoday.com |access-date=April 20, 2012}}</ref> for the first time since 2000, this time with its regular bassist Andy Hess. The band titled their set "Old School Mule" and ran through some of their older songs such as "Wandering Child" and "Thorazine Shuffle".

On September 15, 2008, Haynes' wife, Stefani Scamardo <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evilteen.com/about.html |title=Evil Teen Records |publisher=Evilteen.com |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009093100/http://www.evilteen.com/about.html |archive-date=October 9, 2011 }}</ref> announced on her [[Sirius Satellite Radio|
Sirius radio]] show<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=Channel&cid=1104779639603&s=person |title=Welcome to the world of satellite radio – SiriusXM Radio |publisher=Sirius.com |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> that [[Andy Hess]] would be leaving the band and a new bassist would be in place for the fall tour. Hess was subsequently replaced by Jorgen Carlsson,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jambase.com/Articles/15063/Gov%27t-Mule-New-Bassist-Band-Welcomes-Jorgen-Carlsson |title=Gov't Mule New Bassist Band Welcomes Jorgen Carlsson |publisher=Jambase.com |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> who had been rehearsing with the band for six months.