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| Warren Haynes Band @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Warren Haynes carries a jam band pedigree that is second-to-none, with his time singing and playing guitar with Allman Brothers Band, The Dead and founding Gov’t Mule. He brought his Warren Haynes Band to Santa Rosa’s Luther Burbank Center for the Arts on Sunday night after filling The Fillmore in San Francisco the night before. Haynes and his band took the audience on a wild ride that showcased his diverse catalog with songs that ranged Southern rock, jazz and funk – along with the expected jams.
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| Warren Haynes Band @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The Asheville, North Carolina native brought his band on stage to start off the night with an immediate jam – without any traditional jam-band noodling - before transitioning into Gov’t Mule’s 2001 “Tear Me Down.” The song demonstrated not only Haynes’ guitar mastery and soulful vocals, but also his intention to ensure every member of the band was given ample time to solo and take many turns in the spotlight throughout the night.
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| Warren Haynes Band @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“Terrified” off Haynes 2024 album “Million Voices Whisper” followed with bassist Kevin Scott (Haynes’ bandmate from Gov’t Mule) laying down funky, syrupy bass and keyboardist Matt Slocum leaning into a psychedelic sound on the synthesizer. “This Life As We Know It” – also off the latest album -saw drummer Terrence Higgins bringing his Louisiana vibe to the drums in combination with the sweet Southern rocker. Higgins – a veteran of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band among others – also seemed to thrive in the many changes of musical-style – particularly shining on jazzier moments. “Spots of Time” from Haynes’ 2015 “Ashes & Dust” (with Railroad Earth) was a rising anthem live and brought the band’s power level to 10 for the first time of the evening.
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| Warren Haynes Band @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“From Here on Out” kept the power level high and brought the saxophone of Greg Osby into the spotlight with a lively sax solo as Haynes willed him on to continue multiple times. Osby was a force all night long – particularly on the jazzier songs. Fine covers of Allen Toussaint’s “From a Whisper to a Scream” and then The Allman Brothers Band’s “Instrumental Illness” followed with the band member solos going round robin across the stage. Osby and Slocum were going back and forth bebop style while Higgins was setting a blistering pace that was heavy on the Tony Williams vibe. As Higgins and Scott drove a furious pace and Osby and Slocum constructed a gorgeous tapestry about the rhythm, Haynes unleased a blistering solo and the song built to a huge crescendo that brought the entire crowd to its feet roaring with approval.
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| Warren Haynes Band @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The first set ended with Haynes’ signature rendition of “Soulshine.” Haynes’ voice can range from a menacing growl to a soft vulnerability reminiscent of Jason Isbell in concert and on this song, he crossed back and forth across that vocal spectrum. “We’re going to take a break, but we know it’s Sunday,” Haynes told the crowd. “We’ll keep it short and be back quick for the second set. “
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| Warren Haynes Band @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The second set leaned away from the newer album and more into the past starting with 1993’s “Power and The Glory” – a straight-ahead rocker with Osby throwing in a terrific solo. A cover of Wilson Pickett’s “Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won’t Do)” was thrilling with a super funk to it. Their cover of Hendrix’ “Spanish Castle Magic” started with a Slocum organ intro and then Osby taking a sax solo before Haynes brought his heavily echoed guitar and led the song to take off as a jam cruise ship into outer space.
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| Warren Haynes @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Gov’t Mule’s “Banks of the Deep End” had a beginning reminiscent of CSNY’s “Ohio” and then spotlighted Haynes’ outstanding ability to play both lead guitar and have a commanding vocal presence. It’s not often that you see a sole guitarist taking on the heavy vocal duty with no rhythm guitarist, but Haynes is more than up for the challenge. A terrific cover of John Coltrane’s 1958 “Blue Train” provided the evening’s jazziest moment as Osby’s incredible saxophone led the way with Slocum taking a long run on organ and then Haynes’ putting his jazz guitar chops on full and tasty display.
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| Warren Haynes Band @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
A funky and very fuzzy “Lies, Lies, Lies” broke loose into a full musical stampede as the band went into a heavily powerful, psychedelic tour of “Monkey Dance” before coming back the funky side to finish “Lies, Lies, Lies”. ‘Thorazine Shuffle” had the crowd once again jumping to their feet in appreciation as they seemed to think it was the last song of the second set. But Haynes and crew still had a giant “Invisible” in their holster and they unleashed it with every band member taking an extended solo – highlighted by Scott’s bass sounding like it was something out of a space movie with heavy distortion and Slocum’s blitzkrieg synthesizer solo alternated form new wave to funk. Finally, Haynes brought a buzz saw guitar that launched a wall of echo and distortion before finally returning the band to the “Invisible” frame.
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| Warren Haynes @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The night was brought to a close with the encore of the new, but classic sounding “Till The Sun Comes Shining Through” that harkened back to old Stax recordings. Haynes’ most heartbreaking vocals of the night – followed by his soaring Southern sound guitar sent the audience home with a new classic and was the perfect end to a dazzling night of musicianship by Haynes and his incredible band.
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