Live Review of Warren HaynesBlue Note LA  Los Angeles, CA

Contact: Bari Lieberman, Press Here Publicity - bari@pressherepublicity.com Web: warrenhaynes.netPlayers: Warren Haynes, guitar, vocals

Leading The Allman Brothers in their resurgence as lead guitarist and vocalist in 1989, founding Gov’t Mule alongside bassist Allen Woody in 1994, and known for collaborations with members of the Grateful Dead, Warren Haynes remains one of the most revered guitarists and southern rockers around. With over 20 live and studio records to date, and millions of track and album sales, the GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer blends folk, soul and Americana, collaborating in genres from blues to modern rock (recently joining forces with Billy Bob Thornton to create “Desiree” for Paramount+’s Landman).

Sharing music across his three-decade career (including selections from Man In Motion, Ashes & Dust, Life Before Insanity and Gov’t Mule’s Dose and Peace…Like A River), during the last show of his Winter of Warren series in Los Angeles, Haynes was in fine form, marinating the room in blissful nostalgia. Entering quietly through the crowd, his gentle, unassuming presence gave way to a powerful, stripped back solo performance for a packed house of sophisticated fans. Lauching into “This Life As We Know It,” a post-pandemic reflection from 2024’s solo album Million Voices Whisper, Haynes intense simplicity captured the crowd immediately. 

A “Gold Dust Woman” cover followed, with tasty minor underpinnings traversing a fabulous use of dynamics and subtly-graveled vocal. “Melissa” brought cheers and swaying from the crowd, while previously unrecorded/unreleased “Dusk Till Dawn” (on his cherry red signature 1961 Gibson ES-335) added an exquisite deep guitar tone, and gritty, swampy pedal effects. “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” added more delicious southern rock sound before incredible vocal control sprang to the forefront in punchy lyrical lines on “Hattiesburg Hustle.”

Switching to his 12-string Epiphone Riviera, Haynes delivered grungier guitar sound on “Gone Too Long” (from Gov’t Mule’s Peace…Like A River), before “Life Before Insanity” added psychedelic stylings and intricate riffs, which continued into “Raven Black Night,” also sharing softer vocals and vibrato, and building an incredible sound for a solo act. “The Sky Is Crying” had Haynes taming his steel a fabulous thick blues and phenomenal slide guitar, before shifting back to his Guild acoustic for encore, “In My Life.” LA-centric bonus “Angel City” shared a divine guitar opening and beautiful vocals, walking the line between angels and demons in lyrics around homelessness.

Haynes’ distinct, masterful guitar stylings, warm vocals and earthy, wholesome sound brought forth the comfort of a bygone era of music. The post Live Review of Warren Haynes first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.