When the Allman Brothers Band reformed in 1989 in response to the popularity of the Dreams box set, Warren Haynes was added on lead guitar and Allen Woody on bass. The two shared a love for '60s power trios, like Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and James Gang. With no bands making similar music in the 90s (except ZZ Top), Haynes, Woody, and former Dickey Betts drummer Matt Abts came together as Gov't Mule during Allman Brothers' breaks. (It is likely that Haynes and Abts first met during the recording of the Dickey Betts Band CD "Pattern Disruptive" in 1988.) They released their debut album the selftitled Gov't Mule in 1995. It was followed by Live from Roseland Ballroom.
When it became apparent that the Allman Brothers weren't planning on recording any new material, Haynes and Woody left to concentrate full-time on Gov't Mule in 1997. Dose, the studio follow up to their first studio effort, was released in early 1998. They were joined by members of the Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, and Parliament/Funkadelic for their 1998 New Year's Eve concert. This was released in both a two and four CD version as Live ... With A Little Help From Our Friends. The band exposed some of their roots with covers of Neil Young, Free, Traffic, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Mongo Santamaria (via John Coltrane) and Frank Zappa.
In 2000, the band released Life Before Insanity to critical praise. Many thought that this would be Gov't Mule's breakthrough CD. However, Woody was found dead in New York City in August. Haynes and Abts considered breaking up the band but did stage a concert called "One for Woody" to raise money for his daughter's education. The Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, members of the Grateful Dead, and other friends of Woody also performed at the concert.
At both the "One for Woody" performance and other shows, Haynes began appearing with the Allman Brothers Band again. With Dickey Betts' departure from the Allmans, Warren came back full time to the band at the beginning of 2001 and has continued splitting his time between the Allmans and for a period Phil Lesh and Friends and the reformed Dead as well as Gov't Mule (performing acoustic gigs with just Haynes on guitar and Abts on percussion and as The New School of Gov't Mule with Widespread Panic's Dave Schools on bass and Chuck Leavell, formerly of the Allman Brothers and known for his current work with the Rolling Stones on keyboards).
The next year, Haynes and Abts began to record a tribute CD using Woody's favorite bass players. These sessions resulted in two CDs The Deep End, Volume 1 (2001) and The Deep End, Volume 2 (2002). A documentary of the recording sessions was also made by Phish bassist Mike Gordon called Rising Low. Bass contributions to the CDs came from Jack Bruce of Cream, John Entwisle of The Who, Mike Watt of Minutemen, Les Claypool of Primus, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Chris Squire of Yes among others.
When it came to touring in support of the Deep End CDs, Haynes and Abts used a revolving door of keyboardists and bassists. Keyboardists included Chuck Leavell, Rob Barraco of Phil Lesh and Friends and Zen Tricksters, Phish's Page McConnell and Danny Louis. Bassists included among others, Dave Schools, Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers, Les Claypool, Victor Wooten of the Flecktones, George Porter Jr. of The Meters, Greg Rzab formerly of The Black Crowes and the Buddy Guy Band and Andy Hess, also formerly of The Black Crowes. Louis and Hess were eventually added as permanent members of Gov't Mule. They continue to tour extensively and have become staple acts at many music festivals including Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Vegoose, and their annual New Orleans Jazzfest night show (where they filmed and recorded the last show of the Deepest End tours, with 17 guest musicians in a 6 hour show) wich was released on CD/DVD as The Deepest End, Live in Concert.
The first CD with Louis and Hess Deja Voodoo was released in September 2004. Additional material from those sessions was released in 2005 as and EP entitled Mo' Voodoo.
The new lineup's second release, titled High and Mighty, was released on August 22, 2006.
A third, Mighty High, was released in 2007 it features reggae and dub versions of classic Mule covers and originals with special guest appearances by Willi Williams, Michael Franti and Toots Hibbert,
Left Coast Groovies
Gov't Mule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love my yuppie job
Got a cellular phone in my brand new Saab
I love my wife and my girlfriend too
I just love myself
You're gonna love me too
Came out west to find myself
Got a groovy set of morals
And an Elvis Presley do
I'll swap my wife for yours
Anything for you
Got to stay away from the left coast groovies
Living their lives like a cheesy movie
The wrap around shades and the air-head cuties
Got a new-age stench because he traded his Patchouli
Can the wicked feed the hungry?
