Consoler in Chief

As many blog followers may know, I’m a huge fan of the music of Warren Haynes – the founder and leader of the band Gov’t Mule, as well as many other side projects. Haynes is an amazing musician, song writer and guitarist, and he also seems like a genuinely good human being. For 30 years, he has put on a concert in his hometown of Asheville, NC, called “Christmas Jam,” a benefit show for the Asheville Habitat for Humanity. Check it out for more information. Anyway, it was a stroke of coincidence that the ever-touring Gov’t Mule had a stop earlier this week in Pittsburgh, site of the unspeakable hate crime at the synagogue. The juxtaposition was poignant: A man and his music filled with such heart and soul, visiting a city that was ripped of its heart and soul. And so it was fitting that the Mule opened with one of Warren’s sweetest songs, “Soulshine,” to start the show. One Facebook follower posted the video of the song, calling Warren our “Consoler in Chief.” It’s a beautiful song and hopefully it brought a little comfort to an area in great need of it.