That would be Warren Haynes. I’ve never seen Gov’t Mule, Warren’s actual band. But in the last few years I keep running across Warren appearances, with Phil and Friends, with the Allmans and, this summer, with The Dead.

I always liked him with Phil’s band, and he’s only perfect for the Allman Brothers. I wasn’t sure what to expect at Blossom last week, but I wasn’t disappointed: Warren made a good band better.

As always, Warren’s guitar work was exceptional. He took a few straight leads, but left most of that work to Jimmy Herring, whose slippery style fits in with the Dead canon well. In the old days we didn’t hear much slide work, unless we got to hear Weir trying to figure things out in one of the first-set blues tunes. But Warren dropped slide leads throughout the night: energizing, changing expectations, turning songs I’ve been listening to for 20 years inside out.

And the vocals. I still miss Joan Osborne, but not as much as I thought I would. Warren took most of the night’s Jerry leads, and to my ear, that’s how most of those songs should sound (but China Doll should be a Joan song from this day forward…). The Allman Brothers-style growl is expected, but he brings a nuance that I didn’t know he had.

This summer, he’s brought another thing as well: new tunes. I guess I can’t give him complete credit for all the new covers, but with Warren, they’re playing “Low Spark,” U2’s “One,” “Madman Across the Water,” “Strawberry Fields.” “Dear Mr. Fantasy” has returned, and there are others. And all this is accomplished without stunting the adventurous nature that made last summer’s shows so much fun. As good as I thought they were in 2003, they’re that much better in 2004.

And a final word about Blossom. I know security is tough (but people who are smart in the lot rarely have a problem with security). I know they won’t let you bring your oranges inside. But that’s still my favorite shed ever, anywhere.

As promised, here’s yer list:

Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

July 28, 2004

Greatest Story Ever Told>

Dupree’s Diamond Blues

Strawberry Fields Forever>

Crazy Fingers>

New Speedway Boogie

Here Comes Sunshine>

Baba Jingo

Dire Wolf

Passenger

Brown-Eyed Women

Madman Across the Water>

Tennessee Jed>

Feel Like A Stranger>

D/S

China Doll>

Playin’ Reprise>

Sugaree>

Touch of Grey

Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues

Brokedown Palace

Got two more coming, Saturday and Sunday in Philly. We spend a couple days at the Jersey Shore and then go back to Camden for my last-ever Phish show. And then I collapse in an exhausted heap.