Can the children teach the old?
About a new way, a revolution
We're moving backwards, out of control
Out of control, out of control
Came out west to find myself
Did the Maharishi squat on the continental shelf
Got a groovy set of morals
And an Elvis Presley do
I'll swap my wife for yours
Anything for you
Got to stay away from the left coast groovies
Living their lives like a cheesy movie
The wrap around shades and the air-head cuties
Got a new-age stench because he traded his Patchouli
Got to stay away from the left coast groovies
Living their lives like a cheesy movie
The wrap around shades and the air-head cuties
Got a new-age stench because he traded his Patchouli
"Left Coast Groovies" is a groovy, satirical song by American rock band Gov't Mule. The song is primarily about the vanity, materialism, and superficiality found on the West Coast, particularly in California. The first verse starts with the singer boasting about his life - a summer home, a "yuppie job," and a brand-new Saab equipped with a cellular phone. He even admits to having a wife and a girlfriend and loving himself. The second verse talks about the search for meaning and morality on the West Coast, referencing the Maharishi (referring to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an Indian guru who introduced Transcendental Meditation to the West) and the iconic Elvis Presley hairstyle. The chorus cautions to stay away from the "left coast groovies," who live their lives like a cheesy movie and give off a "new age stench" by abandoning the classic patchouli fragrance.
The song poses questions about bigger issues, such as whether the wicked can feed the hungry and whether the younger generation can teach the older ones about revolution and a new way of life. The song suggests the West Coast lifestyle is a facade and warns against becoming absorbed in superficial and materialistic pursuits.
Line by Line Meaning
I like my summer home
I have financial privilege and enjoy having multiple homes
Love my yuppie job
I take pride in my white-collar job and the status it provides
Got a cellular phone in my brand new Saab
I value material possessions and use them as symbols of success
I love my wife and my girlfriend too
I engage in infidelity and prioritize my own desires over the feelings of those close to me
I just love myself
I am selfish and narcissistic
You're gonna love me too
I want others to love and admire me as much as I love myself
Came out west to find myself
I am on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth
Did the Maharishi squat on the continental shelf
I have sought spiritual guidance, potentially from a guru or other religious figure
Got a groovy set of morals
My personal values align with the hippie counterculture of the 1960s
And an Elvis Presley do
I emulate pop culture icons as part of my self-expression
I'll swap my wife for yours
I am willing to engage in morally questionable behavior for my own gratification
Anything for you
I am manipulating others to get what I want
Got to stay away from the left coast groovies
I view those who embody California hippie culture as negative influences on my personal journey
Living their lives like a cheesy movie
I see their choices as superficial and cliché
The wrap around shades and the air-head cuties
I identify specific fashion trends and behaviors as indicators of negative traits
Got a new-age stench because he traded his Patchouli
I am derogatorily associating a particular scent with those I view as disingenuous or insincere
Can the wicked feed the hungry?
I am questioning the ability of those with negative values to make positive changes in the world
Can the children teach the old?
I am challenging traditional power structures and suggesting the possibility of a new order
About a new way, a revolution
I see a need for significant change in society
We're moving backwards, out of control
I see society as regressing and losing direction
Out of control, out of control
I am emphasizing the urgency and precariousness of our current situation
Got to stay away from the left coast groovies
I am repeating my earlier sentiment about avoiding certain individuals to protect my own journey
Living their lives like a cheesy movie
I am reinforcing my negative perception of those aligned with California hippie culture
The wrap around shades and the air-head cuties
I am using specific fashion trends as shorthand for my negative perceptions
Got a new-age stench because he traded his Patchouli
I am again utilizing scent to emphasize my negative connotations of a particular group
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ALLEN WOODY, MATTHEW ABTS, WARREN HAYNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind